The Oakley "You Wanted The Best- You Got The Best!" Spring Run-Down

By Vo2max
The other day I saw what is now one of my favorite pre-race psych-up movies: Detroit Rock City. Such pump-your-fist-in-the-air stoke is a pre-requisite for success in the saddle, and what better way to tell the world you run the 'hood than with the biggest, most aggressive glasses out there? I'm talking about the replacement for the old Oil Drum, ostensibly a true balla' shade in itself. However, this is Oakley we're talking about, a company that innovates more than Specialized, Cannondale, and Lockheed-Martin combined. Their cultural stethoscope dictated that the Oil Drum must be made larger, more aggressively wrapped, and most critically: composed of a single lens. The drum is gone, now we're talkin' 'bout the RIG.

I've been wearing these for a while now and still enjoy the reactions of the incredulous elderly. They fit perfectly- nice and snug with no gaps at your temple- yet still manage to breathe and avoid fogging. I've even done a bunch of riding with them, though no gripping Unobtainium material on the frame is clear evidence, as if you needed any, that that's hardly their intended use. In fact, I havent decided on exactly what that is yet, though I've boiled it down: my new haircut nights, walking into exams, first dates, job interviews, and certainly driving to and registering at races. The Oil Rig is on my game-face to stay.

Now that registration is out of the way and you're kitted up, what to wear under that shiny new lid? You'll need something that won't fog, will stay snug through rock gardens or ferocious sprints, offer tons of coverage to ward off the wind, will keep your visual cortex from staging a slow down strike, and will look good for ECMTB's Andrew Lowery, our local media baron.

Look no further than Oakley's new Radar. It's an M-Frame evolved into the latest race weaponry for your retinas. The frame is updated for better grip on your head, smoother looks, and is offered in a myriad of colors and team editions. The lens is now treated with a hydrophobic coating- water beads right off and they won't fog! It also adds smudge resistance without compromising optical clarity. Lenses are available in a variety of shapes and tints, as well as with Oakley's flawless polarization. These are easily the best glasses I've ever worn; like any good bike component or piece of apparel, they disappear when you're in the zone. I'll never ride with anything else!

All Oakley lenses offer 100% UV protection, but distinguishing them from the competition, besides superior style, are perfectly made lenses offering zero distortion at all angles of vision. That eliminates the work your brain must do to compensate for the fish bowl effect created by poor quality eyewear. With up to 10% of your energy being used to process vision, quality glasses are clearly (pun intended) necessary when digging deep to take a personal inventory of all you've got.

Oakley also offers a custom program, through your local shop, that allows you to combine any lens, frame icon, frame color, Unobtainium ear socks, and custom lens etching, all to match your exacting personal style. Check out all the options at www.oakley.ca.

Posted by O9man at June 3, 2008 12:57 AM

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