Conference noted::bicycle

    I had the same problem when I wore hard lenses and in fact had to stop
    wearing them for many years because they dried out all the time and
    irritated my eyes (even off the bike).  I was the only person in our
    club that liked the rain because I could see properly for once and they
    didn't dry out.
    
    About 10 years ago I found that they could accomodate my poor sight
    (about -8, and a lot of astigmatism) in special soft ones.  These are
    great but you have to spend a lot of cash initially and for the
    solutions, and then face up to the fact that they last 2-3 years
    maximum.  I do wear wrap-around sunglasses most of the time down here -
    1. Because it's sunny,
    2. Because it's dusty,
    3. Because it helps me pose along the Promenade des Anglais. (It's
    cheaper than buying a Porsche).
    
    

    
    
    I have contacts and found that the Oakley Eyeshades were the best.
    I tried alot of shades before I found these.  
    
    						Norm
    
    

    
    I just started using contacts (soft).  I'm trying them for biking,
    not for any other reason.  I'm hoping they will help in fog (not
    needing to wear glasses) and during spring pollen (so that I can 
    wear really protective eyewear that shields out wind=dust).
    
    I, too, am using the Oakley Eyeshades (Factory Pilots), and am
    very satisfied with these glasses.  They've given good protection
    on some quite breezy days - and it has been pollen season here for
    a few weeks.  The contacts do fine, even all day on the road, this way.
    
    (They don't do so well right now, in a dry office building, looking
    at a 60Hz 19" VDU, though.)
    
    I'd appreciate knowing other people's experience... contacts really
    are a lot of trouble!  -j

I tried wearing hard contact lenses while cycling and it was hopeless even with
shades. My solution was to give up and get a pair of specs made up. There was a 
small problem with that however, I hadn't worn specs for about four years and
they distorted my vision so much that they nearly caused me to crash into the 
kerb. Be warned.

Mike Collins

    I've been using soft contacts for just about a year now, and they're
    great!  In wondering if you'll like them it all depends on how easily your 
    eyes dry out.  I was concerned about that possibility, but there's been no
    problem for me.  
    
    I can get by with just about any sunglasses and love the freedom the
    contacts give me.  I've never heard anyone say anything good about hard
    contacts, definitely more trouble than soft.  It takes a little while
    to get used to putting them in, but that's the only inconvenience.
    
    It's a fair sum of money to get started ($100 plus kit) but, speaking
    for me, outdoor activities are much more enjoyable with contacts
    instead of glasses.
    
    Dave

    I've been wearing hard lenses for 8 years and I think there great.  For
    a while I was wearing shades when cycling but I didn't like getting
    racoon eyes from no sun where the shades are.
    
    When I was a new wearer of hard lenses my eyes were more sensitive, 
    it was a problem for me riding a bike.  The dirt was my biigest
    problem.  That when I started wearing sun glasses.  I thought though,
    whey where contacts and sun glasses, the reason for contact was so that
    I didn't have to wear glasses.  I took them off, and now I'm use to not
    wearing anything (humor).  Actually I wear contact only.  One of the
    benefits of hard lenses is that if dirt gets behind one, or they dry
    out, you can just wet them down with water from your water bottle.  If
    your more sensitive bring a small supply of wetting solution.  Down
    hills probably would help with drying lenses or dirt, my eyes tear.
    
    I also tried wearing perscription sun glasses.  I didn't like that at
    all.  Sweat gets on them, they slide down your nose, and I can see
    better with contacts.
    
    Short story, don't be affraid to stop and fix the problem.  By the way
    don't rub your eyes when wearing hard lenses, very dangerous.
    
    Hope that helps.
    
                                                                       

    I also wear rigid (gas permeable) contacts, and haven't had any real
    problems while cycling.  I do wear Bolle cycling shades with them, and
    haven't had any trouble with dirt, or dryness although my eyes water
    while going downhill.  I had soft contacts in the past, and will never
    go back.  Rigid lenses are easier to put in & take out, easier to care for,
    lower overall cost of ownership, offer sharper vision, and are more
    durable--- for me.  Their downside is the 2-4 week adaption period.
    
    /Larry

                                                         
    Let us know what you end of getting and how well they work .....
    
    I've had soft contacts for the past seven years and am just taking up 
    biking and really can't go without contacts. If I did, the result would
    be bottle cap size glasses that are least a centimeter wide and a really 
    sore nose! Maybe biking will be different, but from other sports (swimming, 
    skiing, horsebacking riding, etc.) I've learned to put up with just about 
    anything getting blown into them or having them drying out and I haven't 
    lost a pair yet due to a sporting activity (just up grades in prescription
    sizes). I'm to lazy to carry around a bottle of solution so I just 
    wipe 'em off with the closest watery solution that is around.
    
    I'm going to see if my regular bolle sunglasses will do the trick for 
    biking, but if you find out about a particular pair of shades that work 
    well, I'd be interested in knowing in case my old remedies don't work 
    for biking ...... thanks, anne
                                  
    

    
    When selecting Oakleys, I of course looked at the other models, 
    including the Mangos or Mombos or whatever they're called.
    A cyclist working at the store said only the Factory Pilots did
    it for him, because of his contacts.
    
    The Boll� glasses I've seen seem to be close-fitting enough to do 
    a good job.
    
    -john
    
    PS: One reason I wear sunglasses - despite the raccoon look (when you
    have a biker tan, do raccoon eyes make much difference?) - is for
    the UV protection.  I bike enough, and in harsh enough light (it's
    hard to avoid mid-day when you're doing an all-day ride) that UV
    protection becomes important, for long term health of the eyes,
    and just to decrease eye-strain, headaches, etc.

    I usually wear either the Oakley Eyeshades or the Blades. They both 
    have surfficent wrap arount but the Eyeshade does have a form band to
    keep the sweat away from you eyes. 
    
    There is also a new pair of sunglass called the Sportshield which is 
    shown on Pg 58 of the March 90 issue of Bicycling Mag. the sunglasses
    will fit right over your glasses. I don't know how comfortable they are
    but they got a pretty good write in the magazine.
    
    The sunglasses are made by:
    
    Sports Optic International, Inc.
    6191 Cornerstone Ct. E.
    No 101
    San Diego, CA 92121
    
    800-45OPTIC
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Dave

    I wear soft lenses and find that a pair of wrap-around sport glasses
    (Scott in my case) keeps enough of the wind and dirt out of my eyes. 
    Yes, they sometimes get covered with sweat, but I find that less of a
    problem that what the current weather is causing - fogging.
    
    Rich

    
          Add 1 vote for Oakley Eyeshades. After losing one of my
      one week old toric lenses ($$$$) while riding, I picked up
      the Oakleys and haven't had a problem since. All of the
      "non-sport" type sunglasses just didn't block enough of the
      wind to be effective.
    
                                       Steve
    
        BTW, I was wearing sunglasses at the time that I lost
             the lens.

    
    Talk about fog?  Today I had a new experience.  I rode in
    moderately heavy (heavy but not street-drenching) fog with
    the Oakleys - and they fended off the fog quite well - 
    occasionally, half of the lens would haze up a little, but
    would clear off immediately in the clear patches, or when
    I leaned into the fog.  Great stuff.
    
    And ... I had the inner satisfaction of knowing that I looked
    as cool as possible, even under foggy conditions!  ;-)
    
    -john
    
    (Note: by "Factory Pilot" in some preceding note, I mean 
    the Oakley "Eyeshades" model, of course.)

	Oakley's are great but they're too overpriced for my budget!  I
	wear Rudy Project's (see Nashbar) with soft contacts and have
	no problems at all.  I usually wear a sweat band to keep some of the 
	sweat from running down the glasses.

	By the way, I've read that IR protection is just as important as UV
	if you wear contacts.  Apparently the IR can heat up the lenses
	causing them to dry out faster.

	chris

    
    RE: .-1  (IR and lens-warming)
    
    I've wondered about some glasses' claim to shield against infrared.
    
    Yesterday it was only moderately sunny and only moderately warm
    (75�-80�) but with the Oakley's sweatguard, it shielded wind so
    well that my eyes felt feverish.  I think a *little* air circulation
    would be nice.  I wonder if mirrored lenses might not help, too
    (or the IR-proof ones?).  
    
    Anyone have experience to offer?
    
    -john
    
    PS: The contacts plus Eyeshades did fine, however, in the pollen
    and wind that yesterday offered.

    I got my new Trashbar catalog in the mail today. Trashbar is having a
    close out on Bolle Chronoshield's. $21.90! They come with two
    lenses,grey and brown, two temeple sets, and a carry case. The only
    color offered is ivory (which is also the color of my bike).
     If you don't have a catalog yet the Nashbar stock number is YY-ICS
    and the phone number is 800-627-4227.
    
    Joe
    

I've tried wearing soft torric lenses and regular sunglasses while riding and
was unable to comfortably ride. Since then I've changed contacts to rigid
gas permeable lenses. I have not tried riding with these yet, however, since I
have dry eyes I will probably still have a problem. I have problems just
wearing contacts, let alone wearing them while riding.

I did buy a pair of the SPORTSHIELD sunglasses described in a previous reply.
These sunglasses go right over a normal set of glasses. I have not ridden
with them yet, however, they do fit comfortably over my regular glasses. The
only concern I have is that the sides of the frame is solid, I worry that it
may cut down peripheral vision. However, with them on it is hard to judge
just how much peripheral vision is lost.

                                                        Mark K.

	What you could do is as suggested earlier - give up the idea of lenses,
you could get some Cosmo Smallpiece (AKA Benny Hill) glasses, die your hair
blonde, get a pony tail and wear overalls on top of your racing kit....

	Some people seem to manage that way...  :>)