radroad

I use sunscreen of course before every ride, but the sweat resistance rating is only for 80 minutes and I'm out longer than that on many rides. I'm thinking a physical barrier would be even more effective.

Has anyone tried a bicycle helmet hat or visor? I'm looking for something that's not only effective, but actually looks good. From what I can tell, bicycle helmet hats are rarely if ever used by cyclists. I'd like something that's both practical and stylish. Affordable would be nice too.






Or the granddaddy of them all:

mcours2006

Either ride early or ride late to avoid peak uv hours. Wear light coloured arm covers. Three quarter tights, or thinner leg covers, if it's not sweltering hot.

Those pictures just look silly.

Phil_gretz

^ My thoughts exactly. Um, no.

Ride in the Earth's shadow. It's cooler and calmer.

JanMM

Da Brim has cycling products, too. Not just equestrian. Da Brim :: Products :: Cycling
Helmet brims/visors not much help for arms and legs, though.
I wear SPF rated arm coolers.

radroad

Nice! It could even offer a little bit of rain protection as well. Da Brim sells a visor as well. The visor + side cover (which they don't cover), might be a nice compromise between the visor and full hat.

Slightspeed

A few of our club riders who do long distance tours, like coast to coast, use the outer brim snap on deal. They sometimes show up on shorter club rides with them here is sunny California. I never inquired as to the brand, or where they got them. One guy does wear a wrap around deal like the yellow cap above. He has pre-existing skin cancer issues. Most of our riders wear sunblock arm covers, and a few wear leg covers. I like some 50 spf rated arm covers that I found (only once) at Costco 😡. The logo is long gone, so I don't know who made them. I also have a black and a white pair of 50 spf covers from Columbia. I just got rid of some pre cancer spots on my bald head, so I'm more careful about wearing a cycling cap under my helmet, which I didnt always do before.

Wilfred Laurier

I met some folks touring with Da Brim visors on their helmets, and they said they loved them.

I have a cotton wide-brimmed hat with snaps to hold the side flaps up and, for riding, I wear it sideways - with the front flap up - because it withstands being blown off my head that way. Otherwise I just let the sun roast me. I live in Canada, though, so the sun doesn't really hit us full force.

Ogsarg

I use Neutrogena SPF 70 and have been out for 7+ hours without getting burned or even notice any darkening. It says re-apply after 180 minutes but it seems to last much longer.

I also use a Pace helmet liner to prevent sun exposure on my scalp and keep sweat from dripping into my eyes.

Trakhak

I tried sunscreen for one ride many years ago but disliked how it felt, so I rode without any protection for years for up to 6 hours per ride. As a consequence, I developed burns on the skin on my nose and cheekbones that wouldn't heal.

However, I recently began applying Nivea cocoa butter cream to my face, neck, arms, and legs before rides and after showering. My reasoning is that the main danger is that of the skin oils drying out and allowing the skin to burn. After a month of using the cocoa butter cream, the burns have healed.

terrymorse 

+1. I use the Neutrogena Sport Face 70 from the neck up, and Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport 50 on arms and legs. Never reapplied during a ride, never burned once.

Paul Barnard

I am going to toss my sunscreen and buy one of those sombrero helmets. Those are cool.

ChrisWagner

No-Ad is good stuff.

Cyclist753

Skin cancer history here so I always put good sunblock on face below eye level, ears, back and sides of neck, top of hands that gloves don't cover and arms but usually wear long sleeved jersey. Sometimes I put sun block on legs. The damage has probably already been done so it's a waiting game for the next round of 'removal'. Ugh!

Wileyrat

Bullfrog spf50 stick.

A see a lot of those helmet brims here in Tucson.

General Geoff

I use the Earth itself (I ride at night!)

radroad

I cut up an old t shirt to cover the top of my head along with some side coverage as well. It's an economical solution for sure: it's free! It's also reasonably effective.


I like the da brim products as well as the treadley. Both companies seem to be making well designed products. I'm leaning towards the treadley with side coverage. Or, I may just stick with my home made solution which is probably 75% as effective.

BikeLite

Foam visor at hobby shops.

indyfabz

I use their 55. (Mom's side of the family was from Calabria, so I am not a place face.) Love it. I have re-applied, but only when touring, when I have been out on the road for a long time. Something like an 8 hr.-10 hr. day with a sweaty mountain pass or two.

pdlamb

I'll usually stop around 9:30-10:00 to put on some Bullfrog gel, SPF 30 or maybe higher. I may reapply if I'm sweating really heavily, but I'll usually just put it on once a day. Rarely do I need more.

Afternoon/evening shower really feels good, getting off the sunscreen, dried sweat, and accumulated bugs.

Deal4Fuji

That No-Ad sunscreen always gets good reviews but I've always found it really greasy. I'm a ginger with personal & family history so my morning ritual is to use sunscreen every day. This Aveno daily moisturizer is broad spectrum and non greasy with a mild but pleasant fragrance. The SPF of 15 doesn't look that impressive but I've read that's often inflated anyway. The only knock I have on it is it really burns when you get "creep" into the eyes after being on for the day, but they all do that.


not so much night, but I prefer late afternoon rides ending at dusk. When DST ends though, our evening group rides become night-time rides.

ChrisWagner

Does the Sport variant feel that way for you? When I need to wear any protection the temp is just too hot for my locale, so I usually ride early during the summer. The rest of the year is no problem for me.

Deal4Fuji

I haven't tried the Sport No-Ad line and it's been years since I used the standard sunscreen (SPF 70 I think), so I may not be up on any new developments to improve.

ChrisWagner

No-Ad Sport SPF maxes out at 50 in lotion, stick or spray so it may not be enough for you.

While swimming, I use the No-Ad glop, SPF 45 down to 8 when the tan is working. I like that it lasts and works good.

radroad

Not surprisingly, Brim hats are rated for a top speed of either 25 or 35 km/hr. The visor has no speed rating.

There is no difference in effectiveness between 30 and 70 SPF sunscreens.

Speedskater

For biking, inline skating, snow skiing and sailboating, the only product that I use near my eyes is:
Doc Martin's of Maui 'NexGen Sunscreen'
Recommended by my Dermatologist.
But it's pricey so I only use it near my eyes and other less expensive sunscreens elsewhere.