Sunglasses are a crucial, yet under appreciated component of a cyclists tool kit. So, Boston-based Solos worked with the U.S. Cycling Team to create the perfect pair of sunglasses, one that not only blocks the sun, but displays real-time metrics.
They came up with the Solos Smart Cycling Glasses, which look like a pair of Google Glasses from a couple of years ago, but in the form of sunglasses. The sunglasses come with both an audio and visual component that relate to whichever metrics the biker wishes to know in real time.
The upper right hand quadrant of a cyclist’s field of vision is dedicated to whichever meter they wish to see, whether that be speed, cadence, heart rate, calories distance, elevation or power.
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In coordination with all of this data is an attached earpiece that feeds the same information to the rider via audio queues, if they are not focused on the display at the moment.
But, the Solos Smart Cycling Glasses are not just made for those taking the journey to Rio to compete in this summer’s Olympics, they are also for sale to weekend warriors and anybody wanting a tool to help judge where they are at on a bike.
The Solos sunglasses were available for pre-order on their Kickstarter page for $250 until they sold out. Solos achieved almost $15,000 more than their desired $50,000 goal on the crowdfunding site.
While the U.S. Cycling Team might not be using these capabilities in the midst of their medal race down in Brazil, the Solos sunglasses even let the wearer make phone calls during a ride, and the glasses connect to a number of different cycling training apps apart from Solos’ very own.
Below is a good video if you want to hear a little bit more about these lenses, and how the U.S. Cycling Team is receiving them: