We can all agree that sunglasses have gone a great way from providing fashion accessories and protection.

Nowadays, cyclists worldwide, both professional and recreational, require proper eyewear for protection against weather conditions and other issues that may happen along the road.

If we think about sunglasses’ historical significance in sports, it is vital to mention the beginning of the 20^th century. The most common issues that can happen to cyclists include flies, grit, and dirt that can affect their performances. The best way to ensure protection is by checking out quality glasses like Oakley Sunglasses.

Therefore, it is indispensable to use proper eyewear to shield against these issues while protecting your eyes throughout the process. By using suitable eyewear and goggles, the things were problematic during unpaved roads back in the day.

Simultaneously, large flying goggles that come from leather and glass were essential for each cyclist that wanted to prevent potential issues. As a result, Ottavio Bottecchia, Phillippe Thys, and other champions used this unique eyewear protection.

A Brief History of Sports Eyewear

Even though sunglasses entered the market in the mid-20s, you should know that thirty years after, cyclists used them while racing. Back in the day, they used modified flying goggles that featured a lightweight combination of rubber frames compared with leather.

When it comes to frame design of that particular era, Ray-Ban and Persol created the best options available on the market that became highly popular because they were used in movies as product placements.

They have also conducted considerable research for new materials, including silica and nylon, which reduced overall weight while providing better comfort than before.

However, Fausto Coppi was the first sportsmen who wore aviator sunglasses, which created a complete revolution. As a result, flying goggles disappeared from use because of pavement roads, which made significant glare.

On the other hand, some cyclists still used and wore glasses, such as Jan Jansen, who was short-sighted, so he wanted to prevent potential issues from happening.

Another important figure in the world of sports eyewear was Laurent Fignon, who used spectacles that brought him the nickname “The Professor.”

He wore them throughout his career until he used rounded spectacles in ’93. Numerous brands started creating skiing goggles, which feature thermo-plastics and the ability to change lenses, which was highly important for different settings.

However, everything changed when Jim Jannard created Oakley, which affected the entire world at once. Even though his career started by selling BMX and motocross grips, he successfully created proper goggles for both BMC and MX.

In 1984, he created Oakley Optics that became an essential aspect of cycling culture from that particular moment. The first people who used this specific eyewear were Phil Anderson and Greg Lemond, which featured bright colours and huge lenses that grabbed the world’s attention.

You should enter here to learn more about Phil Anderson.

Since people wanted to use a particular brand apart from getting high-end optics, numerous cyclists started using Oakley eyewear, which created a completely different approach for this specific sport.

The rest is history.