Sunglasses Bi-focal

[danny81c]

A while back, possibly a year ago I read a review in Cycle about bi-focal sunglasses. These had the lower part of the lens at 1.5 magnification and the upper part was normal. I'm long sighted so for most things cycling related I'm fine with standard sunglasses however, reading an Audax route card or looking at my Garmin can be a bit of a struggle. The ones reviewed seemed to be just what I'm after and if memory serves they were reasonably priced at £39. I been back through the copies of Cycle I still have but can't find anything. If anyone can remember the review or better still has the details of the product could they share it with me please?

Thanks

[Mick F]

I cannot recommend Oplilabs highly enough.
Check out their website, and maybe give them a phone call. Good friendly service and excellent frames specifically for cycling.
https://www.optilabs.com/site/prods.php?pfid=0,8,11

I bought a pair of photochromic varifocals.
I'm not a fan of varifocals making do normally with bi-focals for everyday use. Reading and intermediate lenses and I look over the top for distance.

Varifocals for the bike are fine. Reading down the bottom, then progressively going further out to distance at the top. I can use my phone, read a map, read my Garmin, look along the road, look through my mirror .......... and even fix a puncture. They fit firmly and snugly, and work perfectly, and I wouldn't consider riding my bike without them now.

Oh .......... and welcome to the forum!

[irc]

You can get cheap and cheerful bifocal sunglasses on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eyekepper-Paint ... sunglasses

Alternative I've got a pair made by Specsavers. Chose the frames then got them made with my prescription bifocal sunglass lense. I've had them a few years so can't remember the price. Under £100 I think. I see on their website today they are offering bifocal reactions glasses from £104.

[Neil C]

Welcome Danny. The review you remember was on page 20 of the April/May 2014 Cycle.

Available here if you have lost it.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/publication/cycle ... l-may-2014

I bought some and they were great for reading the Garmin and map on my LEJOG last year. Unfortunately I lost them in the rain somewhere in Holmfirth and had to struggle the rest of the way looking at the road over the top of my reading glasses.

When I got home I decided that I didn't really need the tinting and bought some similar clear glasses from here.
http://www.straightlines.com/safetyspec ... ty_glasses

At £9 a pair ( +delivery ) they are a real bargain and I use them all the time on the bike.

[darkvalley]

I use these glasses. http://www.dualeyewear.com/index.php/dual-sl2.html
Have them about a year and a half now. Very sturdy and comfortable and don't slip while cycling. I have ended up get the full set of lens for them.It is an american site, but there is a UK distributor, but I cant remember who they are. Highly recommend them.

[irc]

Also sold on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=bl_sr_spo ... ch-type=ss

[Neil C]

I use these glasses. http://www.dualeyewear.com/index.php/dual-sl2.html

I remember now that those were the model I had. The exact model in the Cycle review were no longer available.

Here for £35.54 at Wiggle. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dual-eyewear-sl2-sunglasses/

[simonineaston]

I've been reading about this sort of eye-wear for a while on this very forum and liked the idea. Found these on fleabay and they are just the job if you want to see if this is the solution for you at a modest price before committing serious cash to the up-market jobbies.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/voltX-CONSTRU ... 4d09c99b77
I've found them to be perfectly adequate - a good fit, well enough made and the lens section is in just the right place to read the Satmap, at the same time not affecting the rest of my vision. A bargain at £12!
In my case the need was getting pressing as one or two travelling chums were getting heartily sick of me misreading the route when I couldn't be bothered to fish out my reading glasses... I'm not liking this getting old malarkly much...

[rmurphy195]

I use varifocals, with Crizllenses 'cos they suit me best. Obtained from Specsavers to my prescription. For the "free"pair I have an identical[air tomy "Normal" specs but with the sunglass tint added. Works really well, have been using them for years. The reading bit is +2 which works better for me (most of the time) than +1.5.

Never use reading glasses etc. unless they are to your prescription - you are better just removing your normal specs and reading like that - but OS map printing can be very small!