John "Johnny T" Tomac has been a mountain biking and Oakley icon since the 80's. He has raced in everything from Eyeshades to Radar, and all in between. He is argualby the most talented cyclist in the history of the sport when all disciplines are taken into consideration. He has won National and World Championships on the road, on the mountain bike both cross country and downhill, in BMX, and also is a very accomplished motocross rider. His sphere of influence was like none other when it came to product endorsements, and companies recognized this by giving him products that were created for him specifically.

Oakley was no different.

As early as 1992, Johhny T was seen running what could now be referred to as "Ruby Clear" lenses in his Mumbo/M Frames. Sports Marketing also created batches of riding friendly lenses (Clear, Persimmon, VR28) for glasses like the Zeros, Trenchcoats, and the original Straight Jackets. Oakley always had something new and fresh to give Johnny T, and went the extra mile to make sure what he had in his hands was unlike any other athlete they had in their posession.

Some of you not familiar with Johnny most likely recognize the name Tomac. His son Eli is an up and coming motocross hero who rolls the O and will be a huge star in his own right.

Crazy, the lens looks like Ruby Clear, could that even be possible?

HuneyMonkey was selling Ruby Clears, but different frame. I think TO had one also.

It looks like he has a 'grill' in the last pic.

those looked cool , and they would probably still sell well

Good ol' Tomes. I remember seeing him many years ago at the Thrift Drug Classic in Pittsburgh when he did his roadie stint with Team Motorola. Great poster-boy for Oakley.

Huneymonkey still has the ruby clear M-frame lenses, if you have a spare $250....

It looks like he has a 'grill' in the last pic.

Thats probably a mouth guard.

Yes, mouthguard for sure.

The pics of him running the "Ruby Clear-esque" lenses are from 1992! Those are original M Frames, so of course they are not still for sale. My point was that JT was iconic for Oakley, and they treated him as such by making him, and him only, custom lenses like the ones pictured.

I remember asking my Oakley rep in 1993 what they were, and how I could get a pair. He doubted what I was saying until I showed him a picture. He had no idea what they were, much like nowadays when Sports Marketing creates products in "works" colors in both lenses and frames to draw attention to a certain O athelte or sunglass model. It worked then, and works now.

Read the Tour De France thread from this year to perfectly illustrate this point. People saw Radar in action in colors not ever seen before, and most people who commented on that thread insisted that they were going to buy themselves a pair after seeing the pictures.

I assure you that ruby clear M frame lenses are still for sale. Don't believe me? Here are two current listings:

**Ebay Links Removed**

Just because something has not been commercially released does not mean that it is not available for sale. I personally have three pairs of Monster Dogs with +red lenses, along with a pair of G30 razrwires and a pair of G40 razrwires. None of those lenses were custom cut, they are all s made by Oakley which were not commercially released.

yes, i think we all know what our monkey friend has.

Christian, I don't think he is calling you a lier. He was just showing us some cool one offs from back in the day. That photo from 1992 was before Ruby existed let a lone ruby clear. He is just saying ruby clear is the closest thing you could compare it to now. In fact it is probably more like + Red Clear.

Thanks for sharing the cool photos Go Fast!

You are very welcome!

Thanks Defender for better illustrating my point! I am not calling anyone a liar. My point beyond showing some cool one offs from the past was that Oakley has always made custom stuff for their premier ambassadors in sport and otherwise. I can guarentee with 110% certainty that those lenses were never offered for sale. They did serve their purpose, however, with myself and many other people. They made me want M Frames, even though I knew I did not have access to that particular one off lens much like the Sports Marketing Radars did for some O-R members during this years TdF.