thepaceline.com article about the new Oakley Radars.
It's distinctly possible that Oakley's Steve Blick has THE most popular backpack at the Tour of California. It isn't just 'cause it's cool and black (and of course Oakley) but rather that it's chock full of the latest and greatest eyewear being handed out to their riders for use during the race. We caught up with Steve as he was making the rounds on the Disco bus, and he had a couple of cool new things to tell us about.
"On March 1st Oakley will be releasing a new eyewear line called Radar," he said from the start line in Sausalito. "It's a torque shield lens similar to the M Frame, with an aggressive racing design similar to the Racing Jacket. It's all about designing something with an attitude and ultimate peformance." Steve then unveiled a very special set of Radars, ones destined for the top race winners in the world. "If you're atop the Tour of California or the Tour de France, and races in between, you can look forward to owning a gold plated set of this amazing eyewear!"
You want a set of these? You gotta win BIG...
In addition to the looks and obvious performance, the Radar has an unseen advantage: a permanent Hydrophobic coating that is essentially an anti-smudge barrier that repels water, oil, etc. Check out the demo of what happens to a permanent marker when it's rubbed simultaneously on a standard lens and one that's got the new coating. Oakley will also sell an over-the-counter applicator that you can use on any eyewear and lasts for a couple of weeks per use.
And many of you have asked what's up with George Hincapie and him not wearing his signature Racing Jackets? "It's pretty simple, he's digging the new Radar and by being able to customize the color and lens scheme he can create a look that flows with his kit," Steve said. "He also really likes the Hydrophobic coating, and the good news is that the customization he's getting will be available to all of our customers. That way you can create your own look for whatever style you're going for."
- Very cool indeed, but nothing less than we would expect from the fine folks at Oakley!
