Reading Glasses
Likes For waters60:
#3
Dead but dreaming
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Bay Area, CA (East Bay - Contra Costa County)
Posts: 377
Bikes: 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, 2022 Cannondale Synapse
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 147 Post(s)
Liked 296 Times
in
164 Posts
I try to set my data screens up so the information is as easy to read as possible. My eyesight is fine except for my old eyes needing readers so I'm not wearing glasses when I ride.
Likes For KJ43:
#4
Senior Member
I wear bifocal glasses with light sensitivity lens. When started riding I though to have something holding it, but never needed it and just don't pay attention to it anymore.
Likes For phtomita:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1956 Post(s)
Liked 2,929 Times
in
1,488 Posts
Progressive lens.
Likes For cxwrench:
Likes For ratell:
#7
Senior Member
The super cheapo method is to buy those stick-on closeup lenses that you stick on your sunglasses. I did that for a few years, and they work ok unless they fall off. Cheap, so buy a few sets.
Or, get some custom, cycling specific sunglasses with progressive lenes. Expensive, but work every dollar. Think, "new wheels expensive." But worth it. I have Rudy Project. My optician is also a cyclist, so I went with what he uses.
Or, get some custom, cycling specific sunglasses with progressive lenes. Expensive, but work every dollar. Think, "new wheels expensive." But worth it. I have Rudy Project. My optician is also a cyclist, so I went with what he uses.
Likes For bblair:
#8
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 13,773
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5622 Post(s)
Liked 4,287 Times
in
2,951 Posts
Very inexpensive safety glasses with a bifocal.
for bright sun
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf51.html
for not so bright days
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/pyr...nd-amber-lens/
for night time.... great for being able to see the depth soundings on your chart plotter when sailing at night!
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf50.html

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf51.html

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/pyr...nd-amber-lens/

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf50.html
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 37,542
Mentioned: 208 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17420 Post(s)
Liked 13,499 Times
in
6,412 Posts
Tifosi makes cycling glasses with a reading strip built in. Personally, I have Rudy Project bifocals with an inset. That way you can change your Rx without changing lenses.
Likes For indyfabz:
#10
Newbie
+1 to progressive lenses. It took me two weeks of vertigo to get used to it but now everything is in focus. My sunglasses aren't progressive, so I just lift them up to when I can't focus on the display.
Likes For rwh:
#11
Man, I love this bike!
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lancaster Pa
Posts: 159
Bikes: 2016 Trek Emonda SLR
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
11 Posts
Been using these https://dualeyewear.com/ for a few years now. Especially handy if I get a flat and have to find that small piece of glass or wire. Work fine with my Garmin, GPS in my truck and even my heads up display. They have non polarized, but they also have an optimized polarized version that works great as well. Had to use their warranty once and the company was super to work with.
Likes For Madridjoe:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1956 Post(s)
Liked 2,929 Times
in
1,488 Posts
The super cheapo method is to buy those stick-on closeup lenses that you stick on your sunglasses. I did that for a few years, and they work ok unless they fall off. Cheap, so buy a few sets.
Or, get some custom, cycling specific sunglasses with progressive lenes. Expensive, but work every dollar. Think, "new wheels expensive." But worth it. I have Rudy Project. My optician is also a cyclist, so I went with what he uses.
Or, get some custom, cycling specific sunglasses with progressive lenes. Expensive, but work every dollar. Think, "new wheels expensive." But worth it. I have Rudy Project. My optician is also a cyclist, so I went with what he uses.
Likes For cxwrench:
#13
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,733
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 894 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times
in
244 Posts
I've been using the same stick-on bifocals for a dozen years. See this 2018 thread for more info.
From the thread. With a razor blade, I cut the stick-on in half and trimmed it. Now it's close focus just on my handlebar area.
After a couple of rides, I completely stopped seeing the bifocal line. Our brains adapt.
From the thread. With a razor blade, I cut the stick-on in half and trimmed it. Now it's close focus just on my handlebar area.
After a couple of rides, I completely stopped seeing the bifocal line. Our brains adapt.

Likes For rm -rf:
#14
NYC
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1168 Post(s)
Liked 103 Times
in
59 Posts
Super awesome link. those, while not sexy, will work for the bike, the car, when tinkering in the shop... and aren't $150 for the optician to tell me I don't need primary correction and $400 for the glasses. 👍
Very inexpensive safety glasses with a bifocal.
for bright sun
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf51.html
for not so bright days
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/pyr...nd-amber-lens/
for night time.... great for being able to see the depth soundings on your chart plotter when sailing at night!
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf50.html

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf51.html

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/pyr...nd-amber-lens/

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf50.html
#16
NYC
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1168 Post(s)
Liked 103 Times
in
59 Posts
I have progressive (+0 to +2.5) "compureader" glasses that I've been using for a few years... I find that they have caused my eyes to wonk out as it trained them to gradually use + correction for distance. I plan to stop using them and go back to plain readers or a 2 zone +0/+1.5 bifocal to train my eyes back to normal for distance. Dunno anyone else's experience with them though.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,458
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 975 Post(s)
Liked 984 Times
in
635 Posts
If you need a prescription, I think it's worth while getting a pair of sunglasses with bifocals or progressive lenses.
I used to carry a cheap pair of cheaters in my saddle bag.
Now I have a pair of prescription Oakley sunglasses with progressive lenses. I really don't need the prescription for biking or other outdoor activities, but the progressive lenses are nice to have and I like the fit and lense tint. I will say that the high-cost lenses are better than the alternative, which is....
For backup I have several pair of safety glasses with cheaters - clear, dark, yellow. I found some I like the fit and general aesthetics of online and just buy the same ones if I need them. I like the kind with more or less straight bows which work better with helmets, ski hats, etc. i also use them for safety glasses. When I say the Oakleys have better lenses, it doesn't mean these aren't just fine. And I don't care if I drop them on the ground or lose them. $15 down the drain isn't heart breaking.
These - Elvex Sonoma - fit and look pretty good to me, and are cheap (cheaper than the last time i looked for stick on cheaters). They're available widely online so pick your best source. I have clear and dark tinted versions. They also come in gray and I think I've seen them in yellow too.

For the car - same thing. I happen to have a cheap-ish (Walmart) pair of progressive lense sunglasses I leave in the car. Actually, driving the prescription for distance does help a bit reading signs just a bit sooner. But again, as backup, I leave a pair each of clear and tinted safety glasses with cheaters in the car to make it possible to read the gauges and display info.
Last edited by Camilo; 03-14-22 at 11:17 PM.
Likes For Camilo:
#18
NYC
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1168 Post(s)
Liked 103 Times
in
59 Posts
Everyone, Thank you for making all the suggestions!!!
I did some googling and found products I would never have never found out about because they don't exist in stores.
https://www.readers.com/mens-sun-readers.html
https://dualeyewear.com/collections/...oducts/dual-c1
https://www.fostergrant.com/reading-...nglass-readers
Lots of options ranging from cheap safety glasses to really nice looking sunglasses, all for reasonable prices.
thanks again!!
I did some googling and found products I would never have never found out about because they don't exist in stores.
https://www.readers.com/mens-sun-readers.html
https://dualeyewear.com/collections/...oducts/dual-c1
https://www.fostergrant.com/reading-...nglass-readers
Lots of options ranging from cheap safety glasses to really nice looking sunglasses, all for reasonable prices.
thanks again!!
Likes For nycphotography:
#19
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 13,773
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5622 Post(s)
Liked 4,287 Times
in
2,951 Posts
Just a recommedation if you do get safety glasses or other glasses with inexpensive plastic lenses. Use a 100% cotton cloth to clean them and the lenses will remain pristine and unscratched for a very long time. The glasses will fall apart first. Use a paper towel and they'll be scratched up and unusable in 2 weeks. Synthetic micro-fiber cloths might work too, but I have to many old cotton rags to ever need to buy them.
But hey, they are cheap. You can buy safety glasses by the gross and toss them away as often as you want.
But hey, they are cheap. You can buy safety glasses by the gross and toss them away as often as you want.
Likes For Iride01:
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 561
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 356 Post(s)
Liked 213 Times
in
147 Posts
Very inexpensive safety glasses with a bifocal.
for bright sun
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf51.html
for not so bright days
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/pyr...nd-amber-lens/
for night time.... great for being able to see the depth soundings on your chart plotter when sailing at night!
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf50.html

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf51.html

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/pyr...nd-amber-lens/

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf50.html
Likes For Jack Tone:
#21
Banned
Safety Readers work quite well for the most part. The 3M ones have the diopter lens too high and this interferes with normal viewing but these are the exceptions. A $20 pair of polycarbonate safety glasses in whatver diopter you need works as well as prescription glasses for bicycling and these provide more protection for your eyes. Standard eyeglasses allow too much air and dust flow under the lenses and to the sides.
I have pairs in no tint, in gray tint, and with yellow lenses for various light conditions. I avoid polarized ones as they can cause problems when viewing LCD displays on many devices.
I have pairs in no tint, in gray tint, and with yellow lenses for various light conditions. I avoid polarized ones as they can cause problems when viewing LCD displays on many devices.
Likes For Calsun:
#22
Newbie
Likes For Silver Steve:
#23
Banned
Sadly, past the age of 40 I have needed a diapoter magnification to read my bike computer display. I started using the Specchio mirrors that attach with a magnet to the front of eyeglasses but work best when the front of the frame does not curve a great deal.
Likes For Calsun:
#24
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Albuquerque NM USA
Posts: 297
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 145 Post(s)
Liked 165 Times
in
111 Posts
I also use inexpensive "sport" glasses with reader lenses built in.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Likes For Mtracer:
#25
NYC
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1168 Post(s)
Liked 103 Times
in
59 Posts
I've been using these from Amazon. They come with an RX insert.
KAPVOE cycling Glasses
KAPVOE cycling Glasses