British racing driver Dan Wheldon was tragically killed in the final race of the IndyCar series yesterday in Las Vegas.  Dan Wheldon was one of Britain's finest and most talented of racing drivers having won the IndyCar Series in 2005 and the greatest race of them all – The Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and again in 2011 with a thrilling finish in which he took the lead coming out of the final turn of the final lap.

Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton sent tributes to Dan Wheldon on his twitter page:

"This is an extremely sad day.
Dan was a racer I’d followed throughout my career, as I often followed in his footsteps as we climbed the motorsport ladder in the UK
He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy, who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500,
This is a tragic loss at such a young age. My heart goes out to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time"

McLaren teammate Jenson Button also sent tributes on his twitter page:

"Just woken up to the most horrific news.. Dan Wheldon RIP…
I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90's, a true fighter. We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy…
I can't begin to imagine what his family are going through and my thoughts are with them at this very difficult time"

All our thoughts go out to his wife and two young sons. Rest In Peace Dan Wheldon – a great Champion and double Indy 500 winner, you will be missed.

More photos of Dan Wheldon.

The drivers paid an emotional 5 lap salute to Dan Wheldon with the scoreboard being wiped, displaying only the number 77 – Dan Wheldon's car number.

Oakley star Sam Stosur dominated Serena Williams to win the US Open Tennis Grand Slam Tournament in the American's back yard in New York on Sunday.  The Australian underdog Sam Stosur beat the 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in two sets 6-2, 6-3 to win her first-ever Grand Slam tournament (the last of the year) and become the first Australian woman to win a major since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980.

Sam Stosur is one of the few top-level tennis players on the tour who can often be seen wearing sunglasses on court; Sam tends to wear the sporty Oakley Ladies Enduring Edge model as seen in these images.  Sam sometimes changes the colour of the model she wears depending on her mood, style or the tournament she's playing in.  Sometimes she may even select a custom design, rather than an off-the-shelf option.

The Oakley Enduring Edge shield-style sunglasses are a great choice for women of a sporty nature; the single lens can be easily swapped to suit the lighting conditions or the type of sport being played.  Enduring Edge are designed specifically for women and includes two sizes of nose pieces that can be easily changed to suit the size and shape of your face.  Oakley's Three-Point Fit holds the sunglasses firmly in place making them perfect for the fast pace and quick direction changes required on the tennis court or in fact many other sports. 

Unless you've been living under a rock lately, you'll probably be well aware that the 140th Open Championship is taking place at the World famous Royal St. George's Golf course in Sandwich.  It's an event we literally cannot avoid, especially since it's happening just about 10 miles down the road from the SelectSpecs Towers here in the Sunny South East corner of the Kentish Countryside – AKA The Garden of England.  Yes, the traffic has been a nightmare, but we are very proud to be hosting such an important sporting event so close to home.

Oakley Radar Path – 09-673 White Chrome (Blue Iridium Lens)

All eyes seem to be focused on the "man of the moment" Rory McIlroy, the Irish Oakley superstar and recent winner of the U.S. Open with an impressive eight-stroke winning margin while sporting the popular Oakley Radar Path Eyewear in a custom design.

Oakley Fast Jacket – OO9097-01 Polished Black (Black Iridium Lenses)

Rory McIlroy is will also be seen wearing his new Oakley Fast Jacket Sunglasses which feature Oakley's Switchlock interchangeable lens technology, allowing for fast hot-swapping of lenses for differing lighting conditions, while holding the lenses securely in place with the Hi-Strength Metal Injection Moulded (MIM) Stainless Steel Switchlock mechanism.

And its not just Oakley Eyewear Rory will be wearing as he looks to win his next major Championship, look at those Oakley branded golfing clothes he wears too.  Make sure you keep your Oakley belt nicely on display there too Rory!

Have you ever wanted to kill your boss?  Probably everyone has had a job at some point in their life working for the boss from Hell.  Or maybe 'you' are the boss that everyone secretly wants to beat down?  Of course, I can't complain about my boss, he is my brother after all and I love him… no really.

Horrible Bosses is the new film about three friends played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudekis who conspire to murder their 'horrible bosses'.  The trailer for the movie (below) looks very promising and it looks set to be, possibly the comedy of the year.

But I've got to say, based on the trailer for the film, if Jennifer Aniston was my boss, the last thing I'd want to do is kill her!  Just saying… Watch the trailer below!

We grabbed these screens from the movie of the lovely Jennifer Aniston who seems to be wearing Oakley Glasses as protective eyewear as she performs her dentist duties, as well as taking the time to sexually harass her staff and patients.

The glasses Jennifer Aniston seems to be wearing appear to come from the Oakley Radar family of sunglasses, with the straight stem arms and probably the Radar Path style transparent lenses.

It is likely that the glasses featured in the movie are a custom design made for the movie, but you can pick up other variations of the frame in different colours and tints on our site here.

Other similar style glasses can be found in the Oakley Women's collection, such as the various Enduring sunglasses models.

Make sure you check out the movie trailer here, and look out for a balding Colin Farrell too.  We can't wait for this one: -

Tom Cruise is back doing what he does best, running away from stuff blowing up, in the next installment of the Mission Impossible franchise, MI4: Ghost Protocol.

Movie synopsis from Apple.com:-
"This is not just another mission. The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid. You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this."

We've caught the latest trailer from this action packed movie and as expected Tom Cruise is again wearing Oakley eye wear (as he did in the previous installments!) during one scene where he scales the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.  We've identified these Oakleys to be a custom designed Oakley Wind Jacket with a clear frame and clear lenses.  Unfortunately these are not available for purchase at this time but the standard Wind Jackets are – hopefully Oakley will add this option to their collection!

The Oakley Wind Jacket

Available from £168 in 3 colours. See the Oakley Wind Jacket here.

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day on 17th March we have got a fantastic new Competition with the most unique prize we've ever given away.

Prize: Custom Design St. Patrick's Day OAKLEY Flak Jacket Limited Edition Sunglasses

These Custom Designed Sunglasses are a ONE OFF, designed by yours truly especially for St Patrick's Day.

ONLY ONE of these unique frames will be made available by SelectSpecs and the only way to get them is to enter our competition to stand a chance of winning these extremely rare sunnies.

Look out for any photos of these awesome sunglasses being uploaded over the next 2 days to our facebook page and tag yourself in one of the photos (or comment on, or 'Like' the photo to win).  All entries on any of the uploaded photos will count towards the prize.

Get your friends and family to enter too, they might let you have them if they win

With these bright green Oakley sunglasses, you are sure to stand out from the crowd and with those colourful lenses it will look like there is a pot of gold at the end of the road – no need to wait for any rainbows.  The world around you will look like a much happier place.

I really want to keep these myself, I mean, I did design them… but the boss won't let me

Good luck everyone and Happy St. Patrick's Day for 17th March 2011.

If you're not so lucky to win these Oakley Flak Jacket Sunglasses and just fancy a pair or maybe you want them in a different colour you can find them on our site here.

We have now added Oakley Cases to our Accessories page for this very reason.  There are currently four types available and the "Product Information" text will tell you which frames each case is suitable for. 

Click the images below to go directly to that product (other colours may be available).

Oakley Large Carbon Fibre Eyewear Case

This lightweight steel case has the popular carbon fibre look seen in many race car designs that tear up the track each weekend of the motorsport season.  Crush resistance is a science by itself, and the case geometry takes full advantage of it.  Signed with a logo plate, this is your mobile storage solution for Oakley sunglasses and prescription eyewear.

This eyewear case is suitable for the following Oakley models: -

A WIRE, OAKLEY CANTEEN, CROSSHAIR S, FIVES 2.0, FIVES 3.0, HALF WIRE, HALF WIRE 2.0, MINUTE, SQUARE WIRE 2.0, SQUARE WIRE, Titanium SQUARE WIRE, TWITCH, WHISKER, and XS FIVES.

Oakley Small Soft Vault Case

The mobile launcher of performance eyewear is a lightweight shell of reinforced nylon. The SMALL SOFT VAULT zip-up case protects the following models: -

A WIRE, A WIRE 2.0, C WIRE, E WIRE 2.0, E WIRE 2.1, FATE, FIVES, FIVES 2.0, FIVES 3.0, HALF PINT, HALF WIRE, HAYLON, MINUTE, OAKLEY CANTEEN, SQUARE WIRE 2.0, TEASPOON, T WIRE, Titanium A WIRE, Titanium C WIRE, TWITCH, WHISKER or XS FIVES.

Oakley Large Soft Vault Case

Engineered with the same reinforced nylon as the Small SOFT VAULT, the Large SOFT VAULT zip-up case is ideal for those bulkier frames and protects a huge number of Oakley models including the following: -

BELONG, BEHAVE, BETRAY, BREATHLESS, BIG SQUARE WIRE, BOTTLECAP, CROSSHAIR, DISOBEY, ENDURING, ETERNAL, EYEPATCH, EYE JACKET 2.0, EYE JACKET 3.0, FATCAT, FELON, FROGSKINS, GASCAN, GASCAN S, GRAPEVINE, HALF JACKET, HALF WIRE 2.0, HIJINX, HATCHET, INMATE, MAGNESIUM FOUR, MAGNESIUM FOUR S, MINUTE 2.0, MONTEFRIO, MONSTER DOG, MONSTER DOGGLE, MONSTER PUP, NANOWIRE 1.0, NANOWIRE 2.0, NANOWIRE 3.0, OAKLEY DART, OAKLEY RAVISHING, OIL DRUM, OIL RIG, O ROKR, O ROKR PRO, PLATE, POCKET, RADAR, RAZOR BLADES, RIDDLE, ROMEO 2.0, SCRIPT, SPEECHLESS, SPIKE, SPLICE, STRAIGHT JACKET, TEN, THUMP PRO, UNKNOWN, VALVE, WARDEN, WHY 8.0, WHY 8.1, WHY 8.2, XX, ZERO, ZERO S, ZERO 0.4, ZERO 0.4 Squared, ZERO 0.4 Squared Small, ZERO 0.7 or ZERO L.

Oakley Medium Soft Vault Case

Safeguard your optics in a lightweight chamber of reinforced nylon.  The Medium SOFT VAULT zip-up case has a curved, wedge shape and can hold the following frames: -

BELONG, BEHAVE BETRAY, HALF WIRE 2.0, BIG SQUARE WIRE, BOTTLECAP, CROSSHAIR, CROSSHAIR S, DARTBOARD, DARTBOARD L, DISOBEY, ENDURING, ETERNAL, EYE JACKET, EYE JACKET 3.0, FELON, FROGSKINS, GRAPEVINE, GASCAN, GASCAN S, HALF JACKET, HATCHET, INMATE, MAGNESIUM FOUR, MAGNESIUM FOUR S, MAGNESIUM M FRAME, MINUTE 2.0, MONTEFRIO, MONSTER DOG, MONSTER DOGGLE, MONSTER PUP, NANOWIRE 1.0, NANOWIRE 2.0, NANOWIRE 3.0, OAKLEY DART, OIL DRUM, OIL RIG, O ROKR PRO, PENNY, PLATE, RADAR, RAZOR BLADES, RIDDLE, ROMEO 2.0, SCAR, SCRIPT, SPEECHLESS, SPLICE, STRAIGHT JACKET, TEN, THUMP PRO, UNKNOWN, VALVE, WARDEN, WHY 8.0, WHY 8.1, WHY 8.2, XX or ZERO.

Eyewear sold separately.

Unfortunately, I'm a bit late to the party on Dexter, I've only just finished Dexter Series 1 & 2, and have now moved on to series 3, I really don't know how I've let this show pass me by! It's a fantastic show that just gets better with each episode!

Dexter follows the life of Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a Blood Splatter analyst for Miami Metro Police Dept by day, and a serial killer by night.  In any other TV series or film, the killer is usually the bad guy, however, in Dexter you can't help but root for the bad guy (who is actually the good guy who only massacres victims that have committed crimes or are just generally bad people – we need more people like this!).

I've noticed some sunglasses Dexter Morgan wears and I've been determined to find out what he's wearing, first impressions were that they were an Oakley frame but further investigation revealed that they are actually Ferragamo 1098 Sunglasses.

As a child growing up in the 80's, I used to absolutely love the 80's action TV series "The A-Team" alongside other favourites including Street Hawk and Airwolf, there was something great about how rediculously unrealistic the show was especially when B.A. Baracus drives a clapped out old van into a shed only to re-appear looking like an armoured tank with missile launchers and guns attached – seriously, where did they get the equipment to build such a beast?

Since growing up a little, I've caught a few glimpses of The A-Team series and it's just not the same anymore, for a start it looks dated and the story lines are just plain rediculous, so when I heard they were finally going to make a movie based on the almost 30 year old series I was both delighted and shocked by the prospect – Initial thoughts were it was likely to be just as rediculous as the series, so watching the movie and seeing a helicopter do a barrel roll just confirmed my worst fears!  Fortunately, even with moments of rediculousness, the film was an easy to watch and entertaining popcorn flick worthy of 90 minutes of my time.

The movie remake stars Liam Neeson (Taken) as Colonel Hannibal Smith, Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) as Lt. "Faceman" Peck, Quinton Jackson as B.A. Baracus, and Sharlto Copley (District 9) as Captain H.M. Murdoch. The film follows the exciting and daring exploits of a colorful team of former Special Forces soldiers who were set up for a crime they did not commit. Going “rogue,” they utilize their unique talents to try and clear their names and find the true culprit.

Sunglasses from The A-Team

A few of the characters are seen in the movie wearing various styles of sunglasses.

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper wears a Wayfarer style frame in several scenes, one pair with clear and another with purple tinted lenses.

Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel wears the John Varvatos V723 sunglasses.

Quinton Jackson

Quinton Jackson wears the Oakley Antix sunglasses

Not seen the trailer yet?  View it below:

If like me you were a child brought up in the 80's there's a great chance you will remember the original Tron movie (1982), the sci-fi film set in an electronic world.  Fast forward nearly 30 years and the sequel, Tron: Legacy, is on the verge of being released with the promise of stunning visuals in glorious digital 3D alongside a breathtaking electronic soundtrack by Daft Punk. 

TRON is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (OLIVIA WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous. (Apple.com).

To celebrate the launch of Tron: Legacy, Oakley have announced that they will be offering a special edition pair of Tron Gascan 3D glasses which will "give movie audiences the superior technologies developed specifically for Oakley 3D eyewear, assuring a premium 3D experience".

Oakley have also announced they will be releasing a standard edition of the Gascan in Polished Black and Polished White with optically correct 3D lenses in the very near future.

Both Oakley Gascan's mentioned will only be available in the USA for the immediate future but are likely to be released in the UK early next year.

Original Tron Trailer

Tron Legacy Trailer

Personally, I'm not such a big fan of young Zac Efron, perhaps this is because he seems to have all the girls chasing after him, he's a movie star, rich, famous, young, and good looking – it's just not fair for one guy to have so much luck is it?!

Zac Efron in the UK promoting The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud in his Ray-Ban Aviator 3025 Sunglasses

Zac who has starred in the High School Musical movies, 17 again, and the recently released Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud has been noticed by us as being a keen sunglasses wearing guy that seems to be able to pull off any style thanks to his pretty boy good looks.

Being a guy, I would obviously much prefer to be blogging about a hot young lass such as his co-star Amanda Crew whom he stars alongside in his latest film, however, Zac's style is just too hard to ignore so we've made a special effort to get a blog post together just for you guys (or should that be 'girls'?)! =)

Zac Efron in Ray-Ban 3025 Sunglasses

Zac Efron wears the Ray-Ban 3025 Aviator sunglasses well.

Zac Efron in Persol Sunglasses

Zac wears the Persol PO0649 Sunglasses (left) and the Persol PO0714 Folding Sunglasses (right).

Zac Efron in Oliver Peoples Sunglasses

Zac wears the Oliver Peoples Wilder Sunglasses.

Zac Efron in Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses

Zac wears the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses.

Zac Efron in Oakley Frogskin Sunglasses

Zac wears the Oakley Frogskin Sunglasses.

Zac Efron in Oakley Holbrook Sunglasses

Zac wears the Oakley Holbrook Sunglasses.

Great news for those that have been struggling to watch the latest 3D movies due to having a prescription.  According to the Italian eyewear giant Luxottica, Oakley are planning to launch the first range of fashionable glasses complete with optically correct 3D prescription lenses!  Unfortunately there are no details to whether these glasses are just for cinema use or whether they will in fact work with the current crop of 3D enabled TV's, hopefully more details will be released shortly.

This range of glasses are currently in testing but Oakley are planning to release this range of 3D glasses across the US later this year, and to the rest of the world in 2011.

For more on this story, see here: News.com.au

Are you a fan of the Ducati brand? If so you may be interested to know that Oakley are now offering a range of Ducati Signature Series sunglasses…

“Ducati Signature Series Sunglasses: Full Speed/Style Ahead
Going fast gets us going. The world’s best optics collide with a heavy dose of Italian seasoning for performance that presses the realm of reason. Racing-inspired style hugs Oakley engineering like a Ducati bike through a gravity-defying turn. It’s technical elegance combined with outspoken style. And it’ll have you seeing red.”

This range includes the following models…

Ducati Jupiter – Frame: Matte Black / Lens: Black Iridium
“Original style isn’t dead but it’s practically got cops drawing chalk lines around it. When was the last time you found shades that dialed in something real without flash or show? All it takes is some clean lines, a few angles with attitude and a whole lot of technology. Introducing OAKLEY JUPITER®, a pure approach to original style. This is how we spell authenticity. No exclamation point needed – just a smooth look with icon accents, sculptural detailing and metal bands for an assertive edge.”

Ducati Scalpel Casey Stoner Edition – Frame: Polished Black / Lens: Black Iridium
“He was born into a bike-mad family and worked his way up from Australian dirt riding to the 2007 MotoGP World Champion trophy. Casey Stoner pilots a precision engineered Ducati motorcycle, and we’re honoring the rider and his machine with this special edition of Oakley SCALPEL™. Along with the metal icons, the UNOBTAINIUM® components on the stems of this Polished Black frame are rendered in Ducati red, and “Stoner 27” is laser etched near the bottom of the lens. We picked Black IRIDIUM® lenses for this Signature Series rendition. You’ll have crisp vision with reduced glare and truer color recognition.”

Ducati Juliet – Frame: Carbon / Lens: Black Iridium
“They build the machines that dominate the World Superbike Championship. When they choose sunglasses, this is their idea of technology accelerated. It’s the Ducati JULIET®, a 25-piece blend of X METAL® and art. Styled with Ducati colors and signed with a laser-etched script logo, it offers the unbeatable clarity and protection of Oakley’s HIGH DEFINITION OPTICS&Reg; (HDO&Reg;). The sculptural metal frame optimizes comfort by combining a lightweight titanium alloy with adaptable architecture.”

Ducati Hijinx - Frame: Polished Black / Lens: Black Iridium
“It’s the aroma of scorched pavement and the octane scream of 200 track-hungry horses that remind the world who dominates superbike racing. Aggressive technology is the lifeblood of Ducati, and that’s why the outspoken styling of Oakley HIJINX sunglasses is a perfect match for the hallmark of Italian engineering. This special edition comes with metal icons in signature Ducati red plus an insignia inside the earstem, and the Ducati logo is laser etched into the lens.”

Ducati Gascan – Frame: Matte Black / Lens: Black Iridium
“With the sharpest optics on the planet, the only blur we respect is the smear of light that trails the fastest bikes on the track. It’s a flash of Ducati red that can now be seen with the best eyewear in the industry, like this edition of GASCAN® with red metal icons. It salutes the velocity of Italian engineering with a laser etched Ducati logo and a Ducati Corse emblem inside the stem.”

Ducati Monster Dog – Frame: Polished Black / Lens: Black Iridium
“One of the largest eyewear frames ever made by Oakley, it’s a perfect match for Ducati’s lineage of aggressive design. Signed by the logo found on some of the world’s fastest motorcycles, these sunglasses combine pure PLUTONITE® lens material with the unbeatable performance of Oakley’s HIGH DEFINITION OPTICS&Reg; (HDO&Reg;). Patented technologies maintain clarity at all angles of vision, even at the sides of lens contours that extend peripheral view. The frame is digitally sculptured from lightweight O MATTER® and authenticated with true metal icons in Ducati red.”

Ducati Fives Squared - Frame: Matte Black / Lens: Black Iridium
“If you ever have the honor of meeting racers who unleash the clockwork thunder of Ducati bike technology, you’ll notice something different about them: The world doesn’t fit them. Speed limits are too slow. Gravity and G-forces are too restrictive. And for some, sunglasses don’t feel right. This special edition of FIVES SQUARED is the answer. Part of the Ducati Signature Series, it is made with tapered architecture for those who find that ordinary frames stick out too far at the sides. The colors of Ducati highlight a design with attitude that refuses to get in line, obey limits or follow anyone’s lead.”

Ducati Inmate – Frame: Matte Black / Lens: Warm Grey
“Two companies share a design lineage that matches aggressive innovation with uncompromising ideals of excellence. Oakley eyewear has always been a favorite among Ducati racers, and Oakley engineers have always respected the genius of Ducati design. That is why Oakley created the Ducati Signature Series, a collection of select Oakley sunglass styles that carry the logo and colors of Ducati. These unique renditions honor the grit, guts and glory of legends who add octane to life and push limits beyond all bounds.”

Ducati Straight Jacket - Frame: Dark Grey / Lens: Black Iridium
“The fastest class of motorcycle racing has a young world champion who wears the colors of Ducati, and we’re honoring the man and machine with this special edition of Oakley STRAIGHT JACKET sunglasses. “Stoner 27” is laser etched in the lens to salute Casey Stoner, an Australian who turned guts into glory on the Desmosedici GP7. The frame temples and metal icons are Ducati red, and the aggressive styling is a testament to the raw horsepower that comes from fueling technology with tenacity.”

Petroleum, engine oil, adrenalin… just some of the things that run through a petrol head and motor sport enthusiasts veins!

Be it 2 wheels or 4, I think there’s no better way of spending a lazy Sunday afternoon than switching the TV on in preparation for either a Formula 1, British Touring Car, or a MotoGP event, nothing can beat watching a group of highly competitive drivers or riders racing wheel to wheel, lap after lap, wringing every last tenth of a second out of their high powered machinery – In my opinion, it’s certainly better than watching a bunch of overpaid men kicking a bag of wind around a park trying to win the so called “World Cup” which can only ever end in disappointment if you just happen to be an England supporter (as you can tell, I’m not much of a football fan).

Watching the riders sit on the grid waiting for the MotoGP race to begin, I can’t help but notice that the riders are a fashion conscious bunch with many of the riders wearing Oakley Sunglasses while they sit on their bikes surrounded by their pit crew and a rather attractive pit babe holding an umbrella.  I’ve picked some of the best known Oakley wearing riders from the grid over the past couple of seasons to show you what Oakley Sunglasses they are wearing…

Casey Stoner

Ducati rider and 2007 World Champion Casey Stoner wears several pairs of Oakley including his own Oakley Scalpel Casey Stoner Edition.

Jorge Lorenzo

Yamaha rider and probably odds on favourite for clinching the 2010 World Championship since Valentino Rossi crashed and broke his leg at Mugello in June.  Lorenzo seems to have found a favourite frame with the ‘Wayfarer style’ Oakley Limited Edition Frogskin sunglasses – he has also been pictured wearing the Oakley Holbrook, a very similar style to the Frogskins.

Nicky Hayden

Ducati rider and 2006 World Champion “The Kentucky Kid” Nicky Hayden chooses to wear sunglasses from either his own Oakley Ducati Jupiter Nicky Hayden Edition or a frame from the Oakley Frogskins collection.  Nicky has also been spotted wearing a special edition Oakley Antix frame.

Loris Capirossi

Perhaps the most experienced rider in the MotoGP field with over 300 races under his belt, Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi chooses to wear the Oakley Antix Sunglasses.

Andrea Dovizioso

Honda Rider Andrea Dovizioso has been Honda’s most consistent rider in 2009/10 with many top 6 results and a single victory at Donington in 2009.  Dovizioso chooses to wear the MotoGP Signature Series Oakley Jupiter with Fire Iridium lenses and the Oakley Oil Rig.

Ben Spies

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Ben Spies chooses to wear what I think is the smartest style Oakley frame, the fashionable Oakley Inmate.

Colin Edwards

Ben Spies’ team mate Colin Edwards wears the Oakley Hijinx.

We hope this list of riders and their eye wear helps you find any of the Oakley Sunglasses you are looking for, if you’re looking to buy any of these frames remember that we now have the majority of them available through the SelectSpecs.com website.  If a particular item is not listed or is unavailable, feel free to drop us an email and we will try to get that item in for you within 5-7 days providing it’s available from the supplier.

Imagery of GP Riders and Sunglasses courtesy of Oakley.

It has been almost 2 years since we launched the previous version of the SelectSpecs.com website but what a great 2 years it has been!  Not only have we added more prestigious designer brands to our collection including Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli and Mont Blanc, but we also successfully launched a range of prescription glasses for just £5 including lenses, UV protection, Anti-Reflection and Scratch-Resistant coatings – which we’re proud to say are still the World’s Cheapest Glasses!

New Design, New Features…

From today, we’re looking to take SelectSpecs.com to a whole new level with the launch of a refreshing new design and the addition of a host of new features which will improve the look, feel and usability of our website.  Some of the changes we’re making include:-

Improved Site Navigation

We’ve made it easier to get around our website and find the items you are looking for.  You will now find useful drop down menus with all the important links from each of the main product categories (Glasses, Sunglasses, Accessories, etc), this will allow you to navigate to anywhere on our website with ease.  Simply hover over the menu tabs to reveal the menu options.

New Search Tool

We’ve given our search system a complete overhaul with the addition of some new predictive features which will help you find the product or information page you are looking for without leaving the search tool.  Simply start typing in the name of the item you are looking for and wait for the results to appear!

Product Value Searching

We’ve improved our product value search ranges from the old ‘Budget’ and ‘Premier’ ranges, we’ve now divided our entire product catalogue up into further product values making it easier to find a product suitable for your budget requirements.

Searching for Prescription Sunglasses

Finding prescription sunglasses has been made easier, simply select the product category you are interested from our sunglasses section then from within the search results select “Prescription Compatible Sunglasses Only” from the Show Me… drop down box.  The results displayed will now only show sunglasses that are suitable for prescription lenses!

New Product Page

We recognised the fact that our product pages had become quite cumbersome to use as our website became packed with new products, so we’ve listened to our customers views and restructured our product pages accordingly to make them much easier to use.  The significant changes are as follows:-

1. Imagery and Option Selection
Images of products will be improved over the coming months with each option image displaying upon selection – This should ultimately make it simpler to purchase the option you require.

2. Product Availability
We have now added real time stock availability to our website, any products that are out of stock will be marked as ‘Currently Unavailable’.

3. Alternative Frame Sizes
We are now able to offer alternative frame sizes with many frames being available in up to 3 different sizes, small, medium and large.  Sizes are presented in the following format: 135-18-46-32 = 135 (Arm Length) 18 (Bridge Width) 46 (Lens Width) 32 (Frame Height – This value may be N/A if we do not have this information).  Please note, if a frame size is unavailable we will display “Currently Unavailable” next to the item.

4. Information Tabs
More information about the product, delivery and returns will be displayed below the product in a tabbed area.

Questions…

If you have any questions about our new website please feel free to drop us a comment on this post and we’ll respond as soon as possible!  It may well be that we have already answered your question below:

Q. Will I need to create a new account?
A. No, all existing account have been carried across to our new website so you will not need to create a new account.

Q. The currency is wrong, how can I change this?
A. Simply select the correct value from the Currency selection drop down box in the top right hand corner of your screen.

Q. Do you have anymore developments planned?
A. Certainly, we never stop coming up with new ideas here!  At the moment we have a nifty new prescription system in development that we plan to have online later this year.

Q. Are you adding any new designer ranges?
A. Yes we are!  We’re proud to say we recently acquired the Oakley Sunglasses and Oakley Prescription Glasses ranges, these will be available from immediate effect – All Oakley sunglasses that are available on our website are available for shipping within 24 hours of ordering.  If an item happens to be unavailable, please drop us an email through our contact system and we can advise you when that product will be back in stock.

We also have a number of new ranges coming online shortly including Jimmy Choo, Calvin Klein, CK Calvin Klein, Nike and many more!

Q. I’ve discovered a bug that needs fixing.
A. Great!  Please let us know through our customer services system and we will rectify the issue as soon as possible.  Please bear in mind that with any changes there is likely to be a transition period so banners, logos, or text may look incorrect for a period of time but we are working to correct these issues!

Could Andrew Coltart’s return to form at St Andrew’s yesterday have anything to do with the fact that, unlike many of his opponents, he was very sensibly wearing appropriate sunglasses? Who knows, maybe. Well, whatever it was that helped propel him to the top of the leaderboard yesterday morning after spending too long in the golfing doldrums has got to be a good thing.

Golf demands a high degree of accurate visual perception to correctly judge alignment and distances and adjust to changing weather conditions so wearing sunglasses specially designed to aid concentration and comfort can make all the difference between smashing to success and languishing in a bunker.

Even golfers who don’t feel the need for visual assistance to improve their handicap should bear in mind the high levels of harmful UV rays that their eyes will be exposed to during a few hours on the green. Even on a cloudy day, 90% of UV light penetrates the clouds so protection is beneficial whatever the weather.

Oakley, Bolle, Cebe and Rudy Project all carry a range of frames designed with the needs of golfers in mind, even if it’s just to look as stylish as possible – unlike John Daly and girlfriend’s skirt & trouser combos.

In the film, Matt Damon stars as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller, a rogue U.S. Army officer who must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil before war escalates in an unstable region.

Sunglasses from the Green Zone Trailer

We’ve studied the Green Zone trailer to show you what sunglasses we’ll be seeing in the movie.

Matt Damon wears Oakley M Frame Strike during his role in Green Zone.  The Oakley style of sunglasses are very popular with military personnel with similar styles from Oakley being used in other military movies including the Golden Globe nominated “The Hurt Locker“.

Amy Ryan is also seen with a pair of sunglasses on her head during the trailer.  We are unable to identify them at this stage but they look like a single lens shield style frame.

Green Zone is due for release March 12, 2010.  Why not view the trailer in HD now.

Continuing on from my previous post about Sunglasses for Mountain Biking I had the opportunity to try a pair of the Rudy Project Rydon Sunglasses featuring the ImpactX Photochromic Red Lenses during a Sunday ride out at a local 20 mile (30km) route through part of the beautiful North Downs in Kent, UK.

The Ride

Our route took us through some of the most beautiful and picturesque parts of the Kent countryside found in between Canterbury and Ashford on the North Downs.  Starting in Chilham we rode along quiet country roads, up steep rocky inclines, down insanely quick single tracks, and through farmers fields overlooking some stunning vistas, all in the course of the challenging 20 mile loop!  Seriously, when you just drive along the main roads through this area you miss so much of what really is in this area – many car drivers certainly don’t know what they’re missing!

The weather for this ride was perfect with clear blue skies with the temperature in the mid 20′s even at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.  The ground was perfectly dry making for a challenging, bumpy and very dusty ride which was sure to get the blood pumping and the suspension working hard!

In my personal opinion (as I sit here with aching thighs still…) this route probably isn’t too suitable for those new to Mountain Biking or for those that are relatively unfit as some of the uphill sections are particularly difficult especially with the rocky/gravelly undulations and some downhill sections are very fast and are likely to throw you off if you have a bike with inadequate suspension travel, that being said though this route can be taken at your own leisurely pace with plenty of opportunities to stop at a lovely English country pub for a break and a ploughmans.

If you’re local to Kent (UK) or are planning a visit down this way for a ride out I can highly recommend taking a look at the Kent Trails website for more information – The route we took is listed on the site as the Chilham to Wye route.

The Sunglasses

I usually wear a pair of Ray-Ban RB3186 Sunglasses for everyday sun protection but these are not particularly great for mountain biking especially when the going gets tough so trying a new pair of sport style sunglasses in a completely different style initially took a little bit of time to adjust to and get comfortable with.

Trying the Rudy Project Rydon on for the first time took a little adjusting to get fitment right, thankfully the frame comes with adjustable temples and nose piece making finding the perfect fit relatively easy, and after 10 minutes or so with the arms tucked through my helmet strapping I had soon adjusted to the frames and forgot I was wearing them.  First impressions, also thanks to the lightweight design, were impressive.

These sunglasses also feature Rudy Project’s ImpactX lenses, a virtually unbreakable lightweight material.  Below is a video clip released by Rudy Project about these lenses:

Whats in the box?

As with all Rudy Project products the Rydon comes nicely packaged with the package containing the Sunglasses, a hard case (not shown), a soft case, and full information about the frame and instructions for changing the lenses.  The hard case also comes with enough room to store another pair of lenses in but in reality the hard case is perhaps a little too large to carry around with you comfortably – I had to leave this in the car while riding.

Style & Design

The Rudy Project collection is all about sporty designs fit for a sporting purpose rather than just general fashion wear so you’re unlikely to find the Rydon in any pub gardens (unless you’re stopping at The Tickled Trout in Wye for a cheeky break of course…) or at any music festivals.  The Rydon that I tested featured an Ultralight Kynetyum Frame, Adjustable Temples and Nose piece, and Interchangeable Lenses that can be removed and replaced within seconds making them perfect for any face size and any lighting conditions.

One issue I did notice with the design was that the lenses were prone to fogging up when you were stationary after a period of intense physical exertion, this fogging tended to dissipate as soon as you began to move and produce airflow around the lenses.  I don’t consider this to be much of a problem in the summer months as the vast majority of the time you’re always on the move so the fogging does not occur, however, during the winter months when the temperatures are considerably cooler I think the fogging may become more of a problem and an anti-fogging solution may need to be applied to the lenses.

Comfort

When wearing sunglasses I expect them to feel comfortable at all times without giving me any undue pressure on the bridge of my nose or my head where sometimes they can start to give me a headache thanks to the arms pressing against my head a little too much, I also expect my sunglasses to stay in place and not slip down my nose due to the frame being too loose.  Fortunately, the Rydon proved to be very comfortable to wear from the moment of trying them on and with some minor adjustment of the adjustable temples and nose piece the sunglasses were sure to stay in place at all times even over the toughest terrain.

The ImpactX lenses gave me the confidence to push on without the fear of getting anything damaging in my eyes such as branches, stones or large bugs while the wide lenses also gave adequate wind protection during fast sections of the ride meaning I never had any tears (of joy, not pain…) streaming down my face at any point!

Vision

Our ride took place on a beautiful summers day starting at 4pm with clear blue skies and not a cloud in sight.  This ride took us through various part of the Kent countryside with various lighting conditions from open fields to sparse and dense woodland, conditions that would test the photochromic red lenses to their maximum.

Part of the ride took place in open surroundings allowing the full sunlight to activate the photochromic lenses from light red to a darker shade of red reducing the need to squint in the bright sunlight especially as the sun heads towards the horizon at around 7-8pm – this change in lens tinting is really not noticeable while riding which I consider to be a good thing.

The rest of the ride took place in vast areas of woodland of varying density meaning some poor lighting conditions, these lenses were quick to clear and were perfectly wearable in dim conditions during the day.  However, I did find that while they were fantastic during bright conditions the lenses were a little too dark at around sunset time when entering wooded areas, there were moments where I was unable to see clearly until the lenses had cleared and my eyes had adjusted to the dim light.  For evening rides where I know I’m likely to be out after sunset I would probably choose to swap to clear or perhaps yellow lenses which are great for dim lighting conditions instead of wearing no eye protection at all.

Fortunately, I’m lucky enough not to have to wear prescription glasses myself (although that probably won’t last forever…) but if I did then these Rudy Project frames are compatible with a prescription ‘clip-on’ or ‘insert’ meaning I could have clear vision while protecting my vision.  This would also mean that I wouldn’t have to worry about wearing a pair of normal everyday prescription glasses which would be totally unsuitable for riding.

Overall Impressions

My overall impression of these frames are that they are perfectly suitable for mountain biking and that I strongly recommended them for consideration while looking for similar frames from other leading brands such as Oakley, Bolle and WileyX.  The Rydon was comfortable to the point where I could forget I was wearing them and the varying amount of adjustment from these frames makes it easy to adjust to anyone’s face.

Would I buy a pair? Certainly, while testing these sunglasses I loved them so much I decided to buy that pair once I returned to the office on Monday morning!  While I wouldn’t wear these every day as a fashion item for sun protection, I would always choose to wear the Rydon during any sporting activities where I needed sun or just eye protection.  One thing I would probably consider is approaching Rudy Project for an additional set of yellow or clear lenses (ImpactX of course!) for riding during the late evening where you don’t need ultimate sun shade protection but are perfect for late evening or night rides, especially as the winter months loom just around the corner.

Plus Points

+ Great style
+ Ultra lightweight
+ Adjustable for utmost comfort
+ Interchangeable Lenses

Minor Points

- Fogged up when stationary
- Photochromic technology slow to react when entering dark areas

SelectSpecs.com Rating - 9/10

These Sunglasses for Other Sports

Don’t forget, these Rudy Project frames feature lenses that are interchangeable for different lighting conditions and different sports including, Golf, Climbing, Shooting/Hunting and much more, making these frames absolutely perfect for all sporting activities!

Mountain Biking is a fantastic sport for both the weekend warrior or the seasoned pro’s amongst us, whether you’re riding on a quaint English countryside single-track or blasting down the side of a mountain in the French Alps at over 60mph, Mountain Biking is guaranteed to get your heart pounding and the adrenalin flowing!

Now that you’ve invested £100′s or £1000′s of pounds on your weapon of choice (bike), helmet and clothing, you seriously need to consider buying an appropriate pair of sunglasses to not only protect your eyes from UV damage caused by the sun (even if you are out riding in Wales…) but also to protect your eyes from flying debris such as stones and mud, insects and branches, which could all potentially cause irreparable damage to your eyes and even blindness.  As a keen cyclist myself who loves to get out in the countryside when I can I’m of the opinion that wearing decent eye protection whilst riding is just as important as wearing a correctly fitting helmet to help protect against injury.

I’ve got the gear, but have no idea… about appropriate eye wear…

Generally, wearing any sunglasses you would normally wear to a festival, in a beer garden, or just sunning yourself on a beach, is really not suitable for gunning it on a gravelly and bumpy single track.  For a start fashionable sunglasses such as Ray-ban Aviators or Wayfarers may look cool but these styles are often loose fitting, more fragile, and feature non impact resistant lenses that will most likely fall off, break or get damaged by flying debris – Think of it like wearing flip flops, shorts and a T-shirt while riding a motorbike, not only will you look like a moron but you’re also very likely to get hurt if something goes wrong!

Top Tips for Choosing the Correct Eye Wear for Mountain Biking

1). Select a pair of sunglasses that have shatterproof lenses (see below).

2). Look for sunglasses that protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

3). Find a frame that fits snugly on your face.  Sunglasses need to fit well so that they’ll stay in place while you’re riding over bumpy terrain.  Sunglasses that wrap around to the side of your eyes will also offer you more protection from debris and branches.

4). Buy sunglasses with a yellow lens if you plan on doing most of your rides at dusk or dawn. A yellow lens allows you to easily see through shadows that occur at these times of day.

5). Select a pair of sunglasses with rose or amber lenses for all-around conditions in any light or terrain.

6). Avoid polarised lenses as these will not give you enough contrast when you’re riding in shady forest/wooded areas, early morning or evening, so there is the danger that you will not see rocks or rutted areas which could potentially cause an accident.

7). Attach a sunglasses strap around your neck to prevent lost eye wear on the trail, this will also prevent your sunglasses falling to the floor and being damaged if they do become dislodged from your face at any point.

Buy Sunglasses with Shatterproof Lenses for the Ultimate in Protection

For the ultimate in eye protection we can highly recommend the ImpactX Lenses from Rudy Project, these are strong and will not break if you’re hit by debris or branches while riding.  Rudy Project claim these lenses are stronger than Polycarbonate and Polymide lenses.

Not all Sunglasses feature such strength technology but MTB’ers should, at the very least, always consider looking to buy sunglasses that feature a polycarbonate lens rather than an easily breakable glass or CR39 lens.

Sunglasses we can Recommend for the best MTB Experience

Of course, we can highly recommend sunglasses from the Rudy Project, Bolle and Cebe ranges listed on our website and also frames by Oakley or WileyX, these are all widely regarded designers to consider when looking for suitable sport sunglasses with impact resistant lenses.  However, speaking from experience when handling some of the frames by Bolle and Cebe, these are at the budget end of the scale and do feel cheaper than similar items from that of the Rudy Project collection.

We can highly recommend the following frames to consider, all available from SelectSpecs.com today:

Rudy Project Rydon / Rydon II

Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses are perfect for mountain biking especially with their ImpactX lens options! These feature an interchangeable lens system to suit any lighting conditions, adjustable temples and nose pads, and are compatible with RX Inserts.  The Rudy Project Rydon frame is available on our website from £91.54.

World record breaker Mark Beaumont who is famous for cycling around the world is currently wearing what looks to be the Rudy Project Rydon for his current trip cycling from Anchorage, Alaska to Ushuaia in Southern Argentina.  You can keep up to date with his efforts by visiting his blog on the BBC website.

If these sunglasses are good enough for Mark Beaumont to spend all day every day in while cycling the Americas they’re good enough for me!  So over the course of a recent weekend I tried out a pair of Rydon’s with the Photochromic Red ImpactX Lenses during a local ride through some great bumpy single track routes between Canterbury and Ashford, see my review of these sunglasses coming soon… watch this space!

Bolle Traverse

Bolle Traverse Sunglasses are perfect for Mountain Biking or any other activity which requires secure fitting and high impact protection.  These sunglasses feature a high contrast rose modulator (photochromic) lens that are perfect for dim and shady riding conditions.  The Traverse frame also features additional strapping to securely fasten the frame to your head, adjustable nose pads, and a moisture absorbing foam sweat bar.  The Bolle Traverse frame is also compatible with RX Inserts and is on our website from just £86.43.

Cebe Couger

The Couger by Cebe is of similar style to the Rudy Project and Bolle frames with it’s interchangeable lens system and RX Insert compatibility.  Unfortunately there is no high impact lens option available.  The Couger (in both Summer and Winter packs) is available from £78.02.

I have a Prescription, What are my Options?

Just like wearing fashionable sunglasses like Aviators or Wayfarers, every day regular prescription glasses (even tinted or photochromic) that you may wear for reading or working in front of a computer are just not suitable for bumpy terrain.  These may give you adequate UV protection but will not provide you with adequate eye protection in the event of being hit by a stone or branch, and if you do break your prescription glasses then you could well be left without a pair of glasses until you can find a new pair.

Fortunately, some of the leading designers in sports sunglasses now supply their sports sunglasses with prescription clip-on compatibility including Rudy Project, Oakley, and a cost effective range from Bolle and Cebe.  This means you can wear a branded pair of suitable sports sunglasses while ensuring your vision is clear and crisp.  If you’re looking for a set of Clip-on lenses for your sports sunglasses, we at SelectSpecs.com have created an area listing all our Clip-on / Prescription insert compatible frames and have included a number of separate Clip-ons for you to purchase – See our Clip-on area for more details.

Now your equipment is all ready and your eyes are protected from the sun and debris damage there’s only one thing left to do, and that’s go hit those trails!!

Pint-sized sunglasses wearing British athlete Jenny Meadows made a late charge last night to a brilliant Bronze medal in the 800m at the Athletics World Championship in Berlin.  (Jenny Meadows on the far left).

She was all but last when she began her final lap of the track and even as the athletes entered the finishing straight she was still way back in 6th place.  It was an amazing sprint to the finish line for the little pocket rocket Jenny who took the long way round her competitors only narrowly missing out on the Silver medal.

But rumours and speculation about the gender of winning athlete South Africa’s Caster Semenya, who dominated the race could mean that Jenny’s Bronze Medal could be upgraded to a Silver if the results of a possible gender test prove conclusive.

Jenny Meadows’ great result follows the amazing success of Phillips Idowu’s Triple Jump Gold Medal and Britain’s new Golden Girl Jessica Ennis who won Gold in the Heptathlon and is tipped to become British Sports Personality of the Year and Face of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Jenny Meadows – The Sunglasses Wearing Athlete

It’s not too hard to find pictures of Britain’s top athletes these days, but you will be hard pressed to find pictures of Jenny Meadows where she is not actually wearing any sporting sunglasses of some kind or other.  It seems they have been surgically attached to her face.  But maybe she’s just being sensible and trying to protect her eyes.

Petite Jenny is often seen sporting Oakley Sunglasses whether she is on or off the track.

Jenny’s various sunglasses trends, she is often seen wearing white or pink coloured Oakley Sunglasses at events including the Beijing Summer Olympics 2008 (bottom right at the Great Wall of China).

Jenny Meadows with legendary double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes – both wearing Sunglasses

If you’re looking for some great sporting sunglasses why not try our excellent selection of Rudy Project Sunglasses, ideal for all kinds of sports with many kinds of specialist lenses including extra tough ImpactX Photochromic.

We also have a great selection of Cebe Sunglasses and Bolle Sunglasses, both of which are ideal for the spoting kind.

SelectSpecs are pleased to announce the addition of a new range of affordable premier prescription glasses to our range of growing products.  These sporty and stylish frames have been influenced by a number of top selling sporting designer brands including Bolle, Oakley and Quiksilver.  These high quality metal frames are available in both full rimmed and semi-rimless designs with the addition of spring hinges all at affordable prices making these practical frames an essential purchase for under £50 (including standard thin and light prescription lenses, UV protection, Scratch Resistance, and Anti-Reflection)!

Hawaii O’ahu – Unisex Prescription Glasses – £49.50

Hawaii Maui – Unisex Prescription Glasses – £49.50

Hawaii Waikiki – Unisex Prescription Glasses – £49.50

Check out the rest of the sporty Hawaii range of frames by visiting our website today!