Her Take
By Melanie Clancy
I don't usually do too much of the product testing here at ACTIVE.com (in fact, my editors are probably rolling their eyes just reading that sentence). As editor-in-chief, I'm supposed to be worrying about the big picture, and when I try and get involved in the details--well, let's just say I can bottleneck the process.
Besides, what business do I have testing the Jawbreaker? For one, I'm a female--aren't these intended for a more aggressive (read: masculine) look? And for two, I'm abnormally small (5'4" in your media guide, but 5'3" if you're counting). Surely I would look ridiculous given the 44 percent size increase over an average pair of shades.
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Nonetheless, I was intrigued. I'm an avid cyclist, so anything Cav wears, I'm willing to try. Plus, I had just scratched up the lenses of my usual pair on a muddy adventure at Lake Tahoe. I couldn't resist--I pulled rank and took off with the Jawbreaker late on a Thursday afternoon.
Over the course of the next four days, I tallied about 170 miles in the saddle while wearing the Jawbreaker. Here are the highlights:
Size:
The Jawbreakers slipped on easily under my cap and helmet. I mentioned I'm pretty short, right? Well, cue the adjustable stem design. I set the stems to the 5 mm length, and they tucked in snugly and comfortably over my ears. I definitely got a few looks when I rolled up to my Thursday night group ride, but I'm almost positive it was just their realization that my newfound intensity would have me bagging QOMs all night.
Lenses:
I rode with the Prizm Road lenses for all 170 miles. It's Texas in the dead of summer--it's bright--but the clarity bordered on absurd. If you want to get out of Dallas and hit some FM roads, you better commit to some rough stretches of pavement; but the Prizm lenses allowed me to spot the subtlest changes in road texture. I became a glass-spotting, Chihuahua-dodging machine. Unintended consequence: I was appointed de facto spotter and pulled the paceline for much of the ride.
Ventilation System:
I can't over-emphasize this enough: It is hot as hell in Dallas in the summer. I double-checked, and historical data tells me it was 99 degrees Fahrenheit the weekend I tested the Jawbreaker. I can personally tell you, however, that it was least 120 both days. Easily. If you've ridden in weather like this, you know what to expect: dripping, sometimes fogged lenses, sweat in your eyes and general misery. The Jawbreaker couldn't totally eliminate the misery--it's not a miracle worker--but it did considerably limit it thanks to the specially-designed ventilation system. Six vents create a subtle airflow that help you stay comfortable and avoid fog buildup, even when you're pushing through hot, stagnant air.
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Field of Vision:
I tend to ride in the drops a lot, and that bent-over position generally incurs limited visibility. Not so with the Jawbreaker. The frame is so tall that it never really comes into your field of vision. I likened it to how an owl must feel, almost like I could spin my head around 360 degrees and see everything in sight. And I don't take my owl analogies lightly.
Verdict:
The harshest critics I know are other female cyclists. They have no patience for BS, and a product better function exceptionally well while looking damn cool if they're going to get behind it. I knew I loved the Jawbreakers (my editor had to pry them away from me come Monday morning), but what would they think? The definitive answer came the following Thursday when I rolled back up to my group ride, sans shades. "Where are the Jawbreakers?" asked one of my female friends, a former racer and current bike shop owner. "I had to give them up," I said disappointedly. "Oh no!" she exclaimed. "I was hoping you'd let me wear them. Those are badass."
The Jawbreaker is part of Oakley's cycling sunglass line that includes the Road Flak 2.0 XL and Radar EV Path, all of which are available with Prizm lens technology.
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