Throttlemonkey
Posts: 380
Joined: 6/14/2002
From: Upton MA
Status: offline
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After seeing so many kids in both PeeWees and Mini without goggles this weekend, not to mention a few lads that LOST theirs, I figure it's time to discuss Goggles!
Why are goggles the most important piece of safety equipment? Sure there is that on in a zillion chance of losing an eye, however the probablity of hitting something and getting hurt if you can't see where you are going is extremely high!
First, when I walk down the line at the start I can't believe how many kids goggles are filthy, scratched and fogging up before they even start, no wonder they take them off!!!! If nothing else get some fresh lenses (<$5) and clean them with a good anti fog lense cleaner, then use a no fog cloth ($2) right before the race, just doing that will go a long way! NEVER use Windex! Sure it does a great job but manufacturers changed the plastic compound a few years ago and the new compound gets very brittle and breaks easily if exposed to Windex. I always used Windex when I rode, I couldn't figure out why my son's lenses kept cracking so I called Smith and they told me about the change.
Next hint, teach your kids how to put their goggles on their helmet backwards when they aren't wearing them, the strap goes just under the visor in the front. Hanging goggles from the bars is bad for two reasons: first at the start line if you forget to put them on before the row in front of you takes off you are guaranteed to have goggles full of dirt!!! Second, if you have to take them off during a race and hang them from the bars you can guarantee the lenses will be toast before you are done!! It's also irritating to ride with them bouncing around and if you give them to someone there is no guarantee you'll ever get them back as a few Jr riders learned this week.
Next, don't skimp on cheapie goggles and don't let the kid talk you into flashy expensive ones! Get good goggles that work! Personally we use the Smith Youth (not PeeWee) along with roll-offs and the extreme lenses that come with an anti-fog coating inside and bumps for the film to ride on which prevents water from getting under the film. The wife screamed bloody murder when I spent $120 on two sets of goggles but they have lasted two years (plus new lenses every year) and he finishes every race with them on so the screaming has subsided a little....
Every week we take the goggles completely apart, wash them in warm soapy water, rinse well and air dry, that is part of the reason they have lasted so long.
Lastly, NO TEAR OFF"S, I thought it was a NETRA rule but apparently not. I picked up a bunch of them at the Jr Enduro Saturday.
Lets hear your tips, I'll post my dust and rain secrets later 
< Message edited by Throttlemonkey -- 7/30/2008 7:25:13 PM >
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Goggles 101 - 
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