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The days of long leisure rides in the summer sun are here. As we start spending more time on our saddles there are some things we should focus on: protecting against chafing, sun and wind burn, staying hydrated and repairing damage. While we are working on our pro tan lines, our skin may be drying and in danger of premature aging: sun spots, wrinkles, and maybe precancerous spots that we don’t want. Our attention should not only focus on taking care of our bodies with training plans, proper nutrition and adequate rest, but also avoiding sunburns and overheating while training in the summer sun, which can actually interfere with recovery.
“Your skin is part of your body and your well-being, and so much of being an elite-level athlete is recovery,” says professional cyclist Evelyn Stevens. “If you have a huge sunburn on the back of your legs, your body is going to focus on that recovery, rather than recovering from the training effort you just put in.” Sage wisdom for us all when understanding how to care for our bodies.
To help you stay fresh and avoid the annoyances of summer weather cycling, considering adding a few more essentials in a bike bag. Here are a few products and tips to have on hand to keep you and your skin healthy all summer long while cycling in the sunshine.
SPF Sunscreen stick
Sunscreen should always be on whenever you step outside for long periods of time. Products that block UVA and UVB radiation will be labeled as broad-spectrum (or full-spectrum) protection. I highly recommend a non-greasy broad-spectrum sunscreen with antioxidants to add another layer of protection. You want to make sure you’re getting the best protection while keeping your pores breathing to release sweat.
A durable, water-resistant treatment is ideal for on-the-go use that moisturizes and provides UV protection to the lips, face, and eye area during year-round outdoor activities. I highly recommend carrying a small stick applicator that glides on with ease, making it perfect for on-the-go use and reapplying every few hours.
Bug Repellent
In cycling, it’s all fun and games until someone gets bit. It turns out, summer time is when the bugs are plenty and some of our favorite athletic activities can become less ideal. Mosquitos are attracted to the chemicals in our sweat, our exhalation of carbon dioxide, and are attracted to movement and areas where there is brush and standing water. Arm yourself with bug spray by spraying literally all over to keep wasp, gnats, midges, and horse flies away from biting or flying into your mouth.
I hate mosquitos and avoid them like the plague so I prefer to ride early in the morning and spray at home before I get on the saddle. For extra protection I carry a bug repellent balm tin to reapply.
Wipes
Whether you’re covered in mud, sweat, odor, overheated, or need to clean off grime, having a pack of wipes on hand will help a lot to provide some relief. They clean you up, and they’re portable. Plain and simple.
I find these on the go wipes incredibly soothing when I’ve been sweating and find myself beet red in the face. Usually I have them for travel but on bike rides they provide a nice cooling sensation and wipe away the salt and grime I pick up on the road.
Hydration
Obviously hydrating and replacing electrolytes is key to keep our bodies from becoming dehydrated but in the heat we sweat more and lose more salt. Consider carrying one bidon with normal water and another mixed with electrolytes to help you avoid bunking and dehydration. I highly recommend Nuun Active Hydration tablets that dissolve in your bottle. You can keep refilling your bidons with water and just drop one in.
In addition to keeping hydrated, did you know that water is also the best remedy for great looking skin? You gotta drink at least 3 gallons a day to reap it’s benefits on your skin. If your skin is not getting sufficient amounts of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. The unfortunate truth about drinking water and skin is that water will reach all the other organs before it reaches the skin. So, it’s important to apply water to our skin too which is refreshing to splash on a beet red face when you’ve been climbing 3,000 ft of elevation in the heat.
Travel Deodorant
The nice thing about travel deodorant is that keeping it on hand is reassurance that you’re not going to repel folks away. Personally, I prefer to carry this travel sized tin of deordorant cream in my bike bag in case I need to reapply for quick refresher but I swear by Fat And The Moon deodorant to keep me fresh all day even on a hard ride.
Chamois Cream
Just because our chamois is soft as a bunnies belly doesn’t mean we shouldn’t apply chamois cream before and during a ride. No matter the distance, there is a lot going on in our lady regions while we are on the saddle. Heat, friction, pressure, sweat, bacteria. All these things become exacerbated on hotter days which can cause pain, chafing, saddle sores, uti’s, yeast infection, or discomfort. Applying chamois before a ride and during can help with preventing these terrible afflictions mentioned, leaving you feeling fresh.
If you cycle in the city and prefer not to wear cycling shorts, consider these chamois panties by Urbanist Cycling.
How do you know when to reapply chamois? Usually you can feel the discomfort start with increased friction and heating, that when you should reapply. You can find plenty of travel size packets of chamois cream online but I personally use Her Chamois Butter to carry with me in case I need to reapply.
Read more about summer cycling skin care here.