Protection from the sun
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- WanderingPom
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Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Mon Jun 22, 2015 12:53 am
I wasn't sure where this post should go - it's sort of health related, but safety related, and a few other things related, so I'm taking pot luck on this section. Apologies if it's covered elsewhere but my searches must have missed it. Anyway, I wanted to get advice about sun damage to skin.
My general Googling about my trip to Oz has made it pretty clear that the sun, and protection from it, should be high on my list of priorities. I gather skin cancers have become a big issue in Australia.
Ordinarily in such climates I'd don my big wide-brimmed hat (like the one in my profile pic) and in extreme cases pin a white hanky to it to hang down the back to protect my neck. But because I never ignore local laws just because I disagree with them, I'm wondering what the practicalities are when wearing a cycle helmet?
As a lilly-white European, I'm not used to the levels of UV you guys experience there, so I'm pretty keen to avoid the potential nastiness that can result from that much sun.
Is there a generally accepted 'best solution' for those situations?
With thanks in advance,
Graham
- ValleyForge
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby ValleyForge » Mon Jun 22, 2015 10:36 am
Face and neck are best protected by a cap and collared jersey. Sunscreen & UV blocking sunglasses are essential; I favour zinc based creams as they also block IR & UV and don't sting your eyes when you sweat. A big hat like you mention flaps too much for anything other than a gentle pootle.
- FXST01
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby FXST01 » Mon Jun 22, 2015 10:42 am
If you want sun protection and wear the helmet then try Da-brim's website, they may have what you are after. I always wear a skull cap to stop the sun stripes through my helmet during summer and a Da-brim.
Cheers
Eddie
- WanderingPom
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:18 pm
I'll stock-up with the zinc based creams, thanks for the tip. I'd not heard of those before.
Da-brim looks wonderfully weird and daft - perfect for me
- RonK
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby RonK » Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:23 pm
Sure you have - or seen it at least...WanderingPom wrote:I'll stock-up with the zinc based creams, thanks for the tip. I'd not heard of those before.
- snafuspyramid
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby snafuspyramid » Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:26 pm
- WanderingPom
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:30 pm
We don't look at images of Oz cricketers here, for obvious reasonsRonK wrote:Sure you have - or seen it at least...WanderingPom wrote:I'll stock-up with the zinc based creams, thanks for the tip. I'd not heard of those before.
Seriously though, I'd not realised that was the stuff. Cool
I've always tended to be a 'baggy linen trousers and white cotton shirts' kind of touring cyclist. Not sure about all the new-fangle high-tech clothing.
- WanderingPom
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:31 pm
Those look usefulsnafuspyramid wrote:Netti Sun Sleeves and Leggings work well.
- Tim
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby Tim » Mon Jun 22, 2015 6:35 pm
http://www.cancervic.org.au/store/shop_cycling_gear
- WanderingPom
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Mon Jun 22, 2015 6:43 pm
- Cheesewheel
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby Cheesewheel » Mon Jun 22, 2015 8:21 pm
I personally have found bekogear to be quite good.
If you have a substantially bushy beard and a good pair of glasses this one can do whatever is left on your face in the way of skin.
The full face one is also good since it just requires a hairy chin and doesn't impede your breathing.
I also use a surfing hat like this ("Ocean and Earth" brand)
It can fit under a helmet with the flap covering the neck and the brim at the front is stiff while the sides fold down.
I find that its better for any sort of brimmed hat to be a bit short to prevent the wind getting up underneath it. If you are using a beko or something similar you just need a brim big enough to protect the space between your the rims of your helmet and sunglasses.
I got a Da Brim but I made the mistake of getting one with the longest brim so I practically never use it
Generally the sun is only at its worst in the middle of the day (around 10am - 2pm with a bit of seasonal - probably add an extra 2 hrs each way for summer - and geographic difference thrown in) so you can suit up for the sun (such as having a long sleeved shirt or convertible pants that have zip off leggings) as you need to during the day.
I find that its convenient to wash my sun protection shirt shirt as the sun goes down and tie it to the back somewhere to somewhat dry so I can use it every day. (My current fav is a light lycra merino blend shirt).
Its important to pay attention to spots on your body which you may not think need so much protection. eg - the sliver on your wrist between your gloves and your sleeve. I remember during one episode my calf muscles got incredibly burned (I didn't think they would cop it so much since they mostly lack a horizontal surface)
Personally I never use sun screen since the greasy residue gets on everything (espcially sleeping bags )
- Cheesewheel
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby Cheesewheel » Mon Jun 22, 2015 8:51 pm
I got one of these but I found the high winds of a mountain descent or the like making it impracticalTim wrote:I'll be sporting one of these for touring next summer;
http://www.cancervic.org.au/store/shop_cycling_gear
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby Downhill2Fast » Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:14 am
I used it last summer to let me know when I needed to be back in by, in order to wear no sunscreen on morning rides.
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby cp123 » Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:10 pm
- WanderingPom
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Tue Jun 23, 2015 8:23 pm
- Cheesewheel
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby Cheesewheel » Tue Jun 23, 2015 8:32 pm
well did hannibal lector ever get sun burnt?cp123 wrote:joipers - those beko face masks are a bit Hannibal lecter aren't they!
btw here is another option that satisfies local MHL's
- Mulger bill
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby Mulger bill » Tue Jun 23, 2015 9:21 pm
If you're in the hotter parts at the hotter times, I'd be suggesting a post lunch siesta until around 1600 wherever possible
London Boy 29/12/2011
- WanderingPom
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Tue Jun 23, 2015 9:36 pm
I'm good at siestasMulger bill wrote:The MiL is from oop north. If your skin is as tender as hers, cheesewheels idea isn't without merit.
If you're in the hotter parts at the hotter times, I'd be suggesting a post lunch siesta until around 1600 wherever possible
- gorilla monsoon
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby gorilla monsoon » Wed Jun 24, 2015 12:26 pm
Not to put too fine a point on it but there may be more things to be careful of than simply the sun. Bities, summer storms and floods, bushfires. Not meaning to put the frighteners on you but, you know, this is a nice but sometimes extreme country.
- RonK
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Protection from the sun
Postby RonK » Wed Jun 24, 2015 1:15 pm
Bities? Let's not beat around the bush there gm - dingos, crocodiles, sharks, spiders, snakes, drop bears...gorilla monsoon wrote:Bities, summer storms and floods, bushfires. Not meaning to put the frighteners on you but, you know, this is a nice but sometimes extreme country.
- gorilla monsoon
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby gorilla monsoon » Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:04 pm
Crocs, dingoes and sharks aren't all that common on regional roads and dingoes will mostly leave people alone as long as said people don't try feeding them or patting them.
Drop bears? Yet to see one of those.
But seriously, if Mr Pom posts some where and when details we should be able to tailor some advice for him. even something as simple as "get a train from Sydney to somewhere regional rather than trying to manage Sydney freeway or motorway traffic while you are jetlagged". That'd be a good start point wouldn't it?
- RonK
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Protection from the sun
Postby RonK » Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:29 pm
- gorilla monsoon
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby gorilla monsoon » Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:33 pm
- RonK
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Protection from the sun
Postby RonK » Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:39 pm
Well, you never know - he might find some long lost rellies living there.gorilla monsoon wrote:Man, I can't believe you suggested he go to Tasmania!
- WanderingPom
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Re: Protection from the sun
Postby WanderingPom » Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:52 pm
Last time I was there I was in my 20s, daft and gung ho. I'm doing my best to ignore everything I did back then, because I'm too old to get away with those antics again
As for the bities... my mate in Sydney is already winding me right up about those
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