Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Trail riding with bifocals?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
#6 ·
I know 2 guys that got into trouble with bifocals, and one of them has the progressive lenses. Neither was on an mtb, just walking. Misjudged the terrain and fell - at walking speed. I would expect the price of failure to be higher on the bike.

Besides, what close focus work do you need to do while riding? You shouldn't be checkin' the speedo while moving anyways! If you have to do a trailside fix on the bike, it would be good to have "readers" along, but cheap ones in the toolkit would work.

As a note, you could make the bifocals work - but it will require learning how to look at the right things. When I started night riding (with hat and bar lights, the best way) I learned that you do not want to move your head to look around - because the spotlight on your hat will wipe out all the terrain contrast when you look at it. Better to just move your eyes there. Bifocals would be the opposite - just move your head, not your eyes. Normal riding you (I) usually do a mix of both.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Wadester

What you describe about misjudging the terrain happened to me on the bike my first ride with the progressive lenses. But no fall.

I wanted to ask if I was the only one.

Today I ordered single vision glasses - for riding, etc.

Thanks everyone,
Terry
 
#9 ·
50 years old with progressives. (progressive lenses are a jack of all trades but master of none). I tried pretty hard to get used to riding with them but just wasn't comfortable. I now ride with non prescription lenses, (my distance vision isn't too bad) and carry some tiny fold up reading glasses from the pharmacy for map reading and repairs. Works well for me.

Barry
 
#10 ·
My 10 y/o daughter wears her bifocals with the auto-tinting. I think it's called transitions? I haven't heard any complaints, or riding off cliffs. However her riding has been pretty timid which I chocked up to last year being her first year riding mtb. I'll have to investigate and question about her vision while riding this spring.
 
#11 ·
Plano or Distance Only

There is nothing between my face and handle bars that I need to see that well.

And on groups rides, fumble long enough and someone else will make your repairs,
With age comes wisdom and the need (or not) for bifocals.

Tilos
 
#12 ·
I ruined my current glasses (single vision lenses) in my last crash and just got a new prescription today which now includes bifocals. I told the doctor I was concerned about wearing bifocals/progressives while riding and he told me there were several ways to go.

I could stick with single vision lenses and get readers, but as a nurse, that wouldn't be very practical. I was told there were the old fashioned window bifocals, fast progressives, slow progressives, and step-wise progressives and I'm just wondering of these, which do MTBers prefer?
 
#14 ·
Apparently my vision is not that bad

I use progressive lenses. With they have done for me is kept glasses on my face all day. That has been a problem in my past. I tried corrective inserts in athletic glasses before but they weren't bifocals.

In the end I ride without any corrective lenses at all. I find my field of view to be much less interrupted by gradations at the edge of lenses or frames or changes in focus. And I would rather have that. Fortunately the fundamental problem I have with my vision is an astigmatism. As I age though my eyes need more correction. It just hasn't gotten to the point where that gets in the way of successfully reading the ground around me.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Tank Girl said:
I ruined my current glasses (single vision lenses) in my last crash and just got a new prescription today which now includes bifocals. I told the doctor I was concerned about wearing bifocals/progressives while riding and he told me there were several ways to go.

I could stick with single vision lenses and get readers, but as a nurse, that wouldn't be very practical. I was told there were the old fashioned window bifocals, fast progressives, slow progressives, and step-wise progressives and I'm just wondering of these, which do MTBers prefer?
Click to expand...
I ride with single vision glasses. I tried riding with the progressive (no line) bifocals but that did not work well.

I wear my no line bifocals at work and everywhere else.

Terry
 
#16 ·
I wear progressives for everyday, but the lenses aren't big enough to offer full protection from branches, etc. I went online and got a set of RayBan wrap around sunglass frames fitted with progressive clear lenses, ground with the center point higher than normal on the lens to accommodate a head-down looking-forward position. That's important for riding with progressives, maybe bifocals as well.
 
#17 ·
What kind of frames/lenses do you guys wear? After not wearing contacts for 10 years, it was biking that made me take them up again. My regular glasses have plastic lenses, and my prescription sunglasses are actual glass. I don't want to lose my eyes in an endo/faceplan, not to mention replacement value for me on even lesser spills would be $300+.

I looked into prescription sports glasses, but seems cheaper to just have contacts and inexpensive, safe sunglasses.
 
#18 ·
As someone that managed to go over 40 years with great vision and then found myself with a set of progressive lens bifocals, all I can say is Them Things is Dangerous!
I don't even like walking with them on, and won't drive with them. People that are "used to them" because they've been wearing glasses for years need to try riding with some single vision glasses for a while and realize the difference.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#19 ·
I have progressive transition lenses and I've never had any issue. I tried riding without my corrective lenses and just hate things being out of focus. I use an old pair of glasses for riding not my every day glasses.
 
#20 ·
Hmmm, I have been riding with progressive bifocals for a few years. After reading this I wonder if I would ride better without them. Only time they really bother me is looking down to get on an escalator or turning around to look behind me. I haven't bought any riding glasses cause they would be too expensive to get as bifocals but maybe I will try some that are for distance only.
 
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
About this Discussion
26 Replies
22 Participants
Last post:
littlbigdave
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
posts
16M
members
534K
Since
1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Downhill - Freeride California - Norcal Shocks and Suspension Passion