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Sunglasses on the Bike
My current aero helmet (Giro A2) makes wearing sunglasses a PITA. I can't put on the glasses then the helmet and once the helmet is on it's difficult to get the glasses in over my ears. On top of that, the helmet seems to contribute to the glasses instantly fogging up before I can get any speed to keep them clear.
In light of this, I am contemplating either forgoing the glasses all together (I race sprints primarily) or attaching them somewhere on my bike to try to put on further down the road once my feet are in and I am moving. Any thoughts or opinions on either of these strategies?
My first race in quite some time is on Saturday and figured I would try a new approach to test it out. This race, according to the race director, has a 900 meter climb at 8-9% right out of T2 so the fogging issue will be very real. (BTW - I think the race director has to be wrong - I am betting it's 2-4% and they just add 5% since no one in the Midwest knows what a climb looks like. I guess I'll find out soon enough.)
In light of this, I am contemplating either forgoing the glasses all together (I race sprints primarily) or attaching them somewhere on my bike to try to put on further down the road once my feet are in and I am moving. Any thoughts or opinions on either of these strategies?
My first race in quite some time is on Saturday and figured I would try a new approach to test it out. This race, according to the race director, has a 900 meter climb at 8-9% right out of T2 so the fogging issue will be very real. (BTW - I think the race director has to be wrong - I am betting it's 2-4% and they just add 5% since no one in the Midwest knows what a climb looks like. I guess I'll find out soon enough.)
Comments
I wear Rx glasses myself, but haven't yet dumped the cash on either an Rx shield for my Giro Air Attack Shield (I've heard they can run close to $800?), or Rx swim goggles either. Depending on the time of day, sunlight & other conditions, I've gone with various combos of Rx sunnies or transition lens glasses under the shield, or just left the shield up/off if it would be too dark. Need to get some new wraparound Rx shades, broke the Nikes I had probably from throwing gear on a race morning last year, and have just rolled with some flat-front Puma sunnies ever since. Not that aero or fast to put on.
Should be much easier to put on while biking than standing on the ground in transition, right? Ha. Potential for an early flying dismount!
But on a serious note - if its causing you this much bother, why not just ditch the aero lid, over 20k the time savings won't stack up to much and the level of grief and faff putting them on (either stationary or on the road) and time loss for foggy vision (p.s. have you tried anti-frost) you probably find that 20s gain from the helmet is gone anyway!
As for the time savings, in a sprint it's worth the effort to gain 20s. I don't have all day to make that time up and need every second I can gain. I don't do sprints to practice for something else - that is what I race and I want to get faster across all 5 segments. Some day I may try some distances over Oly, however I want to get as fast as my genetics and time will allow before slowing down. I am young enough to the sport to still potentially make real gains in speed before trying to stretch that speed any further.
unofficial non-general counsel for TRS Racing and other TRS-related entities
Keep in mind total ascent for the entire course was about 450 feet.
Do you have strava or Garmin connect? Those should allow you to see grades.