Tandem Cycling - Sun protection for arms

As I look down at my forearms, I'm reminded that I have spent a lot of years in the sun. Especially when I was young - pre-sunscreen days.

I put sunscreen on my arms every day now but I'm thinking that on longer rides especially, the sunscreen can only work so long.

I'm thinking that some sort of long sleeved warm weather jersey would provide much better protection.

Does anyone have any experience with such things?

I just bought a set of the DeSoto Arm Coolers (http://www.desotosport.com/products/product.asp?Category=accessories&ProdID=AC8) and really like them.

Living in Arizona and spending summer months in northern Utah, we seldom sweat/perspire, due to low humidity. So wicking arm warmers/long sleeve jerseys are not used.
Stoker Kay is fair skinned and always uses sunscreen on all exposed skin. Rudy is not fair skinned and uses sunscreen on nose and ears when out for couple hours; if out all day will use suncreen on other exposed body parts. Our favorite sunscreen is Coppertone Sport SPF 30
Asides from the sun, higher altitude will also have an effect. Kay has actually gotten burned through a white jersey while doing a century at altitude at 100+ degrees.
Can see the concern for folks that burn easy or are concerned about skin cancer.

While they call them Arm "Coolers," I think their evaporative help is not their strong suit. More than anything, not having your skin directly exposed seems to be the big plus at keeping temps lower. At least that has been my experience in SoCal (where we have a bit more humidity than Arizona). Plus, I figure with them on, in conjunction with sun block, only my legs will have a nice tan line this year.

So, do these arm coolers stay up without garters?

I have the same problem sailing and have started wearing a long sleeve shirt from these guys http://www.dryshirt.com I find them quite comfortable. Maybe if we ask nicely they will make bike jerseys.

Bruce

I have several white long sleeve silk weight tops that are quite cool and some of them are uv protectant. None of them have jersey pockets, however. I got them when I was outrigger canoe racing, but they work well for cycling, too.

So, do these arm coolers stay up without garters?

They are built like standard arm warmers in that they have silicone grippers at the top and fit tight against the skin from top to bottom. They even stay up for my wife who has problems with almost every arm warmer she has tried. I've attached two photos (since the ones on DeSoto's site are not so great).

I, like a lot of you, have had way too much sun from my earlier years. I am still out in the sun a considerable amount of time, but now, I have to fight skin cancer. I did find a great sunscreen that has worked well for me. It is called Vanicream and it comes in SPF60. You don't have to use very much of it. Rub it in well and it disappears. Your skin doesn't feel greasy. The skin cancer has dropped considerably since I started using this stuff. Can't find it in stores. here's the link
http://www.coolibar.com/sunscreen-vanicream.html

I have a Sun Protection shirt from Sun Precautions that I sometimes wear while biking. It is loose fitting and flaps in the wind. I have not tried their cycle shirt.
Solumbra Full Zip Cycle Shirt (http://www.sunprecautions.com/product.asp?itemno=1593K08+XS+SOL&CAT=ay&SUBCAT=0au)


Adidas also makes a sun protection jersey, but it has short sleeves.
Google "Adidas 2008 Men's AdiStar Flow Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey".

I have send a request for a sun protection bicycling jersey to aerotechdesigns. I get my jerseys from them because they have tall sizes. I haven't been able to find a jersey with sun protection in a tall size, still looking.

I sweat a lot. This leaves pin holes in sun screens where I get burned.

Reminds my of my racing days, ending a sunny long road race in middle Tn
and another cyclist pulled off his jersey (acrylic with applique lettering
sewn on) to reveal a perfect stencil of pale skin lettered with his club
logo and reddened skin everywhere else. '70s era

Although they sound hot, long sleeve SP shirts are not too bad below low
90s and sub 90s humidity, IF you keep moving and avoid long sunny hills.

And there is the ditty about "Mad dogs and English men go out in the mid-
day sun": rides ending by 11am or starting after 4pm in leafy climes can
be quite tolerable. Doesn't work as well where the trees don't grow.

Cactus and telephone poles don't afford much shade in Tucson!

Individually wrapped sunscreen wipes are perfect to take on long rides when you might need to re-apply sunscreen. I ran across them buying first aid supplies, and now I keep them everywhere, office, purse, glove box, camel bak, trunk bag, and pockets.

I came across this old thread while doing research for an article on sun protection for cyclists. Here's a comprehensive wrap up of products and clothing that will protect you comfortably from the sun while riding. Hope it helps anyone still looking for answers! Safe cycling!:D

http://weliketobike.com/2011/10/03/sun-protection-while-cycling/

Due to my Anglo/Norse heritage, I had an early run in with skin cancer.
I almost always use an SPF30 sun screen and reapply every 30 mins to an hour.
When I did a lot of motorcycle touring, I always wore at least a long sleeve shirt, sunscreen and zinc oxide on my nose and lower lip(upper is covered with a food broom). Apply sunscreen to all exposed surfaces, not just on top surfaces. Sunlight reflects off concrete and shiny paint.
There is also UV blocking clothing available now from several on-line outfitters.
Also, suncreens available today are a lot nicer to use than the bear grease stuff from the 70's.

I've lost all of my pigment (vitiligo) so I've lots of experience. My number one defense is a good sun screen. I prefer Neutragena's sunscreen that comes in as high as SPF 100. It isn't greasy and stays on well. I can ride or hike all day without burning. Some believe that anything over SPF 30 doesn't work any better than the 30, but from experience, I disagree. I have several light weight long sleeve shirts with a SPF factor that work also.

We carry one of the small travel size bottles of sunscreen. I cut the hole on top to make it bigger. We just refill it before every ride from a larger bottle.

Summers here in Australia are traditionally longer than summers in Canada, so when I moved here, I purchased a decent sunscreen for the first time in my life which is actually quite effective, and also surprisingly comfortable. I have used sunscreen on occasion in Canada, but it was either given to me or really cheap and nasty ... and very uncomfortable.

However, for the really long rides we do, I thought it might be good to try clothing in addition to the sunscreen. I find that if my skin is unprotected between about 10 am and noon, that's when I burn. I seem to be more likely to burn earlier in the day for some reason. So I try to wear a long sleeved jersey or a jacket as long as I can. But some days, it can be quite hot already by 10 am ... so I decided to try arm coolers.

I now have three pair of arm coolers. I bought one pair about this time of year last year and wore them a few times during the summer ... and they were all right. Lightweight, white, and reasonably comfortable. When summer comes again (soon!), I'll try the other two which I bought fairly recently ... they look and feel a little bit lighter weight than the first pair, and are fancy colours, but nothing too dark. :)

Yes, they do stay up ... just like arm warmers. And the weight of the material and lightness of the colour keeps them fairly comfortable until it gets quite warm.

I did get some Pearl Izumi arm coolers and have worn them on some longer summer rides. They do keep the sun off your arms and help keep you cooler. I like them pretty well if I'm out in the sun for a while.

Here we ride for weeks in hot weather 90-100++ We like these much better than arm coolers. Once sweated out they are actually cooler than a normal jersey. The slighest breeze goes right through them. Very form fitting but not skin tight like arm coolers or warmers.

http://www.boure.com/8605rd.html

Wayne

We use De-feet wool arm warmers to keep the sun off. Tried using there so called sun block arm skins. Hot as all get out. No breathing/wicking property's at all. Wool works for us.

Voler Sol Skins (http://www.voler.com/products/1240182whtsml.aspx)have been great for me. Pour some water on them for extra cooling. I don't ride without them.

I've worn the sleeves and knickers on group rides. On a really sticky day, the comments/questions from other riders are priceless!

http://www.temporarytattoosleeve.com/images/newgangsta.jpg

http://www.temporarytattoosleeve.com/


:D



:lol:

I have been using DeSoto arm coolers. I would rather not wear anything but last year I had squamous cell cancer on my arm that had to be cut out.
They almost seem to be easier to wear the hotter it gets as thet do deflect the direct sunlight.

http://www.temporarytattoosleeve.com/images/newgangsta.jpg

http://www.temporarytattoosleeve.com/

:D

:lol:

Ha ha! I saw those on The Big Bang Theory when Raj and Howard tried to pick up goth chicks! Nice:lol:.

I wear "Cool Wings" - it's like a shrug or bolero (one piece) with arms. I find it both keeps me cooler and protects against sunburn. I'd rather wear the arm coolers than sun screen.

There are also regular shorts and jerseys with sun screen protection. Pearl Izumi markets their version as In-R-Cool. It provides UPF 50+ sun protection. Wear it and forget about it ... great for those of us who forget to re-apply sun screen.

I've been wearing this biking shirt from Coolibar:

http://www.coolibar.com/01530.html

The platinum white seems to be quite visible. (In autumn the common day-glo orange and lime green can totally disappear against a foliage background.) And they are cool even on warm days.

The nice thing about a high-SPF shirt is that it doesn't wash off with sweat.