Ono’s Trading Company Polarized Performance Readers

By the time we reach our forties, we start losing the ability to focus on objects that are close to us. I’m there, baby.

I’ve started carrying a pair of drug store reading glasses in my seat bag on rides because, I may not need to see my odometer or my cue sheet but I’ve got to see the little piece of glass in my tire tube if I flat. The glasses usually get smooshed around and fall apart after I’ve rooted around in the bag for lip balm or a band-aid a few times. What a pain. I had pretty much given up seeing anything up close while I was out having fun in the sun.

Ono’s has come out with some high quality polarized sunglasses that feature a small magnifying lens at the bottom - built-in readers! That area is unobtrusive enough that it never interferes with your regular view of what’s ahead. The lens material is something called CR39 and the visual clarity is fantastic! I’m enjoying them while riding my bike, but I’ve found them staying on my head when I drive to the grocery or work out in the garden as well. Styles are not super-technical looking, so you’ll look great no matter what you’re out doing.

I wear contact lenses, but glasses wearers can get Ono’s with prescription lenses in their frames. Ono’s also produces a line of women’s specific sunglass readers for LL Bean, made of the same material but meant for smaller faces — there’s even a pink frame available. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself surprised at how much you weren’t seeing before!

Would I change anything about these sunglasses? Yes, make them with photochromic lenses, so they adjust to cloudy days and shady lanes.

$89-169 available through www.onostradingcompany.com or www.llbean.com. Magnification available from 1.5 to 2.5. We tested the Harbor Docks (msrp $89)

We need protection from the rays summer and winter (all this snow is blinding!). When I was cycle commuting in the dark both ways, my goggles were great but now that I’m burning fossil fuel to get to work, I’m back in regular sunglasses. These very cool polarized sunglasses from Zeal are great for crossover wear. I can wear them on the bike when it gets warmer because they have shatterproof lenses and little super-grip nosepads to keep them put on my nose. For those of you who are blessed with long eyelashes, you can flip the nosepads for more lens clearance. But they don’t look so sports-specific that I can’t wear them around town as regular sunglasses. The best of both worlds! Zeal Airestreams $110 msrp.