The sunglasses must be an essential accessory to practice cycling and it is important to stop a few minutes to know the characteristics and benefits of each model, before making the purchase.
In the market we can find several types according to the type of lenses and their ability to filter sun rays, in order to obtain the most clear vision depending on the existing light.
In this sense, three types are recommended for cycling:
- Polarized, whose lenses only allow the passage of natural light, eliminating reflexes.
- Transparent, for low luminosity conditions (rain, fog, etc).
- Photocromatic, which combine characteristics of the previous two to become glasses for all kinds of conditions.
[IRP posts = "4154" name = "How to choose good cycling glasses"]
What are photocromatic lenses
Fotocromatic sunglasses lenses are made of polycarbonate and have a surface layer of reactive chemical compounds to ultraviolet radiation of sunlight. These chemical compounds are chlorine, silver or copper alloys.
By influencing the light on them they change their status, temporarily changing the solar filter of the lenses. If a greater amount of light on the compounds affects, the lenses darke, letting out less light.
On the other hand, if the amount of light is small and weak, they clarify. This causes us to have some sunglasses all in one, which quickly adapt to all types of light conditions.
Reasons to buy some photocromatic sunglasses
This versatility of photocromatic sun glasses make them highly recommended for the practice of cycling, in any modality, especially mountain. These are its main benefits for the cyclist:
Adapt to any light condition
The intensity of the light usually vary in each exit with your bike. Either if you leave soon at dawn and return with the midday sun or if a route of
Mountain Bike Combine Prado areas with forest sections, for example.
Fotocromatic cycling glasses adapt in a few seconds to each situation, filtering the necessary light to avoid glare and not lose sharpness.
It is not necessary to change the lenses
Many conventional sunglasses for cycling come with several games of lenses (polarized, transparent, etc.) that you must change and install before each output, depending on the light level that makes that day.
With photochromatic glasses you will have some lenses for all kinds of conditions, forgetting the sometimes cumbersome lens changes.
Filt the ultraviolet light
In addition to their ability to adapt to different light intensities, photromatic lenses also have ultraviolet radiation filters, which protect ocular health.
Bicycle outputs, either to train or just by fun, are usually long and last several hours, so a continuous exposure to sun rays without ultraviolet filter can be harmful to the eyes.
Disadvantages of photocromatic sunglasses
Photocromatic sunglasses are great cyclist allies and guarantee a clear vision without glare in the face of light changes. But they are also not infallible and their own composition is not as valid that would be desired in certain situations. Here are some of his disadvantages.
They are not very effective with high temperatures
In areas with extreme temperatures summers photocromatic sunglasses do not darken as much as they should. This is why the intense sun rays of this time of the year do not filter enough and increase the risk of momentarily blinding the eye.
They are not clarified with intense cold
On the other hand, with extreme cold, normally accompanied by cloudy sky, rain, etc. They have a hard time clarifying. So you can not get the necessary sharpness and vision clarity, forcing you to take off your glasses to continue the route.
They do not adjust the level of luminosity instantly
The chemical compounds of the filter that carry the photocromatic sunglasses for cycling take between 10 and 20 seconds. This means that adaptation to environmental light is not instantaneous.
If you are still this is not a problem. But it can be a problem if you are pedaling in relation to the speed at which you are. For example, if you suddenly enter a very leafy and dark forest area, the glasses will remain obscured and you will have already traveled a good part of the section without obtaining the necessary clarity.
Its protection level varies with extreme temperatures
In addition to their little sensitivity to extreme temperatures, photocromatic glasses lenses do not have a filtration of sufficient sunlight in extreme light conditions (very dark or very clear).
The category of the lens in which the photocromatic filter ranges from 1 (mild luminosity) to 3 (high), but not in 0 (very little light or night) or in the 4 (very intense luminosity, as in the high mountain or the sea).
They are more expensive
Fotochromatic glasses are usually more expensive than the rest of cycling glasses. On average, the starting price of a range of photromatic glasses is 20 euros higher than polarized.
Do you want a discount when buying your sunglasses for cycling? In the online store of Visiomasport You have a 20% discount when buying any glasses of the Addictive brand. Use the code: Tuvalum20
Conclusions
If you are going to acquire new sunglasses for cycling, photromatic ones should be your first option if you have a more or less baggy budget.
They will allow you to roll without glare in the face of light changes caused by weather conditions or the environment, retaining a clear and clear vision throughout the route.
Instead, you must keep in mind that they lose their properties due to light conditions and extreme temperatures (a lot or very little light) and the lenses are led to wear faster than polarized, so the care and cleanliness of them must be to be more thorough.
If you go out to train in high mountain, or very close to the sea, some photocromatic sunglasses will not filter the sunlight what is necessary and you will not get the necessary protection for your eyes.
Fotocromatic sunglasses lenses are made of polycarbonate and have a surface layer of reactive chemical compounds to ultraviolet radiation of sunlight. These chemical compounds are chlorine, silver or copper alloys.
By influencing the light on them they change their status, temporarily changing the solar filter of the lenses. If a greater amount of light on the compounds affects, the lenses darke, letting out less light.
On the other hand, if the amount of light is small and weak, they clarify. This causes us to have some sunglasses all in one, which quickly adapt to all types of light conditions.
This versatility of photocromatic sun glasses make them highly recommended for the practice of cycling, in any modality, especially mountain. These are its main benefits for the cyclist:
Photocromatic sunglasses are great cyclist allies and guarantee a clear vision without glare in the face of light changes. But they are also not infallible and their own composition is not as valid that would be desired in certain situations. Here are some of his disadvantages.
