{"id":49492,"date":"2023-05-23T12:09:38","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T10:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=731208"},"modified":"2023-05-23T12:35:53","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T10:35:53","slug":"geraint-thomas-sunglasses-are-back-but-not-as-you-know-them-sungod-recreates-signature-style-with-new-3d-printed-eyewear","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/geraint-thomas-sunglasses-are-back-but-not-as-you-know-them-sungod-recreates-signature-style-with-new-3d-printed-eyewear\/","title":{"rendered":"Geraint Thomas\u2019 sunglasses are back but not as you know them\u2026 SunGod recreates signature style with new 3D-printed eyewear"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Welshman has been wearing a prototype of his new signature GT sunnies at this year\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia <\/p>

By Charlie Allenby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 23 May 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

SunGod has announced a new addition to its Pace series with Geraint Thomas\u2019 new signature model, the GTs.<\/p>\n

Worn by the Welshman since the first stage of this year\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia, the new sunnies mark the return to a design similar to those we\u2019ve been used to seeing Thomas wearing over the years.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 36-year-old had, until the start of the season, stuck rigidly to his distinctive white Oakley Racing Jacket glasses, long after the rest of the peloton had moved towards <\/span>more modern, larger, single-lens designs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, the Racing Jackets had become synonymous with Thomas \u2013 and helped commentators and fans pick him out from the bunch, too.<\/p>\n

However, Thomas\u2019 hand was forced when Ineos Grenadiers signed an eyewear partnership with SunGod for the 2023 season onwards<\/a>, with, on the face of it, a disproportionate number of column inches dedicated to what Thomas would be seen sporting.<\/p>\n

\""Geraint\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Geraint Thomas has a new set of signature glasses, the SunGod GTs.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tim de Waele \/ Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

SunGod\u2019s Airas<\/a>, Vulcan<\/a> and Velans<\/a> (which Thomas had been wearing through the first part of the season) models are solid cycling sunglasses in their own right, but lack the full-frame, two-lens design we\u2019ve become accustomed to seeing the 2018 Tour de France winner wearing.<\/p>\n

The new SunGod GT glasses are the answer. Currently only a prototype but set to be available for pre-order this summer (date TBC), we took a trip to SunGod\u2019s HQ in Verbier, Switzerland, to get a closer look.<\/p>\n

\""Geraint\"<\/picture><\/div>
The SunGod GTs are a throwback to Thomas\u2019 old Oakley Racing Jacket shades, pictured here.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Dario Belingheri \/ Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Geraint\"<\/picture><\/div>
Thomas had been wearing the SunGod Velans single-lens glasses through the first part of the 2023 season.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Josep Lago \/ Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

Thomas-inspired Easter eggs<\/h2>\n
\""Prototypes\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Thomas has been wearing prototype sunglasses throughout the Giro d\u2019Italia. The GTs have a more angular design than the Oakley Flight Jackets, with larger lenses.<\/span><\/figcaption> Charlie Allenby<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

According to SunGod, Thomas had a list of must-haves for his first pair of signature sunglasses \u2013 they had to be white, full-frame, have two lenses and incorporate a touch of Wales.<\/p>\n

While the first three are easy to spot with a quick glance at the glasses, the Welsh references are slightly more subtle.<\/p>\n

\""Prototypes\"<\/picture><\/div>
The chisel-type design is said to aid grip and is intended to represent dragon scales.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Charlie Allenby<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Prototypes\"<\/picture><\/div>
We got a first look at the new glasses at SunGod\u2019s HQ in Verbier.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Charlie Allenby<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Prototypes\"<\/picture><\/div>
Thomas is a fan of a two-lens design.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Charlie Allenby<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

The first can be found on the glasses\u2019 ear socks, where a chisel-type design not only aids grip, according to the brand, but is also intended to represent dragon scales \u2013\u00a0referencing the dragon found on the Welsh flag.<\/p>\n

This theme is continued on the nose bridge, where you can find a small imprint of the mythical creature.<\/p>\n

The name also appears to have a couple of meanings. While officially the GT stands for \u2018Grand Tourers\u2019, we can\u2019t help but think it\u2019s remarkably suggestive of a certain Welshman\u2019s initials\u2026<\/p>\n

Divisive look<\/h2>\n
\""Geraint\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The 2018 Tour de France winner seems happy about his new signature shades.<\/span><\/figcaption> Stuart Franklin \/ Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

It\u2019s fair to say the new model is a bit divisive in its design. Two-lens, full-frame specs have gradually disappeared from the pro peloton and even club rides.<\/p>\n

That said, Thomas\u2019 new eyewear manages to tread the retro line well. Rather than looking as though they\u2019re from the 1990s, like Oakley\u2019s Racing Jackets, the GTs\u2019 sharp angles put a modern spin on the design format.<\/p>\n

Throw in the fact that SunGod didn\u2019t have something similar in its performance-focused Pace range, and it\u2019s easy to see why it was happy to accept Thomas\u2019 requests for his signature set.<\/p>\n

3D printing<\/h2>\n
\""Prototypes\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
SunGod has been using 3D printing to develop the new GT sunglasses.<\/span><\/figcaption> Charlie Allenby<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A pair of sunglasses usually takes nine months to develop, according to SunGod, and is then further refined during testing and sampling before going on general sale.<\/p>\n

SunGod\u2019s head of product, Ed Watkiss, started his first drawings of the GTs in the second week of January and was given a hard deadline for the Giro d\u2019Italia team presentation on 4 May.<\/p>\n

\""Development\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
3D printing enabled SunGod to turn around prototypes in three days.<\/span><\/figcaption> Charlie Allenby<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Enter 3D printing. A growing trend within the production of cycling products, the process enabled Watkiss to create physical iterations quickly at all stages of the GTs\u2019 development, with a printing bureau able to turn around each new phase within three days.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t just for development, either. The first pair Thomas was seen sporting at this year\u2019s Giro was, in fact, a 3D-printed prototype.<\/p>\n

\""Prototypes\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The initial 3D-printed prototype frames were switched for a production sample during the first rest day.<\/span><\/figcaption> Charlie Allenby<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The glasses\u2019 development has continued during the Giro itself, and Thomas is now on his third different model as the race has progressed.<\/p>\n

The initial 3D-printed prototype frames were switched for a fully moulded production sample with polycarbonate lenses during the first rest day, while a pair featuring 8KO nylon lenses now take pride of place on the Welsh rider\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the actual release\u2019s frame will be produced using a recycled TR90 plastic polymer. Lightweight and durable, according to Watkiss, he expects the GTs to weigh in at roughly 32g.<\/p>\n

Super-sharp lenses<\/h2>\n
\""Geraint\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Welshman\u2019s iconic look is back\u2026 kind of.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tim de Waele \/ Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A pair of the best cycling sunglasses<\/a> is only as good as its lenses, and this is another area where SunGod hopes to make a distinctive break from Thomas\u2019 old staples.<\/p>\n

Rather than the industry-standard polycarbonate lenses used by Oakley, the Verbier-based brand has chosen 8KO nylon instead.<\/p>\n

The reason? Clarity, according to SunGod. The claim is 8KO nylon lenses have a significantly better (up to 70 per cent) Abbe value (how much light is distorted when it passes through a material) than traditional polycarbonate lenses. Ultimately, the idea is that it should improve vision on the road.<\/p>\n

\""Geraint\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
There\u2019s one colour for sunglasses as far as Geraint Thomas is concerned: white and white only.<\/span><\/figcaption> Stuart Franklin \/ Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

In practice, it was certainly something we noticed when out testing another pair of SunGods that features the technology during our time in Verbier.<\/p>\n

Visibility remained crystal-clear, whether we were in sunny or overcast conditions, and even handled the dark settings of mountain tunnels well, too.<\/p>\n

The GTs\u2019 lenses will be interchangeable, enabling you to switch to your preferred setup depending on that day\u2019s conditions.<\/p>\n

Pricing and availability<\/h2>\n
\""Geraint\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
White is the only colour for Thomas\u2019 glasses.<\/span><\/figcaption> Luca Bettini \/ Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The new SunGod GTs will be available for pre-order soon and initially only in the Geraint Thomas signature colourway \u2013 with a white frame, red arms and blue lenses.<\/p>\n

The brand plans to launch more colour options in summer 2024.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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