commuting in the rain – visibility

[Dickie]

I skip the glasses in the rain, I just find them annoying. I stick to a cycling cap under my helmet to help deflect most of the rain away from my face, plus if you get a waterproof version it solves two problems.

[sethpo]

I end up removing my glasses once the rain gets hard enough.

[dasgeh]

My helmet has a brim, and I don’t have any problems. I think maybe once or twice I’ve stopped to wipe the glasses, but in both cases I was as much stopping because it was crazy raining, and I wanted to take a break.

[vern]

I wish I could remove my glasses, but my vision is too deficient to do so. Maybe I’ll return to contact lens if I figure out how to get enough sleep to tolerate them. Thanks for the input.

[Emm]

I wear my contacts JUST for the ride in and home–I switch into glasses once I’m at work since I also can’t wear contacts without enough sleep.

For the rain, they make clear sunglasses, or ones with orange/yellow lenses. The yellow/orange lenses work great on cloudy days. If I have contacts in, even if its pouring rain I need to wear glasses. If water gets into my eyes while I’m wearing contacts I am blind for a few minutes

Also, rain-x your glasses. It really does help…Some vision stores also carry more eyewear specific sprays for this purpose, but my last dr just told me to try rain-x before buying a more expensive one.

[consularrider]

@Emm 82382 wrote:

I wear my contacts JUST for the ride in and home–I switch into glasses once I’m at work since I also can’t wear contacts without enough sleep.

For the rain, they make clear sunglasses, or ones with orange/yellow lenses. The yellow/orange lenses work great on cloudy days. If I have contacts in, even if its pouring rain I need to wear glasses. If water gets into my eyes while I’m wearing contacts I am blind for a few minutes

Also, rain-x your glasses. It really does help…Some vision stores also carry more eyewear specific sprays for this purpose, but my last dr just told me to try rain-x before buying a more expensive one.

There have been various warnings about using Rain-X with coated lenses. That said, I use it on my riding eyewear which is non-perscription. I’ve also used CatCrap which is marketed for skiing eyewear but has to be applied before each outing.

[Emm]

@consularrider 82384 wrote:

There have been various warnings about using Rain-X with coated lenses. That said, I use it on my riding eyewear which is non-perscription. I’ve also used CatCrap which is marketed for skiing eyewear but has to be applied before each outing.

I don’t think my lenses are coated, hence the dr making the recommendation (I have the cheapest ones available). I know they sell fancier stuff at optometry places that specialize in sports though…My brother used to buy some spray that did the same thing as rain-x since he had to wear his glasses on the track field.

[bobco85]

@Emm 82382 wrote:

I wear my contacts JUST for the ride in and home–I switch into glasses once I’m at work since I also can’t wear contacts without enough sleep.

If you’re having trouble wearing contact lenses, it could be that you need a different contact solution. I had to switch to another kind because I would have irritation every time I tried to put mine on in the mornings. Of course, getting enough sleep will help, too.

@Emm 82382 wrote:

For the rain, they make clear sunglasses, or ones with orange/yellow lenses. The yellow/orange lenses work great on cloudy days. If I have contacts in, even if its pouring rain I need to wear glasses. If water gets into my eyes while I’m wearing contacts I am blind for a few minutes

I absolutely agree and do this myself. I have sunglasses with interchangeable lenses (clear, amber, and dark grey) that I use in different situations. In addition, make sure the lenses are all polarized, too. It makes a huge difference in the rain.

@Emm 82382 wrote:

Also, rain-x your glasses. It really does help…Some vision stores also carry more eyewear specific sprays for this purpose, but my last dr just told me to try rain-x before buying a more expensive one.

Cool idea! I never thought about doing this. I’ll try it on my non-prescription sunglasses first, though.

[hozn]

I have the same issues. I use rx cycling glasses and while my vision is not too bad, taking the glasses off is not a good option. Wearing a cycling cap does help, but I find that rising in heavy rain still makes seeing tricky. I tend to switch to contacts on very rainy days — e.g. tomorrow? — and then remove the glasses if it gets bad. I realize that isn’t very helpful advice if contacts aren’t an option. Cycling cap (and keep your head down) is probably the best advice in that case.

[PotomacCyclist]

I wear a running cap under my bike helmet. Those tend to have extended brims. It works fairly well, although you may still get some rain on the lenses.

I’ve only used the cap for shorter rides this year, so I don’t remember if it gets uncomfortable on longer trips, say over an hour.

[dkel]

@hozn 82396 wrote:

Cycling cap (and keep your head down) is probably the best advice in that case.

I only have one pair of glasses, and I MUST wear them to see at all. On rainy days, I find that the brim on my helmet (much like the brim of a cycling cap) does a reasonable job minimizing rain on my lenses, especially if I pull the helmet brim slightly lower than usual, and keep my head down a bit. The rain that gets on my lenses tends not to bother me much—much less than I thought it would when I started riding in the rain. My most miserable ride ever was in cold, foggy, mist that coated my lenses with ultra-fine droplets; I couldn’t see a thing the whole way. It’s only happened once, but it has caused me to try to think of other vision correction options, including getting contacts. I think I’m due for a new prescription in the next couple of months anyway, and I plan to ask about it when I see the optometrist.

[vern]

Kansas City Monarchs baseball cap worked just fine in today’s conditions on what was a good, fun ride. I’ve got an appointment with the optomotrist in 2 weeks to look into getting contacts again. Thanks to all for your suggestions and advice.

[NicDiesel]

@vern 82452 wrote:

Kansas City Monarchs baseball cap worked just fine in today’s conditions on what was a good, fun ride. I’ve got an appointment with the optomotrist in 2 weeks to look into getting contacts again. Thanks to all for your suggestions and advice.

I have really screwy eyes (terrible astigmatism in my left eye) and have a really hard time finding contacts that will fit. If you decide to go the contacts route make sure that you give the trial pair they give you a thorough test ride before you order a full set. I can’t really drive or ride at night with my glasses so I usually go with contacts and a pair of wraparounds like this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5217[/ATTACH]

[Harry Meatmotor]

I’ve come to find that a cycling cap is possibly the third most necessary piece of clothing, behind a good pair of bibs and a decent jersey. For dealing with rain and oncoming headlight glare (hello MVT at the chain link fencing near the north end of Reagan Nat’l!!!) a good cap can’t be beat!

[brendan]

For sweat/salt I keep a cotton bandana/kerchief tied to the handlebars for my clear/sun glasses most seasons. It kinda works in the rain/mist when wet (turns droplets into non-beaded moisture) but you still do have to stop every once in a while to clear them.

[Author]

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