glasses n gloves

[Supersuperleeds]

I am about to start commuting to work next month, i have got my new bike on order at my lbs, but now i'm looking into the extra bits that i'm going to need. I have a helmet, lock, lights, mudgaurds, jacket, trousers, & overshoes picked. But i am not sure how much to spend on glasses and gloves. I didn't think about specs, as i don't wear them normally, but the guy selling me the bike said i would need some. Is it a good idea? If yes. What type are best, and how much would you spend on a pair? Same with gloves, i know i'll need some, but how much to spend? Is it worth paying around £40+ to get some 2-in-1 types? Like the spesh sub zero, then i have 2 winter and summer covered? Will i wear gloves in the summer!?
Also, if you can think of any other things that will make my new bike life a bit more pleasent, please let me know.

Cheers, Tony.

I use the Specialized Sub Zero gloves and I love them, I don't tend to wear gloves in the summer but I am thinking of getting some. I think the Sub Zero liners will be to warm in the summer

 

[hennbell]

I would never ride with out eye protection. Lots of people use safety glasses like those used at work sites, much cheaper than cycling specific and some don't look so bad. In the past I have used UVEX now I have a pair of Rudy Projects.

 

[Maz]

Totally unnecessary in my opinion, I wear prescription specs and have done for nearly 30 years and would ditch them on wet days if I could.

Agree totally. I have to wear glasses to see clearly, but they are a pain in the jacksy when riding in the rain or fog. I say avoid glasses if not needed for vision correction!

 

[jonny jeez]

I also thought that glasses were superfluous. I had a stone chip hit my helmet after a lorry overtook me. It left a large dent on my helmet so imagine what it could have done to the eye.

Been wearing clear glasses ever since.

I was hit by a very small stone (like the topping from a recently laid road) just below my right eye, it didn't hurt so much but drew blood.

Worn glasses ever since, only time I wont is if its misty and they become a hinderence

also in the summer I get a lot of debris from trees and such blown into my eyes from the backs of large vehicles. I often go without gloves in the summer as the chance of a slip is slight but i generally wear them to help the pins and needles thing.

 

[Tony Boy'o']

Thankyou everyone, some great advice. I think i'll be buying a fair amount of gear over the next year! I am in the building trade, ammd my company has just given me some pretty good looking safety specs, so i may just start off using them. As for gloves, it looks as if i will get a few pairs as the seasons change. i deff want some quality water/wind proof winter types. And a puncture repair kit is a good shout! although i've paid extra to get some marathon plus tyres, so i hope they keep me puncture free!
Has anyone tried the Endura delge gloves? Or the lobster type gloves? I think Giro do a proof 100 pair.
Thanks again all.

 

[GetAGrip]

Several bee thingies have collided with my forehead. Imagine the damage a bumbly in the eye could cause

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

...Has anyone tried the Endura delge gloves? ....Thanks again all.

I think they are the ones I have currently wearing out. They have been really good (buy them big so they are warmer in cold weather - trapped air is warmer and also allows for a glove liner). Mine are a couple of years old and just about starting to fail on the waterproofness - but don't let that put you off, mine were used each and every day on tour pretty much from Helsinki all the way down through to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia where I was able to buy some ski gloves for use in Serbia & Turkey when it was really cold (-15C) and have lasted really well. Looking at replacing them come the autumn when I think they will have died completely.

I should say that I have not needed anything warmer in the UK this winter than just these gloves (though I always have the wool liners available) throughout the winter and have been out in all most days through winter including down to -8C around here...

 

[paul04]

I did get some glasses with interchangeable lenses from sports direct for £7.
I do have problems with keeping my fingers warm, so at the moment I am using heated gloves, not easy changing gears with them on(bit bulky) but I could not ride the bike in the cold weather without them.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

These days I detest the damn things in the wet, even a wet road sees them coated with muck thrown up by passing cars and lorries.

You need a more upwrong bike!

 

[byegad]

You need a more upwrong bike!

Never! I can no longer ride a bike due to uncertain balance, and would never go back to an upright. Although If my balance was reliable I'd buy a recumbent bike tomorrow.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I've found these ski liners to be great. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/take-heat-black-adults-under-layer-gloves--id_8074820.html

Find them nice to wear under a pair of mitts down to around 3 degrees, any lower than that I wear them under my bigger gloves to make them extra snuggly. Not once have my fingers felt cold.
Always wear cycling glasses, just good practice I think to stop bits of anything going in your eye. As has been suggested, Lidl or Aldi do a cheap decent enough pair when they have them in.

 

[alicat]

You have got a lot of things on your list at a time when you don't know if you are going to take to cycle-commuting. Personally I would make do with some gloves I already owned until I felt sure I was going to keep it up.

 

[400bhp]

You have got a lot of things on your list at a time when you don't know if you are going to take to cycle-commuting. Personally I would make do with some gloves I already owned until I felt sure I was going to keep it up.

Pretty sensible idea to be honest.

Plus the OP appears to be starting in March, so possibly unlikely to need deep winter clothing.

I suspect Aldi/Lidl will have some cycling stuff in over the next 6 weeks or so and I would be going for some budget gear initially (perhaps decathlon too) until you're comfortable with commuting.

 

[DougieAB]

Bolle safety glasses look good are very sturdy and come in at around £7 off ebay. I wear the clear variety all year round (if that large yellow ball ever appears in the sky again that may change)

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Bolle safety glasses look good are very sturdy and come in at around £7 off ebay. I wear the clear variety all year round (if that large yellow ball ever appears in the sky again that may change)

has been out here most of the morning. winter kit now too warm and need to break out my 3/4 length knickers & spring gloves...