Eyewear for cyclists

One of the coolest looking riders on the circuit, multi-champion Bradley Wiggins explains the benefits of eyewear for cycling.

Despite the lack of sunshine in the UK, there are many different brands of eyewear on the market and many reasons why cyclists are well advised to include a pair of sunglasses in their kit.

Sports glasses usually have polycarbonate lenses for strength, minimal weight and safety. They tend to be a wraparound design to help keep the wind, bugs, dust and other airborne debris from your eyes, so they are worth wearing whether you ride on or off road. Even indoors in a place like Manchester Velodrome, eyewear is useful, to prevent your eyes from drying out - which can be particularly bothersome if you wear contact lenses.

Many designs now have interchangeable lenses - anything from clear (for dark or cloudy conditions) to mirrored lenses (for bright sunshine), so that you can have just the right amount of ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) light protection - or pose with lenses to match your jersey.

Sports eyewear is even available for those who wear prescription lenses, either as a specially made lens, or as a special lens to clip in behind the regular 'shades'.

Basic principles of cycling clothes

by Tracy Brunger

Now more than ever before, dressing to go out and ride your bike has become more technical than you could ever imagine. Tracy Brunger and Simon Doughty give the low-down on how to dress for cycling so that even if you're sweating buckets, you'll stay dry and look great.

What to wear for cycling

by Tracy Brunger

There are a few differences between road and off road clothes, and many leisure cyclists occupy the mid-ground, borrowing from both camps. After your helmet and gloves (or 'track mitts') the key purchases should be shoes (see Cycling Shoes) and shorts, but there are plenty of cycling clothes to fill your wardrobe.

Cycling helmets

by Tracy Brunger

A helmet is probably the most important purchase after your bike. It makes sense to wear a helmet whenever and wherever you're riding. What's the difference between a £30 helmet and one costing three times the price? Our experts explain protective headgear.

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Bradley Wiggins

Sir Bradley Wiggins is a professional road and track racing cyclist who became the first Briton to win the Tour de France when riding for Team Sky. He is one of the few elite cyclists to have gained success in both professional track and road cycling. In 2012 Bradley not only won the Tour de France but also achieved gold in the Olympics, making him one of Britain's most decorated Olympians.

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