Conference noted::bicycle

    	Wowsers Chip...
    
    	Me thinketh Digital payeth you too much dinero for your own good.
    
    	As for tips on care?
    
    	Try not to step on 'em...
    
    	Yeah, I know, "shut up loudmouth". Ok, ok...

	Chip,

	The Iridium coating Oakley puts on looks good, but is really
	susceptible to scratching. I've had a few pair and Oakley recommends
	only using the soft storage bag they provide and water. I will
	attest that anything else will scratch the finish. Carry the
	bag with you so when you take them off you can store them safely.
	Most of all don't get them near any kind of sharp metal. I think
	Iridium is magnetic and is attracted to objects that will scratch it.

	Steve

Chip,

I have a set of Oakley M-Frame's with a blue Iridium sweep lense and the
yellow heater lense. The Iridium got scratched really easily. It was from
putting them in my jersey pocket in the rain.(Deja vu)

I did use the bag for cleaning but I was washing them with a mild dish washing 
soap to get the oil off.

Right now they are on their way back from California. Warranty replacement.
They broke when swapping the lense. I put the new lense in and put the glasses 
down and while they were sitting on the table I heard a POP! I looked down and 
the frame broke in two. There must have been quite a lot of tension on the frame 
because after the frame broke there was a gap of about and eighth of and inch
with the new lense in place that you couldn't force closed. I also noticed the 
Iridium lense started to crack in the corner where they fit into the frame. So 
replaced those also.

	This wasn't my being ham-fisted and breaking them. I was doing this 
as carfully as posible.

FYI The correct way to replace and remove the lense is as follows. 
    (no instructions came with the replacement lenses)

o - Holding the middle of the frame above the nose piece and holding the lense
just above the nose piece, GENTLY pull the two pieces apart just enough to 
separate the lense from the frame while the lense ends are still in the frame.
Then carefully remove the lense ends from the frame. If you pull the lenes from
the frame too fast the lense will crack in the corner where it fit into the 
frame.

o - Replacing the lense. Carefully insert the two lense points into the frame,
one at a time. With the two end points in the frame Slowly work the middle of
the lense into the groove of the frame.

The above instructions I received over the phone from the OAKLEY customer 
service rep.

Tom

     Thanks a million...
    
     Please refer to NOTE 25.--- For Sale: 1 pair of... :-)
    
      Chip

Chip, my advice is that if you MUST get them scratched, make sure you're not
wearing them while it happens. 8^{.


-Patrick

    Do these glasses work twice as well as normal sunglasses?  Why would
    you care to own something that expensive that will be flawed in a few
    weeks?
    
    
    Just say no!
    
    Peter

     Help me, I've purchased iridium and I can't stop glowing in the dark!
    
     I can't say no...
    
        Chip

    
    
    Just another sad case of the dreaded "GOTTAHAVEMS" compounded by
    "Extracashinmypocket" syndrome... and VERY DEEP pockets at that!! 8^}
    
    
     Just count me as another jealous credit card holding, mortage paying,
    tele, elec, cable, (add your favorite) .....payer, POOR cyclist that
    wishes he could play the "Who dies with the most and BEST toys wins"
    game like Chip can.
    
    

    
    

    RE: .7 (why pay big bucks...)
    
    I agree with .8 that fit is excellent (function of nose & ear pieces,
    as well as shape of M-frame).
    
    Also key is that they shield eyes from wind very well at high speeds
    (I tested at 50+) - much better than Oakley Blades.
    
    Another plus is exceptionally perfect peripheral vision.
    
    Regards,
    Mark

    I guess this is one expense I don't have to worry about.
    
    Bob - who wears coke bottles to avoid running into walls when walking

	So how _do_ people keep their iridium lenses clean?  Mine get gunky
	from sweat and from touching them.  I was cleaning them several times
	per week with dish detergent (such as Palmolive or Ivory). I'd get
	them wet, put the detergent on, smear it around, and rinse.  Then I'd
	either let them air dry or use a cotton cloth. 

	The shiny coating never got scratched, my problem was that the inside
	coating started peeling off.  I wrote to Oakley and they instructed
	me to send them the lenses and they'd see if they could warrantee
	them.  Yesterday I picked up my shiny, brand-spanking-new lenses at
	UPS!  Now I just want to make sure I don't ruin the new ones.  I
	can't imagine that just rinsing in water will get rid of any greasy
	smudges.

	Sue

     That's all I use on my regular Oakleys - water and paper towels (I
    know paper towels are abrasive, but they've been kind to my lenses).
    
     Sometimes you do have to rub and use "clean" portions of p/t, but it
    works for me... Bugs are a different matter...
    
    
    
     Chip

    
    re: .13 (Sue)
    
    Glad to hear that Oakley sent a new lense to you...I told ya that they
    would ;^)
    
    Now, how to keep them clean...I always rinse my mumbo's off with warm
    water after riding, even if they don't look dirty. When they are dirty
    I put a "dab" of Ivory liquid on my finger and swirl it around on the
    lense, rinse thoroughly with warm water and then dry with a clean
    towel. I don't recommend using any paper products on Iridium lenses.
    Put the glasses in the bag or case when you're not wearing them.
    
    Pete
    

    
    I haven't read any of the propaganda describing the supposed advantages
    of Iridium lenses, but from reading these notes, they do seem to share
    many characteristics of that famous metaphorical device, the chocolate
    teapot...
    
    Trevor

     I can only say they are the fastest eye protection I've ever
    owned :-)...
    
      Chip