I burn out in the sun, and always wear min of factor 30, and usually factor 50 when cycling. But I only put it on parts of my body exposed to the sun.
My other half recently told me that you shoukd be wearing it under your top!? I've never done this, ever. I can see why if you have sone kind of super lightweight climbers jersey, but is it really required for normal cycling kit?
I've been out in midday sun for hours in Spain and never even had a hint of a tan (or being burnt) under my jersey
Is this really a thing and does anyone do it? Given my back Is covered in moles maybe i should, but then again if I never even go slightly pink surely I'm not burning myself. It's not something ive ever even considered before.
I don't but I do wear a base layer under my cycling jersey and I use sun sleeves which are one of those things like arm warmers where you wonder why you didn't get them years ago
I don't tend to other than trying to make sure I get a bit of overlap around the neck / shoulders area if it gapes a bit.
That said she may have a point as they may be better at blocking UVA (tan-causing / melanomas) than UVB (sunburn / other cancers) hence not noticing tanning effects? You'd potentially have the faff of having to wait 10-15 minutes after cream and before putting your top on though to avoid the top soaking up some of the cream though.
That said she may have a point as they may be better at blocking UVA (tan-causing / melanomas) than UVB (sunburn / other cancers) hence not noticing tanning effects?
Wait what?
Surely if you aren't burning/tanning you aren't doing damage. Or put another way, I wear factor 50 on my bare arms and get some tan in them. Whereas I don't change colour at all under my jersey. So logically my jersey must surely offer more protection than factor 50 sunscreen.
I can see the logic, I will splash it across the back of my neck/shoulders and upper arms but tend to concentrate on making sure my exposed lower legs, forearms, face and the tops of my ears are coated in SPF30 at least…
Im quite sensitive to this since having a carcinoma removed a few years ago. But I only put suncream on parts that will not be covered by a top. I recently spent ages looking for long sleeved biking tops with collars, so that I wouldn’t have to bother putting sun cream on my neck.
But to be fair, the Rab Sonic top I’ve chosen says nothing about blocking UV. That said, the fact that I show no sign of sun under the top makes me think im ok.
I have freckly skin but I've never burned through a cycling top. As above I do overlap a bit at the neck and sleeves to allow for the top moving.
Never underneath and always on the bare skin with overlap.
The burn I got in 1994 from failing to do the transition zone with a shorty wetsuit was a "learning experience".
Unless it's not available and I'm desperate I won't buy or use anything that is not factor 50 now and apart from the occasional screw up and forgetting or missing a bit I'm always cautious even as someone with a tan easily, takes a lot to burn basic complexion.
I shudder when I think we used to consider Factor 15 was a bit over the top....
Yep, as per probably everyone, Arms, heck and lower legs get slathered in it, but not where I'm clothed.
In fact, this year, my cyclists tan is so strong and defined that before we go on holiday I reckon I need to put some arm warmers, gloves and a balaclava on and get out in the garden!
I don't underneath, but I also wear cycling clothes containing lycra, which I believe blocks a lot of UV. IIRC a little while back they started to put lycra in normal kids clothing, t shirts etc because of this.
No, even living 43°N. I prefer clothes to sun cream the most important being a peaked cap or wide brimmed hat depending on the activity.
No, I trust clothes to do that job unless I’ve actually been burned through that item. Still Factor 30 on my white bits and 50 on my nose where I had a BCC.
There's been a few high profile campaigns by pro riders after some of them developed skin cancer.
I don't use sunscreen under a jersey, but I always wear a lightweight baselayer which I hope gives me more protection.
Depends what your jersey is made of i guess........
Various reports in the media about this very issue, but these are all quite old, so not sure if the weave has imporved more recently. I know Castelli do a SPF50 jersey, which their climbers jersey doesn't claim
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/chris-froomes-mesh-skinsuit-sunburn-18852
And there's this rather nice jersey in a feetching "sunburn" color way - just soes you look the same lobster all over while on the bike:
https://isadore.com/alternative-jersey-sunburn
I wear a base layer. I did once get burnt on a 12h TT on my back through a skinsuit. With just a big square patch on my bottom untouched (number pocket). I am very fair skinned with a family history of skin cancer. I use total sun block on exposed skin, and spray in the garden before putting my jersey on.
I also have a very rare WHITE LONG sleeved club jersey that is great in the sun.
Just thinking about this some more, most dinghy/beach rash vests are spf 50. So it should be possible to block some UV with lycra based stuff. I'm not surprised people are burning through mesh kit though.
I'll be keeping an eye on my arms under my much lighter new summer jersey. It isn't mesh though.
I think you just have to watch out if you’ve got mesh,I ride all year round Spain and haven’t been burnt thru my tops and I don’t spray suntan all over just arms legs neck face/ears.
I have used lightweight climbers vests and not been burnt either but I do think it’s going to be the tightness of the weave YMMV.
I’ve used the white arm sleeves and they are a worthwhile addition to your wardrobe but tbh under layers when it’s warm just make it too hot which is bad news in a area with little shade.
(tbh it was 37c yestererday and a week of 30c nights didn’t give me the urge to ride 🙂
top. I recently spent ages looking for long sleeved biking tops with collars, so that I wouldn’t have to bother putting sun cream on my neck.
Look up a buff cool net, like a normal buff but made of a material more suitable for hot weather.
I'm sure it's possible to get burnt through some ultra-thin fancy mesh stuff but I've never got a hint of a tan through all sorts of random cycling clothing including sunny summers in Japan. Helmet stripes on the top of my head are occasionally an issue cos i'm bald.
No I don't. the outdoor shirt I bought in NZ actually had a SPF rating of 50 and despite hundreds of hours in the sunshine I am still pure white on the bits covered with clothes even the shirts without a SPF rating
I don’t either - for most of my off road cycling I use the isocool tops from Mountain Warehouse, which are rated SPF50+
Helmet stripes on the top of my head are occasionally an issue cos i'm bald.
I'm not bald but I always wear a cap under my helmet if it's warm. It stops sweat mixing with sun cream and running into my eyes, and I pour water on it to keep me a bit cooler.
No. I'm sure there are some jerseys available that are airy enough that could be an issue, but I don't have anything like that. MrsSalmon did say she got a bit burnt through an outdoorsy-type T-shirt at the allotment a few weeks ago though.
Re long sleeved hot weather cycling tops, I have a Ground Effect one made from a fabric with some cotton in it and a proper collar, but I don't wear it much.
In common with most ^^, I only use suncream where clothing doesn't cover me. I don't wear fancy mesh tops, just common (read cheap) cycling jerseys
Sunburn is a huge factor, but you can develop melanoma on the soles of your feet and inside your mouth, which aren't common sunburn areas
Genetics, environmental (including smoking) and other conditions all play a part. The sun isn't the whole story
Due to past cancer treatment, I'm more susceptible to carcinoma/melanoma than some, so I always try to go full coverage as much as possible - long socks, sun hoody and cap under helmet, then sun cream on any exposed bits. Feels much nicer at the end of a hot day, also I feel like I'm cooler when active, as I don't have sun cream blocking all my pores so I can sweat normally. For road biking a regular jersey with a high collar + sun sleeves works well.
