Originally Posted by
Stormsedge
The summer sun on my distance rides this summer has proven my sun screen inadequate. I am looking for best practices/recommendations for both sun screen and summer weight bike tights/leggings. I think I'd really prefer an spf rated bike tight, but do not see any summer weight in internet searches...leggings/leg protectors seem to get mixed reviews.
My best combination so far was applying an spf50 about an hour and a half before the ride, then using an spf30 spray 15 minutes before getting on the bike (stuff I had on hand). This may be as simple as someone posting "I use such and such 100spf spray...follow the directions." Thoughts?
Good question. Excessive sun exposure is a risk for people who cycle a lot.
My personal preference is for mineral based sunscreens.
Ordinary sunscreens operate by being absorbed into your skin and chemically changing when exposed to UV light, and there is some evidence that the chemicals might even contribute to skin problems. Mineral based sunscreens actually block the UV light. They do not chemically interact with your skin, are broad spectrum, do not need to be applied in advance, and typically do not rub or sweat off as easily as the others do.
This is a pretty good summary of the differences, with links to the claims made.
https://www.kitchenstewardship.com/n...creen-reviews/
The negative? Depending on how much zinc oxide there is in the sunscreen, you're face will take on a whitish sheen. Not a big deal for me.
I find myself occasionally doing spring skiing, which is a 3 sigma case for sun exposure. Bright sun, and a lot of reflection off of the white snow. This is a sunscreen that proved effective in those conditions (after others, including some zinc-based ones failed), and is what I use on the bike.
https://www.neutrogena.com.au/our-pr...nc-body-lotion