Cycling & MTB Sunglasses

What should cyclists look for in cycling eyewear?

Taking advantage of the huge upsurge in cycling participation over the last 15 years, most sports eyewear brands including Evolution now have dedicated cycling models. So what styling and features should you consider when choosing your cycling eyewear?

The starting point is usually a close fitting, full-wrap fit which will keep out wind, sun-glare and rain. The next consideration is straight or near straight arms (temples) so the eyewear is easy to put on and remove with a cap or helmet. Lightweight frames made from a non-metallic material like polycarbonate or TR90 (nylon) are advisable and impact resistant lenses recommended. Frames (like the Evolution frames) will typically have rubber or silicone nose pads and temple tips to stop them slipping off your face when you perspire. Comfort is important – cyclists can be wearing their eyewear for hours at a time and frames that are too tight or pinch anywhere will soon be discarded. All Evolution cycling models have lightweight frames that are good for extended wear comfort.

As cyclists are mostly looking down, frames that sit relatively high (including all Evolution cycling models) are best – you don’t want the top of the of the frame to interfere with vision and that’s typical of models that are not specifically aimed at cyclists. For MTB, straps (fixed or detachable) are useful to keep your eyewear firmly in place whatever the trail throws at you.

The single biggest reason for wearing sunglasses for most sports is to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) when outdoors, in particular the more damaging UVB radiation. UV rays from sunlight can damage the retina and the lens of the eye and over time lead to eye health issues like cancer of the eyelids, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Good quality sunglasses should have a UV400 rating providing the maximum protection from harmful UVR (and necessary to attain a CE Mark). All Evolution models meet this standard.

Interchangeable models have also grown rapidly in popularity. These give a choice of lens colours fitting the same frame. They will typically come with at least 3 different lenses such as grey, yellow and orange. It means on a dull winter’s day or if riding in low light (at dusk or early in the morning) you can put the yellow lens in. If the weather is mixed (a mixture of sun and cloud) the orange lens will be good and of course in bright, sunny conditions the grey lens will be ideal. Evolution has one of the largest ranges of interchangeable models available – click here to see them.