Blog

How great is it to need only one pair of glasses for all situations and weather conditions? With top quality and sustainability as key principles, PPEEQQ has developed glasses that not only maintain your vision but actually enhance it. Whether it’s a bright blue or cloudy sky, day or night, through the woods or across the plains, in summer or winter—it’s all possible. We spoke with three prominent users.

Laurens ten Dam

Glasses Never Fog Up

Former pro cyclist Laurens ten Dam is still performing at the highest level. Shortly after retiring from professional cycling, he discovered gravel riding. Year after year, he now competes in numerous international races. One of them is Unbound, the unofficial World Gravel Championship. This year, after 200 miles (330 kilometers) through the vast, rugged Kansas terrain, Ten Dam once again finished fourth. He benefited greatly from his glasses.

"ON THE FIRST RIDE I THOUGHT: WOW, THESE GLASSES GIVE SUCH A GREAT VIEW!"

"I remember the first time I put on the PPEEQQ glasses. My first thought was: oh, nice and light. And right after that: wow, these glasses are amazing to look through. The way the lenses adjust to the light is really fantastic. I never have to think about whether or not to wear them—you can just keep them on. In the morning at the start, it’s sometimes still dark, but later in the race, there's tons of UV rays. Yet I can manage with just this one pair. That’s a real blessing, especially when you’re dealing with lots of dust and mud."

Ten Dam is very pleased with the lenses. “They don’t distort the vision, which is important—you need to maintain depth perception.” However, the PPEEQQ glasses have an even bigger advantage for him. “I've always had a sponsorship contract for my glasses. Some were quite good or okay, while others were less impressive. But what I primarily experienced was that they all fogged up. And the PPEEQQ glasses don’t do that. That’s a huge plus. In the past, I would often find that during the first climb in the course, when my heart rate goes up and my breathing quickens, the glasses would immediately fog up. That’s really annoying because then you have to continue without them. Now, that’s no longer an issue.”

Sandra Dekker

Super natural vision

She noticed every crack in the ice on the Weissensee. “And there are many, believe me,” laughs Sandra Dekker. The 24-year-old cyclist and speed skater has been using a PPEEQQ glasses for the second year and speaks highly of them. “On the ice, it's especially important to see depth well so you can spot cracks in time. Thanks to these glasses, I could see even the smallest color differences in the ice surface. The color-changing lenses ensure that you see everything, whether it's dark or bright light. So even when it’s twilight or very overcast. The vision is, how shall I put it, super natural.”

Dekker is also very pleased with the fit. “Most glasses fit well under a cycling helmet, but skating helmets are often a bit different. However, the PPEEQQ glasses also fit under that. They don’t pinch anywhere and are not irritating.” For Dekker, it is also an important aspect that the glasses are produced sustainably and last a long time. “The use of natural materials, like in this case for the frame, is becoming increasingly important these days. And I personally find it especially nice that you can use such glasses for a long time; that you don’t have to replace them after just half a season.”

"YOU CAN SEE THE SMALLEST COLOR DIFFERENCE IN THE ICE SURFACE THANKS TO THOSE GLASSES."

Last summer, Dekker made the transition to the cycling peloton, so she no longer focuses solely on speed skating. “Artificial ice was not my favorite; natural ice was. But I can't commit to training all year round for just those two weeks.” So now she competes in road cycling races. And even then, she wears her PPEEQQ glasses. “I’m not a very experienced cyclist yet; I’ve really just jumped in at the deep end, but I do rely on my glasses. No matter how much I might doubt certain things, I certainly don’t doubt my PPEEQQ.”

Rob Harmeling

You stay focused

Rob Harmeling (58) has been an enthusiastic user since the introduction of the PPEEQQ glasses. He wishes he had had such a comfortable pair of glasses earlier. “Maybe I would have seen the race better and possibly won more,” laughs the former professional cyclist, who won a Tour stage in 1992.

As a rider, Rob Harmeling had little choice. The team had a sunglasses sponsor, and that brand had to be worn. “Did you know that sport sunglasses have only been around since the mid-1980s? Before that, no one rode with sunglasses. Well, except for Knetemann and Raas, because they couldn’t see otherwise.” Oakley was the trendsetter about forty years ago. “After that, everyone quickly got used to it; we can’t ride without them anymore. Still, there is a difference in quality. Comfort is, of course, important. The glasses must be light, shouldn’t pinch, mustn’t slide down your nose, and should stay in place despite a lot of vibrations.” This all makes sense, but Harmeling has experienced that it’s not always guaranteed. “What’s really important, and you can only truly test it in a long road race or an intense gravel ride, is that the glasses prevent your eyes from getting tired. That’s a common issue with many brands.”

“SOME LENSES FROM OTHER BRANDS QUICKLY BECOME TOO DARK”

The PPEEQQ glasses meet all of Harmeling's needs. The photochromic lenses adjust based on the amount of UV radiation, becoming transparent in low light and dark in the sun. “And that's so important. Some lenses from other brands become too dark too quickly, which can tire your eyes. With others, you might experience glare, which is also very exhausting. Concentration is crucial, especially when mountain biking or gravel riding. Navigating trails requires a lot of focus. I often see cyclists putting their glasses on their helmets because they can't see well enough.”

With his PPEEQQ glasses, Harmeling, who has also become a team manager for the Tour de Tietema/Unibet cycling team this year, never experiences concentration issues. “I even rode a 250-kilometer gravel race this year with them. No problems at all with the glasses. What more proof do I need?” The fact that the frames are recyclable because they are made from castor beans—thus eliminating the need for fossil fuels during the manufacturing process—is an added bonus for Harmeling. “From a sustainability standpoint, I always take good care of my gear. I appreciate that the glasses are scratch-resistant.”