Anyone have sport/biking sunglasses recommendations? Preferably ones that I can get in RX or with RX inserts.
My experience in this domain is largely combat sunglasses like wiley-X or ESS which I am looking at but there are so many sport focused brands to consider too and was trying whittle down on what I am looking at.
Any good recommendations for XL helmets? My 63.5 cm head seems to outclass most helmets folks recommend me and the few Iāve found are less comfortable than Iād prefer.
Youāre right. Most of the top recommended helmets max out size-wise at 63cm. Thatās some bullshit.
That said, there do exist helmets that go bigger. The first one I was able to find is the Lazer Strada Kineticore that comes in an XL size of 61-64cm. It is available only in all black, and thatās it. Sold out or unavailable in all other colors.
Itās annoying that you will have limited selection, and will have trouble finding stock, but it exists.
Okay I got my helmet (still need to do the initial ride), but hoping to finally test my ebike tomorrow night in the evening.
That said, anyone have any good riding gloves they would recommend?
Gloves are the hardest. Iāve never found any that are significantly superior than other options. Just go to a bike shop and get whatever feels right. Donāt buy fancy overpriced ones from like Rapha or whatev, because that extra money wonāt actually get you any extra quality.
Maybe someday someone will make extremely high quality gloves worth paying extra for. Or maybe someone has, and I just havenāt found them despite searching every year.
I havenāt used them myself, but Iāve seen others with these kinds of handlebar mounted mittens that allow you to wear lighter weight gloves beneath them since they block most of the direct cold air and wind.
One example, I am not directly suggesting this brand:
Bar mitts only solve the problem of protecting your hands from the elements. They are almost exclusively used by delivery cyclists who are forced to ride in all conditions. Otherwise, youāll only see them used by the weird old guy who rides slow around town, or the super adventurer who is biking up a mountain in the snow.
Even if the weather is super bad, and bar mitts make sense, that doesnāt mean you can go without gloves. If itās really that cold and wet, a cyclist will still want gloves, and maybe even glove liners. Your hands canāt be on the bars all the time. You donāt want to take out sweaty hands into the frigid air with the wind of cycling blowing away the sweat and causing frostbite.
Even if you have bar mitts to solve the problems of insulation and precipitation, they do not eliminate the need for cycling gloves. The primary purposes of cycling gloves is to provide padding for hand comfort, and to avoid skin chafing. They also provide protection in the unfortunate event of a fall. They enable the cyclists to put their palms out against the ground to create friction and reduce damage to the rest of their body. Even on the hottest summer day, Iāll wear cycling gloves if I ride any significant distance.
The thing is, every glove Iāve had does the same serviceable job. Iāve never found one to be more comfortable, more durable, or superior by any measure.
Iāve largely stopped wearing gloves on long rides (70-100 miles). My last pair wore out, and I was lazy about replacing them, and then I just didnāt find I really needed them.
When itās gold I wear gloves, but usually not bike gloves, since I really only bike in the cold when Iām commuting.
Perfectly valid. Gloves are not a necessary item at all. I just wear them because if I donāt, my hands get all messed up. Iām sure that doesnāt happen to everybody.
The thing I am doing after this season is getting some horns on my bike like I used to have on my mountain bike. No brakes or anything on them. Theyāre nice for long rides, and I realized on our last century suddenly how much I missed having them.
I donāt worry about aero on these rides. We donāt bother drafting and I usually sit up straighter than a road biker would. I probably spend 20% of all my time on a long ride not touching the handlebars at all and just sitting fully upright.
I finally started my bike commute to work and back this week and its been both scary (nothing serious just me not riding a bike for 15 years plus very steep hills on shared streets) and exciting. Thanks for all the tips especially the helmet rating website from VTech.
Does anyone use a glasses mounted sideview mirror when riding? Been thinking about one because I wear glasses anyway and it would help situational awareness. Would love any recommendations anyone has.
When I was in the bike club these were used extensively. They were used by the ride leaders to keep an eye on the rest of the riders in the group.
Theyāre inexpensive, so it doesnāt hurt tog et one and try it out yourself. See if it works for you. Iāve also seen people who use the handlebar mounted mirrors.
For me, I donāt use either. I just turn my head and look around.