PERFORMANCE EYEWEAR -FOR ALLTYPES OF RIDERS
Bicycling US|Summer 2024
These stylish and comfortable shades improve visibility on gravel rides, diminish road shadows, and will stay put on your face even when mountain biking. Bonus: We also tested a few prescription options.
DAN CHABANOV & TREVOR RAAB
PERFORMANCE EYEWEAR -FOR ALLTYPES OF RIDERS

CYCLING SUNGLASSES ARE AS MUCH ABOUT STYLE as they are function. The best ones look good and protect your eyes from debris and UV rays while essentially disappearing on your face. At the start of the twentieth century, cyclists primarily relied on goggles for eye protection. In the 1960s, many cyclists turned toward style-driven eyewear choices, in many cases aviators, due to the larger-than-average lenses that offered better coverage. It wasn't until the mid-1980s that what we now recognize as modern performance eyewear hit the market. This was when Greg LeMond debuted the now iconic Oakley Eyeshades, and modern cycling sunglasses were born.

From that point, the development of cycling eyewear progressed rather quickly, thanks to the interchangeable introduction of new lens tints, lenses, and lightweight frame materials. Brands like Briko launched eyewear that resembled the eyes of insects, while Oakley again innovated when it developed the curved prescription lens.

Finding the right pair of shades largely comes down to each rider's personal style and preference. The eight pairs of sunglasses on the following pages were all extensively tested by Bicycling's test team. We used them on road, trail, and gravel rides and in a variety of lighting conditions. We also took into consideration lens technology, comfort, and price. But first, here are a few features you should look for to help you narrow down your options.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING CYCLING SUNGLASSES

1 TYPE OF LENS

Every eyewear brand offers various lenses for different riding conditions and lighting levels. Reflective lenses are designed for full sun. Medium lenses have some tint but let in more light than the fully reflective lenses. (These are sometimes called trail lenses because they are great for the variable lighting conditions often experienced when riding in the woods.) And finally, there are clear lenses for riding at night.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Summer 2024 من Bicycling US.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Summer 2024 من Bicycling US.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من BICYCLING US مشاهدة الكل
ONE MAN'S OBSESSIVE CRUSADE TO Take Down Zwift Cheats
Bicycling US

ONE MAN'S OBSESSIVE CRUSADE TO Take Down Zwift Cheats

Indoor cycling and virtual racing are booming, and so are the ranks of digital dopers abusing the platforms.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Fall 2024
WHAT I LEARNED WHEN LOST IT ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE
Bicycling US

WHAT I LEARNED WHEN LOST IT ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE

A lifelong roadie tries singletrack for the first time. It did not go as planned.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Fall 2024
THE UNLIKELY HERO WHO RECOVERED OVER 200 STOLEN BIKES IN ONE AMERICAN CITY
Bicycling US

THE UNLIKELY HERO WHO RECOVERED OVER 200 STOLEN BIKES IN ONE AMERICAN CITY

It was a sunny day in the summer of 2022. There were some things I had to move into the house, so I left the garage door open. I was gone less than 15 minutes.

time-read
10 mins  |
Fall 2024
YOU CAN BE MORE THAN JUST A CYCLIST
Bicycling US

YOU CAN BE MORE THAN JUST A CYCLIST

I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR SPORTS, starting with the usual team ones such as football and baseball. But that faded in favor of more individual pursuits. Watching my dad roll down the driveway to go for a ride, I wanted to do the same. The bike was my first taste of freedom, a freedom to do it my way.

time-read
2 mins  |
Fall 2024
THE RIGHT SADDLE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Bicycling US

THE RIGHT SADDLE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, I WAS, AT BEST, A TWICEa-month cyclist.

time-read
3 mins  |
Fall 2024
HOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE RIDER YOU USED TO BE
Bicycling US

HOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE RIDER YOU USED TO BE

CYCLISTS OF ALL LEVELS GO THROUGH various phases or eras over the years they spend in the saddle. For the vast majority of riders (myself included), these things happen privately, without fanfare.

time-read
4 mins  |
Fall 2024
BIKES MAKE THE WORLD A MORE INCLUSIVE PLACE
Bicycling US

BIKES MAKE THE WORLD A MORE INCLUSIVE PLACE

LIFE'S A BEAUTIFUL PUZZLE THAT COMES in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes.

time-read
2 mins  |
Fall 2024
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CYCLING SCENE, ANYWAY?
Bicycling US

WHAT MAKES A GOOD CYCLING SCENE, ANYWAY?

I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF INVOLVING myself in a few populous and dramatically different cycling communities.

time-read
3 mins  |
Fall 2024
CHOOSE GEAR THAT INSPIRES YOU TO HAVE FUN E
Bicycling US

CHOOSE GEAR THAT INSPIRES YOU TO HAVE FUN E

EVEN THOUGH I TEST LOADS OF CYCLING gear for a living, sometimes I get locked in on particular items and find it difficult to enjoy competing products, even if those products have obvious advantages.

time-read
3 mins  |
Fall 2024
WHY YOU DESERVE A CUSTOM BIKE
Bicycling US

WHY YOU DESERVE A CUSTOM BIKE

Custom. The word evokes passionate opinions about what constitutes a custom-made bike and who gets to ride one. There's this idea that they're wildly expensive pieces of functional art meant only for the fittest, fastest riders.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Fall 2024