What is the purpose of wearing sunglasses while cycling?

Wearing sunglasses can help protect your eyes.

Sight is one of your five main senses that you should value greatly. You can choose to wear it based on:

-the weather condition you will be facing.
-the environment you will be at.
-the activity you will be engaged in.

Your eyes will be uncomfortable if any of the following particles of nature are constantly hurting your eyes:

-sand
-dust
-wind
-snow

Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from flying debris hitting your eyes while you are out on the road, especially while riding on a bike or bicycle, that does not provide much protection. Corneal injuries can occur even when small particles hit your eyes at high speed because they can become deeply lodged in them. Sunglasses can also reduce the chances of pollutants ending up on the surface of your eyes which can trigger inflammation. You will be stressed out and not be able to enjoy the activities for the day if you have:

-blurred vision.
-swelling and itchy eyes.
-eye strain.

These may cause headaches and make you feel tired sooner.

If you are often out under the sun, consider wearing sunglasses with lenses that provide UV protection as prolonged exposure to UV rays can increase the risk of:

-cataracts.
-age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
-eye cancer.

Do you know that there are helmets for cyclists with sun shields attached? They can be retracted or removed when they are not required.  Most later models have magnetic studs to hold the shields in place on the helmet. 

The sun shields are made of plastic. So, if your sun shield is attached with magnetic studs, it is best that you remove it from the helmet first before you put it on or take it off your head. This is to prevent the sun shield from accidentally slipping off the helmet and landing on the ground which can cause scratches.  

This is a multisport helmet with sunshield. 

As the shield curves around the face when the helmet is worn, it a better option over getting a pair of regular sunglasses.  It works better at protecting the cyclist from getting hurt by dust particles blown into the eyes. 

This model is supplied with two retractable sun shields in different shades of colours.

This model also include a visor for days when you do not require the sun shield.

I like this model for kids with full face shield attached.

Though such helmets are not SIRIM approved for motorcyclists, some of my customers buy them for their children to wear when they take them out for rides on their motorcycles. This is because it is difficult to find helmets in smaller size that are well fitted for their children to wear. Most children are attracted by the cute images printed on the helmets and will consider wearing them.

I think it is also useful for children who are too small to wear masks. The full face shield will give them some protection against getting infected by Covid-19 virus while out in public.

If I bike 6 miles a day, will I see a difference over time?

That depends on how you take care of yourself.

1) Your skin is going to be darker if you do not have proper suntan on.
2) You can easily fall sick if you are not properly attired for the ride.
3) You can get stressed out due to pollution, foul weather, issues with bicycle, bad roads/terrain and heavy traffic, especially if, you are not cycling in a bike friendly district or country.



So, before you start, made sure that the routes that you are taking are safe for cycling. Take public transport part of the way if the distance is too much to bear (in the beginning). Check what the weather is like to be properly attired and UV protected.

To cut unnecessary stress, check out these points to make sure that you are really ready to cycle.
Ready To Ride?

Once you have got it right, after cycling for a period of time, these are the changes you will see.

1) Your buttock will not ache as much as you develop muscles there.
2) You will sweat it out as you cycle and that will make you lose some weight.
3) You will build up your cadence and find it easier to cycle as you get more competent with your gears.
4) You may find new friends cycling the same route.
5) You can see more clearly what is going on around the district you are cycling through.
6) You will build up your stamina and endurance for other physical activities.
7) You will consider using your bicycle more often to run errands.
8) You may develop a sense of adventure and want to explore new routes that only a bicycle can take you. Maybe even a trip outstation or overseas on your bicycle.
9) You will consider getting a better bicycle as you understand it better through your rides.
10) You may even feel competitive enough to join a cycling event.
11) Your group of cycling friends will expand.
12) You are likely to carry stuff and add more gizmo on your bicycle like bags, bike tools, a cycle computer or even a GoPro to record more interesting rides.
13) You become more particular about the handlebar, saddle, tyres and tubes you use on your bicycle.

These are actually the differences I noticed in my customers after they have been cycling for a period of time.

How do you protect bicycle tyres from cracking?

If you want to protect your bicycle tyres, avoid doing things to them that will age and dry them out and cause them to crack.

You should:

1) keep bicycle indoor to avoid exposure to the sun's heat or rain.

2) use the proper air pressure (PSI) which is noted on the sidewall of your tyres to prevent overstretching them out.

3) not wash your tyres excessively with chemical cleaners that will remove waxes and other chemical compound the manufacturer used to protect the surface. If you like your tyres looking clean and new, shop around for polish or wax for tyres that will protect or prevent dirt and mud from sticking to them easily.

4) ride on your bicycle regularly so that the tyres are stretched to maintain their flexibility.

5) inflate the tyres at least every 2 weeks even if you are not cycling your bicycle.

6) remove and hang your wheels up if you do not plan to cycle for a long period of time to prevent weight of your bicycle sitting on the tyres. You can also find other ways to store your bicycle, eg, hang it up on the ceiling, like what one of my customers is doing as he rides during the weekends and only when he is free.