A good pair of sunnies can make the difference between life and death.
Okay, maybe not, but when I used to ride without glasses I got pine needles, mud, and assorted other ground matter into my eyes putting me out of commission for about 5 minutes every other ride or so. Basically, not pleasant.
At the same time, no one likes their vision getting progressively blurred and foggier as they try to make a climb, or constantly having to push their blast shields up their nose to make sure they don't fall off. That might be why the sunglasses are such a difficult piece of a cyclist's kit to get right, and why the pros are always changing what they wear.
Serfas is known for their lights and expansive range of accessories, but they aren't generally brought up in a discussion about eye-wear. I think this is a shame, because the Cascades take expectations and leave them dry-heaving halfway through the last climb.
Okay, maybe not, but when I used to ride without glasses I got pine needles, mud, and assorted other ground matter into my eyes putting me out of commission for about 5 minutes every other ride or so. Basically, not pleasant.
At the same time, no one likes their vision getting progressively blurred and foggier as they try to make a climb, or constantly having to push their blast shields up their nose to make sure they don't fall off. That might be why the sunglasses are such a difficult piece of a cyclist's kit to get right, and why the pros are always changing what they wear.
Serfas is known for their lights and expansive range of accessories, but they aren't generally brought up in a discussion about eye-wear. I think this is a shame, because the Cascades take expectations and leave them dry-heaving halfway through the last climb.
First, the numbers - Serfas's Cascade SE's cost $60; not bad at all for cycling-specific sunglasses which usually require the mortgaging of your least valuable child. For that sextuplet of Alexander Hamiltons, Serfas sends you their light frame and 4 sets of interchangeable lenses for whatever the weather requires. I'm partial to the versatility of the red-tinted lenses myself, but the two dark shades and set of clear lenses handle depressing grey days, blistering sun, and everything in between.
Lenses are a literal snap to change. A small tab towards the nose-piece pops out as you gently bend the main-frame around it, and the tab at the far end of the glasses follows out of its ridge with ease. Reverse the process to slip different lenses right back in.
Lenses are a literal snap to change. A small tab towards the nose-piece pops out as you gently bend the main-frame around it, and the tab at the far end of the glasses follows out of its ridge with ease. Reverse the process to slip different lenses right back in.
The frames come in red, black, or white, each with a very classy set of stripes along the base of the two hinged arms of the frame. The arms seem to be held in place by a small crew underneath and through the hinge, which means they could conceivably be replaced if needed.
Fortunately, it probably won't be needed. One of the really neat things about the Serfas is its frame construction and how pliable it is. These things can be bent in every conceivable direction and spring right back to their original shape, which probably explains why they're so comfortable. As embarrassing as it is to say it, on one ride with these glasses I spent 5 minutes trying to think of where I may have dropped my handy Cascades before I realized that they were still on. If that doesn't make these sunglasses worth buying, I don't know what does. The minimal frame construction out of such a cooperative material means that fogging is a thing of the past and the glasses stick to your head like glue without you even noticing it.
Fortunately, it probably won't be needed. One of the really neat things about the Serfas is its frame construction and how pliable it is. These things can be bent in every conceivable direction and spring right back to their original shape, which probably explains why they're so comfortable. As embarrassing as it is to say it, on one ride with these glasses I spent 5 minutes trying to think of where I may have dropped my handy Cascades before I realized that they were still on. If that doesn't make these sunglasses worth buying, I don't know what does. The minimal frame construction out of such a cooperative material means that fogging is a thing of the past and the glasses stick to your head like glue without you even noticing it.
One of the features of these glasses that I found most intriguing was the fact that the top of the frame features squared-off edges. I don't know if this was a stylistic or performance decision from the designers at Serfas, but it certainly adds to the unique look of the glasses and actually helps to funnel sweat away from the eyes, which can be very important in the middle of a tight race or just a very hot ride.
The rubber used along the nose-bridge may as well have been designed with my nose as a reference, and the rubber along the arms keeps them on your face without any fuss trying to take them off. Serfas also gives the arms a generous slope downwards in order to avoid clashing with your helmet, which certainly seems to work well coupled with the rounded edges of the tips which slide on and off the head with relative ease. Because of the frame's tendency to want to spring back to its original form it may be necessary to spread the arms out before putting it on your head, but that's a small price to pay for a comfortable and well-functioning set of shades.
Glare was never a problem, and the generous lens coverage means that getting a pebble to the eye is as rare as good lobster in Kansas.
The rubber used along the nose-bridge may as well have been designed with my nose as a reference, and the rubber along the arms keeps them on your face without any fuss trying to take them off. Serfas also gives the arms a generous slope downwards in order to avoid clashing with your helmet, which certainly seems to work well coupled with the rounded edges of the tips which slide on and off the head with relative ease. Because of the frame's tendency to want to spring back to its original form it may be necessary to spread the arms out before putting it on your head, but that's a small price to pay for a comfortable and well-functioning set of shades.
Glare was never a problem, and the generous lens coverage means that getting a pebble to the eye is as rare as good lobster in Kansas.
So the glasses are fantastic for the price, but Serfas didn't stop there. The case for these glasses is a very well made taco-of-safety, and the lenses are contained in a very nice little file-folder that velcros right to the inside of the case itself, so it's very easy to keep everything together and as safe as these glasses keep your eyes.
For only $60 you might expect to be compromising somewhere for these glasses, but you really aren't. The only drawback I can see to having these shades is the lack of an Oakley badge. If that's worth an extra $100 or so, then by all means, skip over these ridiculously high-value and high-functioning shades for your logo.
The Serfas Cascade SE's are certainly deserving of an impressive 5/5.
MSRP - $60 USD
The Serfas Cascade SE's are certainly deserving of an impressive 5/5.
MSRP - $60 USD