These are the most common questions that Velodrom customers ask. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please write us (contact form under “Contact” above).
Q: Do Velodrom glasses keep the wind out of my eyes also when I use an open helmet?
A: Yes indeed. This is perhaps the most basic of the 11 functional design features that the Velodrom concept is built on. The secret is the design of the bridge fit, where the frame of the glasses rests on your nose. The trick is to make the fit tight enough to seal against the skin, while at the same time generous enough with space to fit a high or wide nose.
With unusually wide or high nose or nose bridge the equation becomes critical, and that is why the different models in the Velodrom collection fit different shapes of faces. Try them on to find your best choice. In the current collection Daytona and Hector are “generous”. Monaco medium and the rest of the models somewhat tighter.
Q: Do Velodrom lenses protect my eyes if I hit a stone or insect at high speed?
A: All Velodrom lenses are made of impact-resistant polycarbonate. When stressed the lens doesn’t shatter, it just gets dented. We’ve even tried to destroy a pair of Velodrom glasses with a shotgun, but what happened in the end, when we increased the pellet size, was the lens was blown out of the frame in one piece.
Q: What’s the difference between the three lens colours?
A: They block all dangerous ultraviolet light. The grey and brown Velodrom lenses are both marked CE standard Cat.2, which is a measure of how much visible light they block. Many sunglasses have the standard Cat.3 which we believe is too dark and can be a safety issue in sports or in traffic. The yellow Velodrom lenses are marked Cat.1 which means that they hardly block any visible light at all.
Grey lenses, besides the uv block they really don’t do much more than darken your view in a neutral way. The effect is just a zero-sum game with your pupils. They will, like a camera aperture, open wider when it gets darker, which is one reason why it is imperative with good uv protection on sunglasses. The reason Velodrom offers grey lenses at all is that some customers still prefer them. One must not neglect the obvious cool-factor of “black” sunglasses.
The yellow and brown lenses, that’s a different thing altogether. They affect the quality of the light that enters your eyes. Let’s compare with a camera again – the lens of your glasses has the same effect as a coloured filter on a camera lens. There will be another image coming through and reaching the inside of your eye, the equivalent of the camera film or sensor.
The yellow lenses that we call “Nightrider” enhance contrasts without blocking more than a fraction of the visible light. That is why the first time you try a pair of yellow-lens glasses you might get the impression that it gets lighter. It’s because the contrasts are “pulled apart” and made more visible. Yellow lenses are a perfect choice in drab weather conditions, rain, fog or at dusk or dawn. You can actually wear them at night.
The brown “Dayglow” lenses are the best choice for normal daylight condition, in sunlight or overcast. They also enhance contrast but not so much as the yellow lenses. The Dayglow lenses give your eyes comfortable “working conditions”. Much like the yellow lenses they reduce the inflow of visible blue light, the kind of light that makes you squint your eyes on a bright day. It’s not a coincident that glasses with this red-brown tint are given to people that have undergone glaucoma surgery and as a consequence are very sensitive to strong light.
Q: Are there Velodrom glasses with polarized lenses?
A: No, for several reasons. One is that polarized lenses strong enough to survive impact from stones or large insects wold be very expensive. But the main reason is that polarized lenses aren’t particularly helpful for the customers we reach out to, and could in some cases polarized lenses could even be a problem or a safety issue. Polarized lenses block light coming at a certain angle, and the practical use for that is exaggerated. Fishing in still water might be a good example where polarized lenses are useful. Pilots, for instance, avoid polarized lenses as they can distort or block the view of instruments. Instead, the yellow and brown Velodrom lenses block visible blue light in a way that takes set sting out of sunshine on sparkling water or wet tarmac.
Q: Are the lenses scratch-resistant?
A: They are made of polycarbonate, the same material as most helmet visors, and take a lot of wear. But no, the aren’t completely resistant to wear from metal or rocks. So don’t stor your glasses in your toolbox or in your pocket with small change. We considered making our lenses completely scratch-resistant, but shelved the idea when we saw the bill. To avoid skratcing on the inside of lenses on those models that have shorter arms, make sure they don’t “grind” when stored. Use a case like the Velodrom hard case.