100% SPEEDCRAFT AIR
£299 › Peter Sagan’s respiration shades
CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND INHALE through your nose. You should feel your nostrils constricting as the airflow increases, which is what these glasses aim to prevent. The tough, shatterproof Grilamid frame’s arms are vented, flexible and grippy, for security and comfort. The angular frame is shallow and wide, providing rigidity and a firm mount for the lens-retaining nosepiece. A central rubber pad spaces the frame away from your brow.
In the case is a bag, spare clear lens, magnetic applicator, and a set of 20 nasal strips with 10 individual wipes. Additional strips are available at £14.99 for a pack of 20. Clean each side of your nose with a wipe, allow to dry, then use the applicator to stick one strip on each side. Their perforated adhesive back is transparent, with a dark central metallic dot. Open the nasal dilator arms with the frame’s centremounted ridged wheel, and put your glasses on. The strips snap on to the magnets, then adjust the arms so your nostrils feel noticeably more free-flowing. They hold so tightly that removing the glasses needs a very firm pull, which also means they remain precisely in place while riding. On a ride without the strips fitted we found that sweat dripped inside the lens.
At times when you breathe through your nose, the difference in nasal air volume is obvious, and can be altered by adjusting the dial, although once you find the position that works for you, you’d probably leave it alone, because if set too narrow the arms prevent the nostrils flaring. We can’t put figures to any performance increase, but when you’re at full gas, unrestricted breathing can feel like being mildly turbocharged, and slightly reduces the work your respiratory system has to do. As these 37g glasses cost £119 more than standard Speedcraft shades, you need to be keen to maximise your breathing, so possibly save them for race days.