Dealing with dust

[Transalper]

Well, I pretty much always have glasses on now days... things can get a bit blurry without them for me. They are nothing special in the protection range, just a normal optical pair and as such I can't wear the cool safety glasses I see some using.
I normally choose a helmet with visor and close the dam thing when ever you can. Riding in clear air is also good, either in front or up close above the raising cloud or well back so most of the dust has dispersed.
Hardly ever been bothered by dust irritated eyes. Do recall seeing a couple of people having issues on the DB, they were all riding with open visors or MX helmets.

Oh, and when the visor is too dirty to see through I either stop and clean it with the stuff in my topbox / open the visor temporarily / or just plain wipe it with my glove which don't seem to scratch it as much as I expected.

[offrd]

I run an adventure type Shoei, before that a cheap grex.Visor down in the dust, follow real close to the rider in front but just off to either side. If possible, more spacing between if you cant keep close. I can also run like that with my contacts in, but have had issues with sand and loosing a contact lens while chasing MXNUT on Marks DT230!

Run like that from the start and slowing down the irritation helps.

If not use one eye at a time till its too sore and change over to the other, or if you are really slow rider like me, close both!

[NordieBoy]

Have heard suggestions of oiling the goggles' foam. Could be worth a try.

Baby oil.

[Howie]

I normally ride with a road helmet, just brought an Adventure helmet. I tend to ride gravel with my visor up, and sunglasses or glasses on. One thing I do find helps is to use lubricating eye drops, the type you use with contact lenses as these well relieve dry eyes. I just read the back of a packet or "refresh plus eye drops" the description on the back of the packet says "they provide temporary relief of burning,irritation, and discomfort due too dryness of the eye or exposure to wind, sun" etc. If it's really bad i would also suggest getting your eyes checked out. it could also be an Allergy to pollen's in the air.

[Ally67]

I didn't have to much of a problem with dust on the DB.My helmit is a road one thats got a piece across under the chin which I found stopped alot of the dust getting in and visor down of course.
I've also found that wearing sunnys strains my eyes more and makes them very red and sore for a few days afterwards.
My 2 cents

[warewolf]

I've also found that wearing sunnys strains my eyes more and makes them very red and sore for a few days afterwards.

Good ones, or cheap ones? Cheap fashion sunnies have appalling optical quality. I've got a pair that are only just tolerable, right up until the sun hits them and they flare out! And they are blurry as a blurry thing.

Cheap safety glasses have at least half-decent optical quality, even if they don't last. Can afford to buy a new pair every year (Torpedo 7 sold a 3-pack recently for $20.)

[Ally67]

Good ones, or cheap ones? Cheap fashion sunnies have appalling optical quality. I've got a pair that are only just tolerable, right up until the sun hits them and they flare out! And they are blurry as a blurry thing.

Cheap safety glasses have at least half-decent optical quality, even if they don't last. Can afford to buy a new pair every year (Torpedo 7 sold a 3-pack recently for $20.)

Cheap glasses.But in my work I spend most of the day looking up towards the sky and I've found that safty glasses are better than sun glasses.

[dino3310]

Cheap safety glasses have at least half-decent optical quality, even if they don't last. Can afford to buy a new pair every year (Torpedo 7 sold a 3-pack recently for $20.)

yep thats the one mate, ive been buying the $18 anti fog safty glasses... bloody awesome

[bart]

With my road helmet, I find safety glasses work great . The visor fogs up under about 60kmh, and it gets a hell of a stuffy. You can get some pretty good wrap around glasses these days. You want them fairly close fitting.

I've never liked sunny's or tinted visors on a bike. Don't know why, just not my thing.

With my Shoei adv helmet, I haven't had a problem (yet). This seems to ventilate well, and keeps dust out. I must say that I haven't tried 1000km in a weekend, in dusty conditions. That's gotta be hard.

[warewolf]

Years ago a riding instructor said he only used the tinted visor on the track (road racing) and clear visor with sunnies for touring. Makes sense, however I find the tinted visor is the most comfortable; they stop all the glare. Sunnies cop some brightness around their edges - more or less depending on design - plus the inside of the helmet creates reflective surfaces which adds to the problem.

[Monstaman]

Dunno if there is a perfect solution really. My goggles still let shite through, at best you are only gonna slow it down with whatever approach unless you have a 2025 Dr.who air conditioned, sealed, vented, extendable, retractable, inflatable, deflatable helmet ....there is an opening there for a new product .

[XF650]

I prefer visor & safety sunnies, mainly to avoid bee / wasp stings to the face. Better protection from roost too, especially when being overtaken by a bloody 990.

[javahead]

All of the above. Visor's great for touring and deflecting bees and stones. But to stop dust the only thing that works for me is well-fitting goggles that have lots of fine foam over their vents. Haven't tried oiling the foam.

What I've tried so far:
- Scott 87 OTGs (for those who need to wear specs underneath) which were OK as protection, but seemed to let a fair bit of dust in, and fogged very easily.
- Scott Deserts worked really well to stop the dust, but fogged up easily once the going got slow or damp. These have quite dense foam, and limited airflow through their vents. I replaced the tinted lens with clear. They aren't roomy enough for specs inside.
- Scott NoSweat Xi (recommended to go with goggleman prescription inserts) are super-resistant to fogging but breathe so well that dust gets in. They also have a nose shield which is good for preventing sunburn.

I find I can go for a few hours then have to stop and clean the dust from both inside and out of the lenses. The goggleman rx goggle adapter prescription inserts are great for a while, but create two additional surfaces for dust to collect on.

If I didn't need prescription lenses I'd use Scott Deserts for a dry fast ride like the Dusty Butt.

[cynna]

i didnt have too much of a problem wearing contacts on the dusty butt - i hate using a visor most of the time so wear tight fitting sunglasses that keep most of the dust out.

but i do have to stop the dust sticking to my sunblock on my face (especially when transalper is around with his camera)

[thepom]

Your right cynna,you looked pretty hideous with the sunblock on,it turned your face green.

I had safety glasses and close fitting but I too suffered badly with the dust......then again I was always last!!!