Thursday, January 5, 2012

Today I Will Review A Revolutionary Step in Bicycle Eyewear- Moto-Optix Lenses.


I got a Moto-Optix polarized bicycle lens in the mail the other day, and while I haven't had a whole lot of time to write about it, I have had time to use it, and this really is an incredible piece of equipment.  




The lens comes with everything you see here - well, yours most likely won't come with a fancy handwritten note, because you aren't a famous blogger. The lens is a single piece that you attach to your helmet via Velcro. Installation is a snap; peel the included Velcro from the backer, throw it on your helmet, and stick the lens on. 


Make that Velcro "ripping" sound in your head. 

Once the lens was installed, I removed the blue protective film, and looked at my new windshield. 



Then I wore them around the office for a while. 

To protect the PC staff  from my laser eyes. 

My winged over-mantle looked great, and really emphasized the flare of my beard. On the ride home, however, is where the lens really began to shine. I am a glasses wearer when I am not on the bike anyway, so it's not like glasses "bug" me. However, being able to ride without glasses but still have the sun protection my eyes want is incredibly comfortable, since the lenses are not touching my face or head. It really is an odd sensation at first,  but one I got used to fairly quickly. These aren't some cheap smoked plastic lenses either; the Moto-Optix  lenses are polarized to reduce glare and have incredible optical quality. I have very expensive riding glasses that are not this optically correct. 

I can only think of a couple of things that will make these better; I had a little problem with the Velcro included peeling off of the Styrofoam on the helmet when I tried to  re-position the lens. Unfortunately, some of the Styrofoam stayed attached and ruined the stickiness of the tape in the process. It would be nice if the company included a set of back up strips, just in case. Another great thing (I'm an idea man, you see?) would be to lose the wings on the side, make the lenses smooth, and put reflective material on the edges so the extra space can be used as a mirror. Million dollar ideas? I just give them away. 


I like these a lot, and I will wear the hell out of them for commuting and weekend rides, because they really are a revolution in comfort. Moto-Optix is marketing them to triathletes, and I can see where that is a worthwhile market, but I would say that anyone who is riding a lot should really consider them. Especially here in Texas because heat = sweat, and nothing is more annoying than having your glasses slip while you are riding. The lenses are available in either amber or dark grey tints, and are $39.95 a pair, and in my opinion are a real bargain. Once again, this is a made in USA product, so if you don't want to support terrorists, you should buy USA first. 

6 comments:

  1. What is the purpose of the spikes at the back of the shades? Or are they supposed to be flames? Is there another version that simply is round/oval back there? Like the lenses on the motorcycle helmet they show on their website.

    I have no objection to style, but I have seen a lot of cracks starting from corners such as these shades have. Round or oval, on the other hand, can be passed on to the kids at some distant future date. Make sure these guys let you do a long-term report...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the idea. I especially like that they are made in the USA!!

    I wonder if these will help prevent tearing on very cold days.

    Paz :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chandra, I'm sure they will help prevent tearing, but I'm not sure I'd want to wear them in the predawn darkness when tearing is at its worst. I wear safety goggles.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Steve, I will be doing a long term report for sure. I think the flames are for style and wind venting, because these are very effective at blocking the ind. I'm guessing I will see the true need for them in August.

    Paz, I like that they are USA made as well. They are great tear stoppers, as I said, but they are dark, so I wouldn't wear them in the morning. The Amber lens might be more appropriate for morning rides - though I haven't looked through it, so that is speculation.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shawn here from Moto-Optix.com and thanks for the feedback regarding our bicycle lens product. The product design has been tested extensively with zero product failure. The meet and exceed ANSI impact standards and we are considering another version that will have the rounded edges. Lastly, if you are considering purchasing a lens from us you may want to consider the Amber Base for ultimate protection in many different lighting conditions. We'd love to have you as a customer and feel free to email me at salesinfo@moto-optix.com anytime.

    ReplyDelete
  6. We'd like to extend something for all of you interested in our bicycle lens...free shipping in the USA until January 15, 2012.
    Enter in austinblog during checkout for discount code to be applied. Thanks for looking and I'm available to answer questions anytime at www.moto-optix.com

    ReplyDelete