Recently, we found out a bit ahead of time that POC was going to be offering a new version of their radical Octal helmet with the added protection of the MIPS system. What we didn’t know at the time was that along with the Octal MIPS, POC was working on a new sunglass stowage device called the Eye Park. Designed in conjunction with the Garmin-Sharp Pro Cycling team, Eye Park was created to address the need to temporarily remove your dark shades in order to see the road surface. Whether that means riding through a tunnel, or a dense forest, there are times when sunglasses are simply too dark to properly see.
For Garmin-Sharp, one of the big motivations for the idea were the tunnels on the Giro d’Italia. The rapid transition from full sun to very dark while racing in the pro peloton is apparently pretty scary, but due most of the pros don’t want to take the glasses completely off. The answer is the Eye Park – a system of magnets on both the helmet and the glasses.
“The idea was born at a training camp in Mallorca. I shared a thought I had about using magnets on the helmet and eyewear, to avoid having to take your glasses on and off and put them in pockets or the team car. POC listened and here we are”, says Nathan Haas from team Garmin-Sharp. “Having a responsive sponsor like POC as part of team Garmin-Sharp is so imperative to our performance because their mission to make safer and smarter products isn’t just talk. POC listen, innovate and create. It’s that simple”
The system allows rider to simply lift up the glasses and the magnets will connect, keeping the shades just high enough to see the road. When you’re back into full sun, simply give the glasses a tug and they’re back in place. The set up allows for visibility at a moment’s notice without the hassle of taking them completely off to stow in the Eye Garage, jersey pocket, etc. Eye Park appears to be a separate option aside from the Octal, but we’ll get more details on pricing and compatibility next week at Eurobike.
