How to be sun smart?

[Preemo]

How to be sun smart?

Hi, with summer and sun coming I've been thinking about how to be sun smart.

Best protection (especially for extended and sweaty rides) I would think is to cover up. I've been searching and my findings to date:

-Face:
Sunglasses & sunscreen

- Head/Neck protection:
Options are a cap+bandanna or Mavic Neck Cap
Neck cap is the only cycling specific product and seemingly impossible to get in Aus. I've had to buy it from Germany.

- Arm protection:
Long sleeve cycle vests (or short sleeve + Pearl Izumi Sun Sleeves) and full finger gloves.
Long sleeve summer cycle tops are very rare..... most long sleeved ones are lined for winter.

- Leg protection:
My preference would be long bibs. To date, I've not been able to find a "summer" pair.

Interestingly, my first thought was that LiveStrong might have stuff like this, but they have none!



So what do you do to protect from the sun?

 

[brianf7]

Above 35 deg I sit in front of the air con with cold beer if I go out I use zink cream some now is invisable it is 100% block.

I realy dosnt do any good riding in heat it will stuff you up for a week. Better wait untill evening or early morning

My leggs are burnt deep enough after years of riding not to worry the tan never fades the arms I can use sun block.

But Vit D is still important you can cut out the cancers but if the bones melt your stuffed just act normal and enjoy your cycling.

Sorry for most people in europe reading this as you aproach winter.

 

[Archibald]

Above 35 deg I sit in front of the air con with cold beer if I go out I use zink cream some now is invisable it is 100% block.

I realy dosnt do any good riding in heat it will stuff you up for a week. Better wait untill evening or early morning
My leggs are burnt deep enough after years of riding not to worry the tan never fades the arms I can use sun block.

But Vit D is still important you can cut out the cancers but if the bones melt your stuffed just act normal and enjoy your cycling.

Sorry for most people in europe reading this as you aproach winter.

simply not going out in the heat of the day is the best method

as for me, I just use a good sunscreen

 

[hfer07]

So what do you do to protect from the sun?

in summertime I ride either early in the mourning (5am to 8am -depending on weekly schedule) or late in the afternoon (5 pm to sunset) where "heat"-rather than sun exposure is low-otherwise Sunscreen is a must regardless your skin sensibility, & lots of liquids to cool the engine

 

[Hitchey]

Assos/skinz/sugoi summer arm sleeves. Summer base layers under jersey for add'l protection.

A few mfrs such as skinz or sugoi also make compression wear that are cut like leg warmers but are very thin and I assume 100% UV protective.

And of course a good broad spectrum long lasting sunscreen. Not all sunscreens are created equal. Forget about the hyped spf numbers. Look for sunscreens that contain quality UVB and protection from both long and short UVA rays. One such seemingly effective ingredient is:

Bemotrizinol; bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine which carries the brand name of Tinosorb S. Here is a link to a good page on that:
http://www.smartskincare.com/skinprotection/sunblocks/sunblock_bemotrizinol.html

There is a lot of good sunscreen info on the web. Much more than when I started taking a good hard look at what was and wasn't deemed effective years ago. The web is your friend on this one.

 

[Trunnions]

Avoid eating and drinking too much lime juice.

I fell foul of this last year. I drink a lot of 25% lime juice mixed into my water bottles, it helps acidify your urine and prevent calculi. Which is important if you live in a hard water area.

However, it also slowly photosensitizes your epidermis.

I still have the remains of last year's eruptions on my arms and legs due to the stuff, even though I've stopped the lime juice.

I used to get a new vesicle every ride, on my arms and legs.

Worrying until I realized it wasn't skin cancer.

It's well known that raw lime juice applied to the skin does this; I found out the hard way, +it also occurs if you drink too much lime juice+.