Cycling Glasses Frame Materials Explained: TR90 and Bio-Based TRH

At Revoray, our cycling glasses frames are made from one of two transparent polyamides (nylon-family plastics): Grilamid TR90 from EMS-GRIVORY or bio-based TRH. Both are light, flexible and resistant to sweat and sunscreen. Bio-based TRH is made partly from renewable raw materials.

The lenses get most of the attention when you shop for cycling glasses. But the frame decides whether your glasses stay put on a descent, survive a knock and still look good after a few summers of sweat and SPF. This guide explains what the two materials are, what they have in common and where each one fits.

The two materials in brief

TR90 is the transparent polyamide sold by Swiss specialist EMS-GRIVORY as Grilamid TR 90. It is one of the best-known materials in sport eyewear, valued for being light, flexible and resistant to chemicals and stress cracking. EMS describes its eyewear polyamides as extremely light and very hard to break.

Bio-based TRH is a bio-based transparent polyamide that we developed together with a chemical materials company in China. Part of its building blocks comes from renewable sources rather than crude oil, with a bio-based monomer content of roughly 40–50%.

Both are transparent polyamides, which is why they can be moulded into thin, clear or tinted frames and behave in a similar way on the bike.

At a glance

These ratings come from our own comparison of frame plastics. Properties vary by grade, colour and frame design.

In everyday riding the two behave in a very similar way: both are light, flexible, transparent and resistant to sweat and sunscreen. What differs is the raw material, conventional for TR90 and partly renewable for TRH.

What a cycling frame has to survive

Knocks and crashes

A frame often takes the first hit when you fall. A flexible polyamide tends to bend and recover rather than snap, which means fewer sharp edges near your face.

Heat, sweat and sunscreen

If you ride in Portugal or Spain, your glasses live in sweat, SPF cream and summer heat. Good chemical resistance helps the frame stay clear and avoid crazing over time.

Fit under a helmet

A bit of flexibility lets the temples grip without pinching, and a light frame is easier to forget on a four-hour ride. Combined with air-cushion nose pads, it keeps the glasses secure under a helmet without pressure points.

How we use them

TR90 gives us the widely recognised Grilamid frame material: light, flexible and chemical resistant, with a long history in sport eyewear. It suits riders who want a classic polyamide frame.

Bio-based TRH delivers the same kind of light, flexible, transparent frame, with part of the raw material coming from renewable sources. It is the frame material in many of our premium models, including the Lumo photochromic cycling sunglasses.

Both materials let us build frames that are comfortable under a helmet and ready for sweat and sun. Which one you ride with is a matter of preference.

Reading "bio-based" claims carefully

Bio-based does not mean biodegradable. It describes where the raw material comes from, not what happens at the end of its life. A polyamide frame is built to last for years.

Ask how much is bio-based. Our TRH has a bio-based monomer content of roughly 40–50%. Whenever a brand quotes a figure, it is worth asking how it was measured.

Durability counts. A frame that lasts several seasons is usually better for the environment than a greener-sounding one that cracks after one.

Recycling is still hard. Glasses combine several materials, so recycling is difficult across the whole industry. Making products that last is the most useful step today.

Which should you choose?

• You want a frame made from Grilamid TR90: a light, flexible polyamide frame from a well-known supplier.
• You want part of your frame's raw material to come from renewable sources: bio-based TRH.
• Either way: try the fit under your helmet, because comfort matters more than the material name.

Looking after your frames

1. Rinse with lukewarm water and wipe with a soft microfibre cloth. Avoid harsh solvents.
2. Do not leave glasses in a hot car or on a sunlit dashboard.
3. After a sweaty ride, rinse off salt and sunscreen residue.
4. Store them in a case, away from keys and other hard objects.
5. If the temples loosen or bend, see an optician rather than forcing them back.