Cycling in Rain wearing glasses

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Apeman

Über Member
I have had the same prob but now I leave them off about an hour before I go out so that my eyes adjust. Alternatively you could get cream from opticians that repel the water off the lenses. Good luck!
 

zacklaws

Guru
Location
Beverley
I have some stuff in my shed which they use on aircraft cockpits, if I recall its silicone based and water just beads on the cockpits and runs off. I used to use it on my car windscreen and providing I was doing at least 30mph I did not have to use my wipers unless the rain was very heavy. Brilliant stuff it was as my windscreen was always clear, especially the areas where the wipers never touched.

I have been meaning to try it out on my cycling glasses but never got round to it yet. Perhaps my speed might be too slow, but it might be offset by the fact my glasses are square onto the airflow. When I get chance I'll give it a try and let you know.

Just went into my shed, the stuffs called "Repcon" rain repellant, tried it on my glasses, sprayed them with water, lightly blew on them and all the beadlets of water dispersed off the edge off the glasses.

For once now, I want a rainy day for a proper test
 

wafflycat

New Member
The only thing I have found that works effectively is contact lenses. Sorry, but that's my experience. Wearing a peaked cycle cap can assist in keeping *some* of the rain off, but the best solution is contact lenses.
 

bikepete

Guru
Location
York, UK
Baseball cap for me - actually not sure it's really a baseball cap, but more a sort of general outdoor cap in lighter fabric rather than cotton. Had the problem with them blowing off until I got this one (while on holiday in France) but this one just seems to fit perfectly and hasn't come off yet :-). Praying I never lose it... keeps very close to all the rain off my glasses in all except the very fine mist sort of rain.
 
I wear a soft wide-brimmed hat - not a cap - and this seems to be effective and stays on except on very windy days. For those, and also for exceptionally cold weather, I have a peaked cap (not a baseball cap - a more substantial affair with ear flaps) which has had a couple of ribbons sewn into it. I can quickly tie those together under my chin. Not very elegant but it does the job. When it's not windy I just tuck the ribbons into the cap so they don't flap about.
 

I am Spartacus

Über Member
Location
N Staffs
You can get contacts with diff prescription to simulate near and far sight requirements.
It aint perfect solution sight wise but suffices for riding and driving.
Visit optician to get a contact lens prescription then buy lenses online.
I use Bausch n Lomb Purevision monthly torics.
They last a lot longer than month if stored in good solution as well.
 

palinurus

Velo, boulot, dodo
Location
Watford
I've worn glasses for ages, can't imagine using anything else. I use some cycling-specific ones which protect my eyes a bit better than my regular glasses (keeps the cold wind out better in the winter anyway), and I suppose they are a bit more crashworthy.

The cycling cap solution works well for me. I don't usually wear a helmet, but if I do the cap goes underneath.

I generally always have a cap stuck in my commute bag, for those unexpected showers and hailstorms (that stuff hurts).
 
Bear in mind, some people can't wear contacts for a medical reason, or safety (e.g. if they ever go near arc-welding equipment - though I believe there are nowadays contacts which are 'safe for welding'). The OP was not explicit and we should respect their privacy.
 

markg0vbr

Über Member
i have made a visor :smile: a bit like a motorcycle helmet, stops bugs, rain, scolding hot coffee thrown from cars ect. i cant get contacts as i have a astigmatism in one eye.
 

purplepolly

New Member
Location
my house
markg0vbr said:
i cant get contacts as i have a astigmatism in one eye.

Can't you get toric lenses - they're weighted so that they're always return to the same position. Downside is the the cost, I have to have rigid torics, at £120 each, so there's no way I'm wearing them cycling as it would be to hard to find one if it falls out.
 
OP
OP
Corvette chic
Location
Accrington
Thanks for all your hints/comments/advice I am getting a cycle hat and possibly a new larger helmet

Contact lens and lasering are something I might look at in the future.

I'll try some of that stuff on my glasses too
 

snapper_37

Barbara Woodhouse's Love Child
Location
Wolves
Corvette chic said:
I'll try some of that stuff on my glasses too

I wear glasses and the only problem I seem to have is when it's fairly warm and that horrible drizzle - get a bit steamy :rolleyes:. I rub stuff into the lenses that I used to use on my motorcycle helmet visor. Can't think what it's called now. ;)
 

Archie_tect

De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
Location
Northumberland
snapper_37 said:
I rub stuff into the lenses that I used to use on my motorcycle helmet visor. Can't think what it's called now. :rolleyes:

I just used neat washing up liquid rubbed in until dry- stops condensation and misting inside... would be worth trying on outside of glasses too to see if it helps the drops to disperse more evenly in a film rather than as droplets using silicone.
 

snapper_37

Barbara Woodhouse's Love Child
Location
Wolves
Archie_tect said:
I just used neat washing up liquid rubbed in until dry- stops condensation and misting inside... would be worth trying on outside of glasses too to see if it helps the drops to disperse more evenly in a film rather than as droplets using silicone.

Ahhh yes, you've just reminded me about the washing up liquid. Have used that too.
 

zacklaws

Guru
Location
Beverley
Washing up liquid is a wetting agent so whereas it works preventing condensation it would probably make things worse when it comes to dispersing water plus it would mix with the water so its use would be limited and may even become bothersome if it gets in the eye.

Still waiting for a rainy day to test out the "Repcon" but I have now tested it with a very fine mist from an aerosol and and just a gentle blow removes it.

Today on my ride, for the first time, sweat actually just ran straight down my glasses and dripped off, never even leaving a mark, thanks to the "Repcon". Yet the sweat that ran down the inside where I had not put a coating of "Repcon" on left a wet trail which eventually dried impairing vision as usual.
 
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