Best Sunscreen for Long Rides

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Curt H Moore on April 28, 2010 at 4:48pm

If you are using left over sunscreen from last year or the year before....be sure to check for and expiration date. Had some of the riders on RAGBRAI a couple of years ago get burned with out of date lotion..curt

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Permalink Reply by Liz on April 29, 2010 at 10:24am

Since I have EXTREMELY sun sensitive skin I use neutrogena sport spf 70, they have one for the face and one for the body. I also use the totally dry and wait 20 minute technique. Another thing to keep in mind is applying before you dress for the day. I have gotten second degree burns for having an area on my back that was covered when standing, but when stretched out on my bike get exposed.

I think my biggest pain on ragbrai last year was the severe sunburn I got on day 1, I thought I could wear a "racer-back" style tank, but even with re-applying several times I burnt very badly. I have not learned my lesson and wear jerseys that cover my full back. Another technique to covering from the sun I learned is to wear a slightly loose white long sleeve "quick dry" shirt over a tank top and at each water stop soaking the shirt and putting it back on. This kept me cool on some long rides while covering way more skin.

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Permalink Reply by S on April 29, 2010 at 2:05pm

Clark said:

Wow...no one seems aware of the RISKS of using sunscreen. SPF 50?? Dangerous! Recent research on Vitamin D deficiencies (the "sunlight" vitamin) show that most Americans have less Vitamin D in their blood than recommended. Before lathering on the SPF 50 and avoiding the sun entirely, read a bit about the dangers of low levels of Vitamin D:

I think you're overstating the risks somewhat, 15 minutes in the sun during the midday in shorts and a t-shirt is enough exposure to give you the recommended amount. If you're out in the sun on a bike all day, even with sunscreen on, you'll probably get enough sun.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 29, 2010 at 2:35pm

Great point. Also, most milk and some orange juice nowadays is fortified with Vitamin D.

Did you know that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US? About 1 million cases are reported each year. One cause is extended and repeated unprotected exposure to the sun. You can minimize the risk by using a good sunscreen

I would definitely advise against foregoing sunscreen out of a fear for Vitamin D deficiency

S said:

Clark said:

Wow...no one seems aware of the RISKS of using sunscreen. SPF 50?? Dangerous! Recent research on Vitamin D deficiencies (the "sunlight" vitamin) show that most Americans have less Vitamin D in their blood than recommended. Before lathering on the SPF 50 and avoiding the sun entirely, read a bit about the dangers of low levels of Vitamin D:

I think you're overstating the risks somewhat, 15 minutes in the sun during the midday in shorts and a t-shirt is enough exposure to give you the recommended amount. If you're out in the sun on a bike all day, even with sunscreen on, you'll probably get enough sun.

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Permalink Reply by Craig S. on April 30, 2010 at 12:12pm

If you go to the website linked to in the first response, you'll find No-Ad and Coppertone Sport get low marks for effectiveness. Makes me wonder as I've always used No-Ad and Coppertone.

Nathaniel D. Buckner said:

NO-AD SPF 15 (love this stuff if you can find it. Cheap and minimal.)
or
Coppertone Sport SPF 15

I don't know if it's true but evidently our bodies don't benefit from anything more than SPF 30 anyway.

SPF= Sun Protection Factor SO SPF 15 is, in order of magnitude (benefit) theoretically, 15 times more protection than you would naturally have. I've ridden Montana in June and I never needed more.

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on April 30, 2010 at 2:56pm

Anything is better than sweat. I still don't seem to get the message though.

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