Here a 5 more good reasons why you should wear Rad8 photochromic mtbglasses
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- apple pie or energy bar
- beer or coffee
Keep life simple go photochromic
Life seems very complicated for mountain bikers these days. There are so many variants and too many decisions where you need time to check the reviews. The obvious ones are wheel size, tyre width, hardtail, full suspension, carbon, steel. etc etc......
If you wear photochromic mtb glasses that's one decision you dont have to think about again so when there are some tough decision to make;
Keep life simple go photochromic
1 Comment
Life seems very complicated for mountain bikers these days. There are so many variants and too many decisions where you need time to check the reviews. The obvious ones are wheel size, tyre width, hardtail, full suspension, carbon, steel. etc etc......
If you wear photochromic mtb glasses that's one decision you dont have to think about again so when there are some tough decision to make;
Keep life simple go photochromic 14/2/2017 1 Comment Rad8 MTBglasses update- Videos of anti-fog testing and rad8 test team out and about on the trails
It's been a busy week for the test team, further testing has been done with the anti-fog coating on the photochromic glasses - even in the bath! The weather also improved (though its always good in Tenerife- see Lavatrax posts) so more of the Rad8 Ambassadors have been posting images and updates. Enjoy.
It doesn't often happen but the sun has come out. If you want to protect your eyes and improve your ability to see the various bumps and bends on the trails; try some Rad8 polarised glasses
Time to get out in the sun before the weather changes
Rad8 MTBglasses the BEST trail tested MTB glasses
With the New Years resolutions starting to crack, get a new job, be nice to people, lose weight, drink less, exercise more. One of the resolution that I will be keeping is to take part in one of the hundreds of MTB events up and down the country. The one I’ll be doing is the Wild Boar Chase in the Forest of Dean but here are a list of some the many options around and some guidance on a top tips to make sure you are in perfect shape for the event EVENTS Events run up and down the country and go from the big high profile ultra off-road endurance events to the more fun, realistic xc events. These are often well organised events with clearly marked routes and various distances 30k-100k. There are really no excuses for participating whether it’s for a charity or for personal goals. . TOP TRAINING TIPS
6. Once you have your plan stick to it. There are no short cuts, if you complete the training schedule and monitor your times you should be in the right shape for the event. 7. Check your bike and make sure that any items you update or need attentions, chain, disc pads, tyres are updated and ridden on before the event a couple of times. That last things you want to do is do an event with new disc pads to find that they are rubbing all the way round the course draining extra energy 8. Race day, get there early to get your bearings. Have a look around, take in the atmosphere and enjoy the day knowing that you’re ready! 9. Safety gear. You probably will not be allowed to race without a descent helmet but also remember to wear some protective glasses to keep the mud out your eyes. I would recommend... 10. Get your finishers medal take a selfie and enter another event. Good Luck!
There are many mtb glasses options available for basic protection but if you want glasses that will work all day in all weather conditions you should buy a pair with photochromic lenses.
What are photochromic lenses The word "photochromic" comes from two Greek words "photos" meaning light and "Chroma" meaning colour—so photochromic simply means something that changes colour in response to light. In relation to sunglasses, photochromic lenses darken or lighten dependent on their exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. For example, once the UV is removed by walking indoors or reduced by cycling through trees, the lenses will gradually return to their clear state or a lighter tint respectively. Photochromic lenses were originally developed in the 1960’s and made from glass. They worked a bit like pieces of old-fashioned, photographic film. Film darkens because it contains silver based chemicals that clump together when light falls on them. Early photochromic lenses contained similar silver chemicals and darkened the same way. Unlike photographic film, which darkens permanently, the photochromic lenses could change back again and clear when the light level fell back to normal. Modern sports photochromic lenses are now made of poly-carbonate(PC) which offers excellent impact protection and optical clarity. The photochromic activity is due to organic (carbon-based) molecules that are embedded into the surface to a uniform thickness of 150 µm on the inside of the lens providing an even shade of tint when the lenses darken. Although each molecule changes by only a fraction of a nanometre, when many molecules respond in the same way the effect can be dramatic as more and more light is progressively blocked out. Today's photochromic lenses can offer different categories of sun protection to meet specific needs. For example, you can buy lenses that will start clear and go dark grey suitable for day and night riding. There are others that will start as tinted and become progressively darker. These are ideal as sunglasses and brighter environments, beaches and skiing. In addition there are now lenses which have a different base colour such as grey or orange. Grey tints have a neutral impact on the image perception whereas orange tints can reduce blue light and can improve contrast with green and reds. Rad8 Photochromic lenses typically have a light absorption range from 15% to 74% and currently use the grey/neutral lenses PC Photochromic lenses typically take around 30 seconds to fully darken and approx 2 - 5 minutes to return to a clear state. Initial changes occur quite rapidly and your eyes will naturally compensate for the light changes as the lenses adjust.
So why not wear the standard mtb options out there;
Clear lenses. As the name would suggest clear lenses offer the simple solution and provide good clarity and basic protection. They can be good for night riding and in winter months. In general, however, low cost clear glasses do not have the same optical clarity or coatings ( anti-fog/ anti-scratch) as more expensive options. Fixed tint lenses, these are available in the vast majority of glasses, they can be multi-coloured, red, blue and every colour option in between. Certain lens colours are believed to improve image perception. For overcast flat light days, with an over-abundance of blue light, yellow or rose tints may be used. Grey tints reduce transmittance across the spectrum. Polarised lenses may also be used, but these tend to mask small contours on the slope. Visible and UV transmittance may also be further reduced by the use of mirror coatings. Generally fixed tint lenses are category 3. This means that between 80 and 92% of the visible light is absorbed. As a consequence, in dull light conditions your eyes will need to work very hard to get enough light in to allow good vision. Most riders will subconsciously remove tinted glasses when entering wooded areas. Interchangeable lenses Some glasses designs are available with removable lenses allowing users to fit different lenses according to the weather conditions. This option is generally fixed tint, polarised or clear and can be a great solution if you know what the riding conditions are going to be for your day out. LED Lenses- New technology that change the lens contrast at the touch of a button. New Technology great idea but currently very expensive.
There are many things to consider when buying mtb glasses; lens type, weather, budget. Here is a quick guide that will help you refine what you need from a pair of glasses and further guides to check out.
There are many factors to consider when you choose your next pair of mountain biking glasses
LENS TYPE
The options are clear, fixed tint, polarized or photochromic, so depending on your activity, some styles may be more suitable than others.
Categories for the European standard
WEATHER
UK weather is generally very variable, so light levels can vary extensively throughout the year and in different terrain. Your eyes by their nature will adapt to different light levels so providing you are not skiing or in the polar regions lenses with cat 0 - 3 are most suitable for UK conditions. Optical coatings which improve water clearance from the lenses can be useful in rain. In addition, on very damp days with high humidity, fogging of lenses is more likely to be an issue so anti-fog coatings will have distinct benefits.
BUDGET
Prices for glasses vary from £2.39 for screwfix safety glasses to £400 for Oakley Radar Pace. Choose your budget and buy the best products you can get for the money. The difference between the low end and high end glasses are a combination of tangible items such as comfort, weight, anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings, mirror coatings, optical clarity and intangible items such as brand value, style and lens colour
More Info Association of British Dispensing Opticians - Website www.abdo.org.uk Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunglasses Chainreaction sunglasses buyers guide http://hub.chainreactioncycles.com/buying-guides/accessories/sunglasses-buying- |
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