Fashion Q: Helmet/Sunglasses Question

[Mr. SR500]

I'm looking for a new helmet/sunglasses combination. I've usually worn dark helmets in the past, currently a black/carbon Volt. However it causes sweat to run in my eyes, so I'm going back to a Giro. I'm also getting contacts so will be getting some new sunglasses. We stopped by a big LBS over the weekend, tried some black framed glasses with a black helmet - my wife said it looked "bad" in a good way. However we also tried some white Oakley Radar's with an red/orange mirrored lens. We both really liked the glasses, but not with the black helmet. So black helmet/black glasses, or white helmet/white glasses? The white glasses seemed more trendy and we both liked them, but the black goes with my dark bikes, and a safe choice.

P.S. Sorry so long....

[Tuckervill]

I hated white sunglasses in the '60s and I hate them now. They're just too noticeable and ostentatious. That's just my opinion.

That said, if you're going to wear white sunglasses, they'll be less obvious if you wear a white helmet, too. Again, going with my personal preference, here.

Karen

[ny biker]

You match your sunglasses to your bike?

I wear white/light colored helmets because I have enough trouble on hot days without a black thing on my head to absorb even more heat. My Oakley Flak Jackets are black with the darkest lenses I can get because I have problems to light sensitivity. I used to have blue Rudy Project glasses with blue lenses but I think they frightened some of the children I used to ride with when I did Trips for Kids, which is why I went with neutral black for my Oakleys.

As long as my socks match my jersey, I don't worry about anything else matching.

[7rider]

You match your sunglasses to your bike?


Yeah, I thought your glasses are supposed to match your jersey. ;)

And the helmet matches the bike, which is neutral in color so as not to clash with your kit (including your socks).

:D

Personally, I opt for light (white/silver) helmets - and go with darker glasses. And...I just ordered a white/silver Volt from my LBS b/c it can handle a pony tail better than my current Whatever-I-Have for summer rides. Hmmmmm...not happy to hear it's a sweat monster.

[Catrin]

Yeah, I thought your glasses are supposed to match your jersey. ;)

And the helmet matches the bike, which is neutral in color so as not to clash with your kit (including your socks).

:D

Personally, I opt for light (white/silver) helmets - and go with darker glasses. And...I just ordered a white/silver Volt from my LBS b/c it can handle a pony tail better than my current Whatever-I-Have for summer rides. Hmmmmm...not happy to hear it's a sweat monster.

LOL, everyone here is great! So both of my bikes are/will be some shade of blue, and I have a black helmet....didn't actually think about the heat thing and with summer coming.....new helmet time! I do love my black prescription Oakley sunglasses with black lenses - I do have some sun sensitivity.

[kermit]

I have a light (silver) helmet and silver framed sunglasses. Lighter and more neutral is better, that way I can mix and match jerseys. Have you ever tried any type of head/sweatband under your helmet? I sweat alot and have found the halo and under armour headbands really help keep the sweat out.

[Biciclista]

wow. i usually pick function over fashion. But it's your head. why you would want a hot black helmet ?
As a serious cyclist, I would never choose something that caused me to sweat more just so that I looked better. That's my opinion.

[tulip]

I don't really care what color my helmet is, as long as it's comfortable and visible. Black helmets would be neither.

[Mr. SR500]

Thanks I think... on the sweat issue, the Volt is a nice helmet, fits well, but is basically smooth around the front, whereas the Giro's have channels. That is about all I could figure. I've worn white, red, blue, silver, and black helmets, as far as I could tell color had very little to do with feeling hot or cooler. I do where a headband (highly recommend), it might be the the way the Volt fits my head, but I didn't have the problem with my Pneumo or Atmos. I think I'm going with the white/silver Ionos, so I'll see which glasses look better with it...

Thanks again

[GLC1968]

Personally, I hate white sunglasses. I think they look cheap (even when they are not). I think it's a throw back to my desire to resist the 80's trends. All the girls with the big hair and heavy make-up seemed to favor both white sunglasses and white cars. I can't stand either to this day! :p

My sunglasses are dark charcoal and I have one white helmet and one dark charcoal one. I say, go with neutrals and use the jerseys or the bikes for the fun colors!

[TxDoc]

I've usually worn dark helmets in the past, currently a black/carbon Volt. However it causes sweat to run in my eyes, so I'm going back to a Giro.

Have you tried Rudy helmets? Many people who complain about sweat when racing have found Rudy Project helmets/shades to be the best combinations. This is especially true if you race any TT's because their helmets have matching visors/lenses that can be mounted on.


However we also tried some white Oakley Radar's with an red/orange mirrored lens.

Those are very nice lenses. Could you match the lens color instead of the frame color - and find a black or otherwise dark helmet with some red and white highlights? That would avoid the plain white helmet. A while ago someone (Bell? Giro?) made a helmet that was white, red, black and something else (yellow or orange) - which could be a good match.


The white glasses seemed more trendy and we both liked them, but the black goes with my dark bikes, and a safe choice.


What colors are your bikes - do they have predominant black or some other colored insert that you could match? Look at the teams around - sometimes their designers go through a whole lot of effort to match sponsor colors - so we can get really good ideas fom them. Some predominantly black teams this time around are BMC and Caisse d'Epargne for example. I'm sure you would see more if you take a peek at the races, Tirreno just finishe today and Milan-Sanremo comes up Saturday.
Good luck and have fun shopping!


You match your sunglasses to your bike?

What's wrong with that... I match everything!!! :D

[Aquila]

Wow, you folks are good.

I try to choose my cycling jerseys based on what won't disable anyone who accidentally gets downwind. The rest is whatever seems to fit comfortably.

[Skierchickie]

Geeze, you guys! I'd never get out of the house and on my bike if I tried to match everything!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've always liked tortoishell sunglasses.
No wI have tortoishell fitover sunglasses that go right over my regular eyeglasses. They also have side protection, so my eyes are protected against cold wind, bees, rain, etc. :D

White sunglasses are so.... 1960's! ;) Carnaby St., Twiggy, and all that. :D

[Jiffer]

I have white sunglass and white helmet (and white Sidi shoes and white San Marco Mantra saddle). Dh bought me the sunglasses for Christmas. I was surprised they were white at first and had to ponder how I felt about that. I was even more surprised he actually got me sunglasses at all. When we first started cycling he bought us both matching Oakleys. They fit well and were very nice to look through, but I was never thrilled with how they looked on me and wished I could have chosen my own. He knew I wanted more feminine sunglasses and, for Christmas, decided to choose for me again. He got me Oakley Enduring sunglasses in white with rose colored lenses. He knew I wanted the rose colored lenses, but even I didn't know what actual frames I wanted. However, he made it clear I could exchange them if I wanted something else. After checking out my options, I decided I liked the one's he got me a lot. I do like that the white matches both my helmet, shoes and saddle. And it's different and kind of trendy.

To each his own. I'm digging my white. :cool:

[Mr. SR500]

TxDoc, Thanks for the input. I tried a Rudy Project helmet last year, wasn't a great fit, bummer, since we can get them discounted thur the team. My road bike is black with gray logos, cross bike is flat black with gray logos, & TT bike is silver with black logos - notice a theme... I ride for a Colavita regional team, and our kit is similar to the Colavita women's team, so to add a little color:

http://www.colavitaohiocycling.com/images/2010-COLA_BACI_M1b-copy.gif

[nscrbug]

Well...I really don't have much of an opinion on the "matching" thing...since my helmet is red/black/white and my sunglasses are "carbon" colored with red lenses. BUT...I did want to throw out there, that I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new Giro Prolight helmet!!! If you're planning on switching back to Giro...give this new helmet a serious look, if you haven't already. By far, THE MOST COMFORTABLE helmet I've ever worn. So light, I can barely feel it on my head...it just disappears.

Linda

[tc1]

... and take the helmet off. Then try on each pair of shades, using all your usual tests for good glasses fit for you. Bet the decision will be easy.

[shootingstar]

Geeze, you guys! I'd never get out of the house and on my bike if I tried to match everything!

Yup. If I wanted to buy sunglasses to match helmet..then it would be a longer search and probably more money which I'm not willing to spend right now for sunglasses if it's just a fashion fit.

Besides I'm not overly crazy about my helmet colour combo and it took ages for me to find a helmet that fitted with visor, in mid-price range only and colour combo that I only half-liked. I was desperate to replace a cracked helmet quickly.

No, never would choose a black helmet. Lack of visibility plus having black hair, dark sunglasses and black helmet probably just dullens my cycling look, not enhance /enliven it all.

Mr.SR, perhaps red rimmed sunglasses will always have cool factor, if not silver rimmed. :)

[MommyBird]

I love white cars and I have never had big hair, even in the 80's!

I wanted white Oakleys with pink lenses but could not get them in prescription. So, I went with hot pink frames and dark gray lenses. I have seen as many or more guys with my hot pink frames as I have girls!

Honestly, I didn't think guys cared if their helmets and glasses coordinated with each other.

My husband had a purple helmet once. I wouldn't recommend it.
Now he has white and silver, and his current frames are black.
He also has amber lenses in an old chipped up silver and royal frame. These are no longer a fashion statement. Just thinking about those three colors together makes me feel a little queasy.

I think orange frames would be fun. I say have fun with your cycling gear. Step outside of your day-to-day style. If you are like my husband and you have dedicated cycling glasses, who cares if they coordinate with anything!?!?!

[7rider]

I ride for a Colavita regional team, and our kit is similar to the Colavita women's team, so to add a little color:



Does your team have any requirements re: helmet and/or glasses for uniform appearance? I know some teams require certain colored helmets (well...maybe they draw the line at the glasses :cool::rolleyes:).

You could always kit up fully and then check out the whole ensemble to get a true sense......

Given that kit, I might look for blue or red frames to spice things up.

[journey]

I hated white sunglasses in the '60s and I hate them now. They're just too noticeable and ostentatious. That's just my opinion.

That said, if you're going to wear white sunglasses, they'll be less obvious if you wear a white helmet, too. Again, going with my personal preference, here.

Karen

The same with you, I also don't like white sunglasses, it looks like so strange, ugly, I think the red or purple ones are okay, I found some from eBay store, I like collect sunglasses, like women buy shoes and clothes.
http://health-beauty.shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_npmv=3&_trksid=m38&_nkw=Sunglasses&_sacat=26395#

[Mr. SR500]

Thanks, no requirements on what to wear with the kit, I don't race much, until cyclocross in the Fall. Despite all the warning I'm leaning toward white. My wife liked them, and the'll be primarily for cycling. Not much of an orange or red guy, but would like to get out of the box a bit. I'll going to look again this weekend. Thanks again for the input!

[roguedog]

hey! while you're matching anyway, buy these shoes (evil grin) :D:p

http://www.serotta.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71398

[Miranda]

I just skimmed this thread, other than OPs... but for me it's white and white...

white for women I think adds a fem touch, but still clean neutral

for guys I think it kinda says Euro, pro

Giro pneumo was my pre-crash helment, new one Atmos (white/silver)

Glasses, Rudy Projects' Ekynox SX white frame / pink bi-chromic lens w/clear switch out also
(p.s. I love my contacts for cycling for per vision reasons, but if you ever wanted to get inserts RX Rudy's can go this way as well)

my shoes are Mavic Xena... only came in white, but fit was so awesome they could have been fugly and I would have still bought them lol... BUT... my head/face area always ties out with my feet... so I kinda match all the time.

And last two bicis are primary white frame, w/one color accent.

Happy Shopping.:)