Superb long distance comfort, premium Italian construction and an outstanding chamois

Tim Wellens claimed the overall victory at the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Men on Sunday, completing a successful debut at the race after UAE Team Emirates - XRG delivered another commanding display. The Belgian had moved into the lead on the previous stage in North Yorkshire, but his team showed no...

The Vuelta a Espaa is the final Grand Tour of the season and often the one where the most riders look to impress in order to secure their future. That is the case with Ethan Hayter, who nearly beat Tadej Pogacar on the first day of the race, but still does not know where he will race from next year...

Tim Wellens is not taking part in the upcoming World Championships, despite Belgian seeking top classics riders to fight for the rainbow jersey in which they now have the main favourite for. Remco Evenepoel messaged the Belgian, but he will be racing for UAE Team Emirates - XRG during the World's pe...

Tadej Pogacar has renewed his contract with UAE Team Emirates - XRG, in order to extend it further and further into the future. This past week, lots of big moves and rumours have taken over the cycling world, including all of the biggest teams. After the previous instance of the Cycling Market, the...

Between the Ebro River and the mountains of Els Ports, the Estrets dArnes Loop unfolds through a landscape shaped by water, stone, wind, and silence. This 172 kilometer route crosses []The post Estrets dArnes Loop appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Tadej Pogacars crash has completely reshaped UAE Team Emirates XRGs scenario at the Vuelta a Espaa. The team that started the race in full control is now down to four riders, yet far from slipping into a secondary role, the squad keeps chasing chances every stage. Joxean Fernndez Matxin, the Emi...

Enric Mas heads into the final week of the Vuelta a Espaa from a privileged position: the race lead. After two weeks of racing and following a difficult spell in recent months, the Spaniard says he feels in a good place, physically and mentally, and wants to enjoy a situation he considers special....

SQUIRREL_14029152The SunGod Velans 2 sunglasses get almost everything right. The optics are excellent and the fit is secure, making these performance glasses an easy recommendation for road and gravel riders.While the frame feels a little plasticky and the styling lacks the visual polish of some premium rivals, neither compromise impacts you while you're riding. SunGod Velans 2 need to know Price: 125 / $160 / 155 Measured weight: 28g (claimed 26g) Recycled plastic frame 8KO nylon lens with colour options Lifetime repair or replacement guarantee Available with photochromic lens option SunGod Velans 2 performance The SunGod Velans 2 glasses have a slightly narrower profile than many rival cycling sunglasses. Scott Windsor / Our Media At 125, the SunGod Velans 2 glasses represent good value considering they're being used by Netcompany Ineos riders.Meanwhile, they undercut other performance eyewear options such as the Oakley Encoder Strike (241 / 272 / $293), Scicon Aeroshade2.0 (230 / 220 / $265) and 100% Hypercraft(approx. 150 / 159) on price. There are three nosepiece options to get the fit on the bridge of your nose spot-on. Scott Windsor / Our Media Despite this, comfort is one of their biggest strengths. At 28g on my scales, the Velans 2 sunnies are light enough that they're barely noticeblewhen riding. I didn't feel any pressure hotspots developing around my temples or ears over several hours in the saddle.There are also two spare nose pieces to help the sunglasses fit better, should you need them.The updated arm design strikes an excellent balance between security and comfort. It grips firmly enough that the glasses remain planted over rough roads and broken tarmac without ever feeling as if they're squeezing your head. The lens stands clare of your face, reducing the chance of sweaty contamination. Scott Windsor / Our Media In the particularly hot weather weve enjoyed this summer in the UK, copious sweating hasnt caused these sunglasses to slide (something I have experienced on occasion with my trusty set of Oakley Jawbreakers). Optically, there's very little to criticise. The 8KO nylon lenses provide excellent clarity across the entire field of view, with natural colour transmission and enough contrast to make imperfections in the road surface easy to spot. The lens quality and clarity are excellent. Scott Windsor / Our Media This will be different depending on the colourway you opt for my test set had relatively plain-looking smoke lenses, but you can also opt for something bolder with a different frame colour.Fundamentally, the field of vision is unobscured, although the lenses dont reach as far down or wide as some other competitors with sweep-style lenses. I found this resulted in a bit of extra light leaking in from the underside of the lens than Im used to but I acclimatised fairly quickly. The frame feels and looks a little plasticky, albeit it is striking in this colour. Scott Windsor / Our Media The upsides are good ventilation and a decent amount of clearance from the cheekbones to the underside of the lens, reducing the chance of sweaty contact. They also stand far off so as not to get scraped by my long eyelashes.SunGod claims the lenses provide up to 70 per cent clearer vision than standard polycarbonate alternatives. While I have no complaints about the optical quality, I can't positively conclude they're better than the premium lenses fitted to other cycling sunglasses. The lens delivers great contrast. The pronounced upper frame does an excellent job of preventing bright midday sunlight from sneaking over the top of the lens and creating glare on the inside surface.If there's one area where the Velans 2 glasses fall short, it's perceived quality. The recycled plastic frame is perfectly solid in use and has proven durable throughout testing, but it lacks the reassuring density and premium finish of some competing frames. It feels a little cheaper compared to the more detailed design of my Jawbreakers, for example.That's arguably the trade-off for using recycled materials (and keeping the design quite simple), but SunGod deserves a little credit for considering sustainability in its manufacture. Theyre made in China though, similar to many sunglasses, so the carbon footprint is still sizeable, if that matters to you. How I tested the SunGod Velans 2 I tested the SunGod Velans 2 during the very warm and sunny 2026 summer in the UK. This included a mix of rides, including fast-paced short rides, longer and steadier coffee rides, plus a few commutes. I tried the glasses with the Trek Velocis MIPS, HJC Bellus 2 and Giro Aether MIPS helmets. SunGod Velans 2 bottom line These are very good sunglasses for a good price, overall. Scott Windsor / Our Media The SunGod Velans 2 sunglasses offer decent value for premium performance.Excellent optics, good comfort and asecure fit make them very good sunglasses. Theymay not look or feel quite as premium as some (more expensive) shades but once you're riding, its easy to overlook this on performance alone.SQUIRREL_14029152