jamisFan

I'm looking for something not crazy expensive but that offers true uv protection.

Thanks everyone!

canklecat

Pearl Izumi and a few other makers sell sun sleeves claimed to offer true protection from UV. But I'd rather wear a good sun screen with insect repellent, since bitey nibbly critters are as much a concern as sun around my area.

TenSpeedV2

I have the Pearl Izumi sun sleeves. If you wear these on a warmer day, you are gonna roast. I start to sweat at about 45°F if the sun is out and I am riding pretty hard. They keep me that warm. I wouldn't wear them on an 85°F day at all. Sunscreen as mentioned above.

jamisFan

I do wear lots of sunscreen, but I'm just worried it might not be enough. I already have very sharp tan lines on my legs and arms. A normal ride lasts 4 to 5 hours and sunscreen only last for two hours.

I thought sleeves would also keep you cooler. Thanks for mentioning the temperature. Hadn't considered that. In the summer I often ride at 80-90ºF.

veganbikes

I haven't tried them yet riding but I have some Pearl Izumi In-R-Cool Sun Sleeves which are quite comfortable and do cool you down a tiny bit. Certainly on some hot days it would be hard to wear them but not impossible especially if you don't overheat like I do.

TenSpeedV2

Then you are doing it correctly.

jamisFan

I know, I wear them as a badge of honor
But cancer's not my thing.

Phloom

I rely on my 1/8 Aboriginal DNA. I don't sun burn so I can't offer any constructive suggestions here.

TenSpeedV2

Give the Pearl Izumi's a try then. For me, way too warm but you may be able to tolerate it. Body temperature is something that I struggle with on a ride and can affect my ride if not proper.

canklecat

You might contact the usual manufacturers of cycling jerseys and ask whether they carry a summer weight long sleeve jersey. Most long sleeve jerseys are usually for cold and cool weather wear, but this probably won't be the first time someone has asked about a summer weight long sleeve jersey.

I have a couple of Garneau Genesis short sleeve summer weight jerseys that are very thin, lightweight and comfortable from temps in the high 60s to mid 80s (hasn't been warmer than that so far this spring), without a baselayer. It's a looser, casual "club fit". A long sleeve version might be tolerable for summer wear and UV protection.

But Garneau has discontinued that model and I don't know whether they offer another with similar fabric. That particular fabric may have been unpopular because it snags easily. My first Genesis jersey has several snags, but I crashed twice while wearing it. Still, if it were available in long sleeve and white or other light colors I'd consider it for summer wear because it's not skintight.

1989Pre 

I don't know about separate sleeves, but it's good to hear someone talking about UV protection by use of clothing, and not sunblock. Although some nasties are absorbed through the skin by synthetic clothing, probably not as much as with sun block, the clothing doesn't clog your pores, and it is my belief that it is more effective. Some even say that sunblock can be harmful.
I always wear a long sleeve shirt while cycling, never short.

Trakhak

What I use (Sun Protection Factor 40+): Mens Long Sleeve Coolmax Jersey

Sy Reene

I'm not sure I understand the point of just sleeves, rather than a long-sleeve jersey? eg. here's one of the few (though the color selection is a bit lacking :-)
Performance Sun Pro II Long Sleeve Jersey
Something that might work just as well, with a bit more style:
wiggle.com | Altura Airstream Long Sleeve Summer Jersey | Long Sleeve Jerseys

canklecat

Nifty. That's exactly what I had in mind with my description of a hypothetical summer weight long sleeve jersey. Might even try one myself. I'm prone to sunburns no matter how tan I get unless I wear SPF 1000, and have a lot of sun damaged blotchy skin on my forearms.

How's the fit? True to size recommendations?

Sy Reene

Saw these, if you want a race fit.. though pricey, almost half price now :-) Actually, I find the quite lengthy description/justification of this jersey almost hysterical.. anyone agree?
Giordana EXO System Long Sleeve Jersey | Competitive Cyclist

Rider_1

The Garneau Genesis is available at Nashbar for $20. Well worth it. I have two but they are getting old. I fell in one of them and expected a hole to be burned through the shoulder, but it was barely abraded. They are great for casual riding because you get the benefits of a cycling shirt with the look of a generic sport shirt. No one will know unless they see the pockets. They almost look like a golf shirt without the collar.

canklecat

Ditto. I have two, red and blue, bought on sale for closer to $15 on a couple of Nashbar's short-notice sales. Main problem is the fabric is very prone to snagging -- as my not-yet-declawed cat discovered for me! She claims all of my stuff as hers by clawing it to mark it. Now I hang them out of her reach.

But it's durable in other ways -- I've had a couple of minor crashes on pavement and barely got a couple of pinholes through the fabric.

On the plus side, they look great -- like a casual pullover, as you noted -- and are very comfortable over a wide temperature range. I've worn them with just an a-shirt baselayer down into the 50s and been comfortable. The warmest day so far this spring has been a muggy 85F and it was very comfy and any perspiration dries very quickly in the breeze, yet the fabric never feels cold or hot -- right at ambient temp. I may order another for rides when my destination includes social events such as visits with friends to museums and gallery shows, because it's nice looking without being bikey.

The fabric hand washes well too. I forgot about a leaky banana in the rear pocket, but the dried goo cleaned up easily in a sink wash without scrubbing or stains. Dries overnight hanging from the shower curtain with a small fan circulating air.

Hoonigan

I usually use sol skins by Voler. They're expensive but well worth it. I just picked up some performance bike brand today and they worked well as well. Pro tip: squirt some water on them to get a nice cool down during the ride.

dual650c

An issue you might run into with long sleeves in Miami is due to the humidity, not just the summer temperatures.

I tried something like these for a while.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SARX-Sublime...QAAOSwDuJWxgDP
A good fairly skin-tight but not strangle-tight, "wicking", sunblocking long sleeve is freakin' awesome out in the dry SouthWest.

Unfortunately, the same is not nearly as comfortable for me here in Southeastern Louisiana from early June through mid-September. It just gets wet and stays that way unless there's a 14-16mph wind over an above my own speed. Granted, the sunblock benefit is still there, but imagine feeling clammy in 90+F heat and 85% humidity for hours on end due to the sweat not evaporating. Not really fun. (Oh and the sweat stains/deposits at the end of each ride remind me of the Bonneville Salt Flats. Heh.)

My solution, as a recumbent rider, is to wear a non-cycle-specific loose-fitting long-sleeve sunblock shirt - not too loose so as not to flap, but definitely not a close-fitting, "wicking" shirt.

Just for "completeness", here are a couple links to shirts you might consider:
http://www.amazon.com/Coolibar-Mens-...9Q55V1ZPPJPEZ0

http://www.amazon.com/Coolibar-UPF-M...YPMZ5ZS05FEVVA

Consider the difference/your needs... the 2nd has buttoned neck opening, the first doesn't. Airflow/temperature control is significantly different to me... I went with the 2nd. (Remember, I ride a recumbent...on a DF, I might make a different choice.)

YMMV.

Added: I have also ridden in one of these and felt great - but probably NOT a DF'ers choice of shirt.
http://www.amazon.com/Coolibar-UPF-M...DWDTRXJN60D3C1

Sy Reene

What is thought on just a long-sleeve baselayer under a short-sleeve or sleeveless jersey. Eg. one of these cheapies?
http://www.amazon.com/TM-T11-BKRZ_X-...ilpage_o01_s00

canklecat

Those might be tolerable. I've worn my sleeveless Pearl Izumi baselayer under cycling jerseys and regular cotton collared pullovers for rides with social occasions so I don't look too bikey. Even tho' the Pearl Izumi is intended for warmth, it's also very comfortable on warmer, muggy days, although the highest temps so far this spring have been mid-80s. I'd consider a white long sleeved baselayer for sunny days in a pinch, although I'd prefer something slightly looser fitting rather than skintight. I'm not a fast rider and prefer more casual fitting cycling clothes.

Marcus_Ti 

I have the Bontrager Sun Sleeves. Do the trick knocking down the UV substantially, and FAR more comfortable than SPF70 or SPF80.

You might still tan just a little, if you ride in broad 100% summer sunlight.

JanMM

The REI arm coolers I've worn for a couple of seasons have worked better than sunscreen. Overheated arms have not been a problem, either. White color reflects sun somewhat and when damp with sweat evaporative cooling switches on.

Clipped_in

Pearl Izumis are good. I've been wearing them the past four years. If you squirt a little water on them the will never be too warm.

qajaq 

Another vote for the ones from REI, sun sleeves sold under their "Novara" brand. Pure white, form fitting, stay in place and seem cooler to me than bare arms. Pearl Izumi ones are good too. They're both made with very lightweight stretchy material. It just wouldn't be practical to make a complete jersey from this material.