Review- Rudy Project Hypermask Performance

This winter I got a pair of the Rudy Project Hypermask Performance.  They are an evolution of the Sportmask that I reviewed before and offer a similar wrap-around frameless style.  I opted for the very en vogue neon yellow frame color.

The Hypermask really takes what was right about the Sportmask (great peripheral vision, lightweight, fog resistance) and adds in some new features like a grippier nose piece and rubber lined temples to make the glasses really stay in place well. 

 
The nose piece is the same one found on the Zyon and Genetyk models and is both wide and adjustable.  The grippy temples also help to keep them in place and resist sweat much better than the all plastic temples of the Sportmask.  Without the added rigidity of a full frame the glasses have more flex and in order to stay in place they need to have a solid grip where they rest on your nose and over your ears. 

The lenses are also interchangeable and can be swapped out by simply pivoting the temples up and away from the nosepiece as shown here (the nosepiece stays attached to the lens).  This is a small thing, but it means that I'm more likely to wear these glasses because I can run different lenses relatively easily.  Most of the time I've been running the yellow lenses as shown here.

The Hypermask is equally at home on the road as it is in the woods.  I really came to enjoy the great peripheral vision in every riding situation and felt that I could see more of the terrain.  Coupled with their low weight it's easy to forget that you're wearing them.

Over the winter I also used these for skiing which means that the temples need to stick to a wool hat in order to stay on my head.  It's a good test to see how well glasses can stay in place, and the Hypermask held on flawlessly for several long ski outings. 


During spring road rides when I was wearing a cycling cap I ran the temples under the helmet straps and tucked under the hat to keep them in place.  That approach worked remarkably well even if it meant deviating from my usual glasses over the helmet approach. 

 
So what's the downside?  They do still slip around a little as the sweat rate goes up, but it's not terrible and can be minimized by properly setting up the nose piece. The lack of a frame also means that if you drop the Hypermask you are likely to damage the lens so be careful when removing them during rolling wardrobe changes or while removing your helmet to make trailside pit stops.

I'd definitely recommend the Rudy Project Hypermask.  With the improved temples and nose along with the interchangeable lenses these are a great option for on and offroad adventures (nordic skiing too, actually).

For more information visit www.rudyprojectusa.com

Freeon 2.0

It's raining, and that's my excuse.  Actually it's been pouring for four straight days, and looks set to pour for four more.

With that in mind I'm not riding, so I feel like that gives me a little latitude for geekery like updating my Freeons with new temple wires and white ear socks.  Would anyone else care or notice?  Probably not, but I think it's cool and I'm just a little more excited to put these on next time I head into the woods.

When the rain stops I'll be ready.  Maybe the RSL will be, too.

Review- Rudy Project Zyon

Sport eyewear is a critical part of any cyclist's equipment, and this season I've decided that the Rudy Project Zyon is going to be my primary option.  I won't get into the need to protect your eyes because it's common to see even helmetless riders wearing sunglasses, and I always have a couple pairs in my gear bag.  Part of that is to have lenses to suit varying lighting conditions, and part of that is to change styles depending on my mood.  There I said it.

If we're being honest with ourselves, we can admit that sport eyewear often has as much to do with fashion as it does with function.  Looking through decades past we can get a sense of how sensible sport eyewear has evolved from street sunglasses to become more sport-specific by incorporating more sculpted frames and lens colors beyond smoke black.

The Zyon Sport is a full frame model with Rudy's trademark adjustable temples and nosepiece.  It shares the same temples and fit as the Genetyk (reviewed here) and the Noyz.  On the temples you can see small ports where additional peripheral eye shields can be added.  I promptly removed and then promptly lost those shields because I prefer maximum peripheral vision and ventilation, but to each his own.  Those same mounting ports are on all three models, but the shields only integrate with the Zyon lenses. 

The basic frame design of the Noyz incorporates a full frame that surrounds the lenses on all sides, so although the fit is similar to the single lens Genetyk the lenses are decidedly different.  The full frame protects the lenses from damage and makes the glasses a little sturdier without a weight penalty.  I've never considered a full frame, single lens style like the Genetyk or Freeon to be flimsy, but I worry less about the Genetyks when I need to take them off and stuff them into a pocket. 

Under normal conditions I keep glasses on as much as possible until it's too dark for the lenses or they become too coated in mud or sweat to be usable.  On the road I'll tuck them into the front helmet vents, but on the mountain bike I have a hard time securing them to my helmet and often need to put them in a jersey pocket for safe keeping. 

One of the best things about the Zyons is the adjustability.  Being able to set the nosepiece and temples to fit your face and stay clear of helmet retention systems is something I've often taken for granted, but it eliminates a lot of the guesswork in expensive trial-and-error compatibility testing.  I wore the Zyons with a knit cap while skiing, with a wool cap under a helmet, with a cotton cycling cap under a helmet and with just a helmet all without incident.  When adjusted properly they stay clear just fine even when moving along even at the slowest speeds.

The downside of the full frame is that the peripheral vision is slightly hindered compared to a single lens, shield-style model.  That means I need to turn my head further when I glance over my shoulder to check for cars.  Whether that's important or not is a personal decision, but there are plenty of pros wearing both full frame and shield style glasses so there's more than one right answer. 

In previous reviews I've explained the benefits of the dark laser blue and the racing red lenses, so I won't rehash them here.  They both have their benefits, and fortunately the Sport model comes with both so you don't have to choose (but if I did need to pick one I'd go for the Racing Red as it's a slightly lighter tint and more versatile). 

Overall I've been very happy with the Zyons.  They fit well and play nicely with my L/XL Sterling helmet.  I haven't changed the lenses very  often, but it was easy enough to switch them out by simply pressing on the inside of the lens and pushing forward.  These are a great option for both on and off road riding and worth considering if you're looking for a new set of eyewear.  They also look slightly less NASA-issue if you're not quite ready to step up to a shield-style model.

For more information visit www.rudyprojectusa.com.

Updated- Rudy Project Gozen Sunglasses

This week the new Rudy Project Gozen sunglasses arrived. I've been looking forward to their arrival with giddy anticipation. Fortunately I wasn't disappointed.

These glasses (or polycarbonate plastics to be more precise) are different from other sport models in that they are more understated than a single wrap-around lens but still offer technical features like interchangeable lenses and adjustable temples. After all, it's not every day that we want to look like Andy Hampsten.

My initial impression is very positive. The fit, lens quality and signature Rudy Project adjustable temples make these a good option if you're looking for sport eyewear.

Just how good are they? Check back later for a more detailed report after I spend some more time riding, running and skiing with them.

For more information check out www.e-rudy.com.

Rudy Project Sterling Helmet- Update

There's a great special on the Rudy Project Sterling helmet on the Rudy Project e-commerce site, www.e-rudy.com. As I mentioned in my review this is an awesome helmet at any price, and on sale for $109 (down from a list of $225) is hard to beat.

http://www.e-rudy.com/index_inner_all_list.php?group_id=5

My review of the Sterling is posted here.

Review- Rudy Project Sport Mask Sunglasses

My earlier post about the Rudy Project Sterling helmet tipped my hand that I'm a Rudy fan. Their glasses have protected my vision and provided me with Euro styling for many seasons, and their customer support is second to none.

Fortunately for me they are a sponsor, so I've been lucky to reap the benefits of their support.

This review focuses on the Sport Mask Sunglasses. This model is the black gloss frame with the Racing Red lenses.

The Racing Red lens allows approximately 28% of visible light to pass through and I've found it to be the most versatile lens in the Rudy Project Catalog. Unless I'm out on the road on a bright sunny day in July or if I'm in the woods with thick canopy cover in the evenings I find the Racing Red to be the right choice. It's my go to lens in all but the brightest or near-dusk conditions. Offroad it's a good choice for mid-day summer rides or even later in the day once the leaves have fallen off the trees. If I had to choose one lens, this would be it.

The Sport Mask is an interesting model, and its design is as much about style as it is about function. The frameless single lens makes for great optical clarity and light weight, but the catch is that it's also not a very sturdy or interchangeable design. This is one of few Rudy Project glasses that does not allow readily interchangeable lenses. The lack of a frame also makes these glasses feel less secure on your head if you get very sweaty or are riding in rough terrain.

So what are these glasses good for? Most of my mid-week riding is on the road and after 5:00 PM, and these glasses are perfect for that. I find that unless I'm riding straight into the sun after work that the Racing Red is the right lens to wear until it's approaching desk when they move from my eyes to the lower vents of my helmet. In other lens colors they'd be great in different conditions, of course.

The nose piece is exeptionally flexible and allows for a very wide range of adjustability. I had a nose injury recently and for over a week the featherweight Sport Mask with its flexible nose bridge was the only pair of glasses I could wear.

I have to say that I really like my Sport Masks, and the style element is no small part of that. I've found that they work the best when run under the helmet straps, rather than over like I do with most other sunglesses like the Genetyk or Freeon. If I'm wearing a cycling cap under my helmet I'll even try to tuck the temples inside the hat and run them under the helmet straps.

These are great sunglasses, though if I had to pick one pair for I'd likely choose something else like the Genetyks (look for a review on those shortly). The Sport Masks offer light weight, style and performance that warrants serious consideration if you're in the market for sport eyewear.

For more information visit www.rudyprojectusa.com.

Review- Rudy Project Sterling Helmet

One of the recurring features here at pro-35 will be the gear I'm using along the way. I'll be up front about how I got it, and I'll mention if they're a sponsor so you can take my comments accordingly.

First up is the Rudy Project Sterling helmet.

Rudy is has been a long-time sponsor, and they've been good to me. Their repair/replacement policies are excellent and I've been able to get severely scratched lenses replaced for a nominal fee.

Recently Rudy Project has put a lot of attention into their helmet line, and their efforts have been well publicized in the mainstream cycling press. In the late 90's and early 00's Rudy Project helmets weren't allowed to be sold in the US because they didn't have the necessary safety certification. Most of us only got as close as the pictures in VeloNews.

I got my first one around 2005. At that time the major selling point for those helmets was the Euro-cool factor because it was the same model that Cunego and Simoni wore throughout their epic inter-squad battle during the 2004 Giro d'Italia. Beyond aesthetics that appealed to a select few (namely bike geeks like myself) the helmets were heavy, poorly vented and ill-fitting.

Last season I did all of my racing and training in a Rudy Actyum, and it was a great helmet. The design offered enough vents to be as cool as the Lazer Genesis and Giro E2 that I tested and the removable visor and bug screen were great additions. The visor was short and offered about the same amount of sun and rain protection as a cycling cap; it nearly perfectly covered down to the top of my sunglasses providing the right mix of ventilation, forward visibility and protection from the elements. To date that visor is my favorite, and I don't normally like visors.

Now on to the Sterling. The first thing you notice about the helmet is the exoskeleton that protrudes from the foam shell. It makes for a unique and very engineered-look with large vents and muscular styling. The same treatment is given to the strap carriers that sit under the jawline. Although they look minimal they have been trouble free so far, though if you're worried about it you can order spares from Rudy and keep them in your gear bag should one fail.

The fit dial on the back does a good job of snugging the helmet so that is stays put in rough terrain. There's a nice pad that allows it to sit comfortably without digging into the back of your head.

A full bug screen comes installed, but I preferred to remove it in favor of the smaller individual pads. The bug screen offers great sweat absorption and I found it comfortable against my shaved pate, but I only use it when the temperature is below about 65.

Also included is a visor that snaps into the front of the helmet. Small tabs on the visor fit into mounting holes in the exoskeleton. Some short, finger-like braces keep it from shifting around. As I mentioned before, I'm generally not a fan of visors, and I found the Sterling visor to be short and moderately effective. The setup isn't as neat as the Actyum, and I ended up using the helmet without the visor unless it was raining and too warm for a cycling cap.

The two most important aspects of any helmet are fit and ventilation. It needs to stay in place comfortably and keep you cool, or at least keep you from unduly overheating. The fit of the Sterling is great and the ventilation is as good as anything else I've tried. This really is a step up from the Actyum and I found the Sterling to be noticeably cooler on the hottest summer days when the temperatures were in the low 90's. On those rides helmets don't feel cool, but having one with good airflow is critical to for optimal performance.

The Sterling comes in two sizes, and the L/XL was the right one for my large, bald dome. Although I never felt like I could get a good fit in Giro (the Medium was too tight, the Large was enormous) the Sterling is nearly perfect without any modifications or fiddling. Right out of the box I cinched up the retention dial, set the straps and was ready to ride.

How much did I like this helmet? Well, I bought a second one so that I'd have more mountain-bikish black color in addition to the standard gray matte/red that I've used all season. I decided to go stealth, but there are new limited edition fluo models that are certainly eye-catching.

The Rudy Project Sterling is a great helmet worth considering if you're in the market for a high-end helmet. I've used it both on and off-road and found it equally at home at either.

For more information visit www.rudyprojectusa.com.