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Home→Bike Ride→I decided to wear a long sleeve jersey – June 16th Bike Ride

I decided to wear a long sleeve jersey – June 16th Bike Ride

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I decided to wear a long sleeve jersey for today’s ride after reading Dr. Gabe Mirkin‘s latest newsletter. The newsletter was about preventing skin cancer. In one section he wrote about clothing being better than sun screen. This week the FDA announced new standards for sun screen products so this might have influenced Dr. Mirkin’s newsletter. In the newsletter he wrote: “…In one study, participants completed questionnaires on the frequency with which they used sun screens, wore a hat or long sleeves, or stayed in the shade, in comparison to their number of sunburns in the past year.  Although using sun screens is the most common sun protective behavior, use of sun screens does not reduce risk for sunburns.   Those who avoid the sun by seeking shade or wearing long sleeves are far less likely to suffer sunburns (Cancer Causes and Control, June 2011).  Wear a hat that covers your ears, a shirt, and arm coolers on your arms when you exercise outdoors. …”. I have never wore a long sleeve jersey when the temperature was as warm (95 degrees when I started) as it was this evening so I was not sure how this would affect my cooling but I did not notice any problem and avoided using the very hard to wash off sun screen I normally use. Now I do not know if I will do this on a regular basis but I will think about it.

The wind was a solid 14 mph from the SSE with gusts to 25 mph. During the ride headed west over Lake Houston the wind was almost a direct headwind and the pedaling was very slow at time when one of those 25 mph gusts came along. Partly cloudy skies and 51% humidity kept the ride bearable even with the long sleeve jersey. I did see one other biker. The three days are supposed to be extremely warm at 99 or above and the humidity level will push the heat index to 104 or above. I plan on starting early on Saturday and Sunday.

My average speed dropped to 15.1 mph but the max was at 25.7 mph over the 28.54 miles. The average cadence was 79.7 rpm which lower than I like. For June I am up to 372.95 miles and the year to date miles are 2550.66. The week is now at 86.05 miles.

6-16-2011 Bike Ride Data and Route Map

6-16-2011 Home Weather Finish

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Comments

I decided to wear a long sleeve jersey – June 16th Bike Ride — 8 Comments

  1. The prob with the anti-sun craze and cancer scare is the lack of vitamin D. And standing under the sun is the best way to get that vitamin D. Here is the kicker too, NOT getting enough vitamin D can cause cancer too and a whole slew of other health problems. I personally have a vitamin D shortage or did because I was never under the sun and avoided it. Now I’m much healthier and don’t have issues with sunburns. The smart route is to use the level of sun screen to still get some vitamin D but not cause skin cancer. I am a Hispanic so my skin is olive completion and dark. I use 30 UV sun screen. My husband is Irish White, he uses 50 UV Sun screen. See this article regarding Vitamin D http://www.naturalnews.com/020513.html.

    Bottom Line: “The bottom line: Get some sun on your skin”

  2. I wear UnderArmours long sleeve compression shirts that are 50SPF protection as my base layer. Been doing it for 3 years now. The only drawback I see is having to answer the same question over and over as to why I’m wearing arm warmers. I’ll occasionally have fun with people and if the temp is 95 I’ll tell em I get cold when it’s below 100 degrees.

  3. I can agree with your statement about our need of vitamin D but you will need to be selective about which skin you expose to catch the sun. For myself I avoid the skin which has the most exposure over the years and rely on my legs’ skin. This area is not as exposed. If you read Dr. Mirkin’s article he states that skin color is not reliable as a shield for the UVA and UVB rays.

  4. Clothing offers the best protection but I wonder about the SPF claim for a given product. SPF is an untested measure. I agree with the questions you get. My position that any temperature below 60 degrees is too cold and there is no upper limit on my comfortable temperature.

  5. we bought my husband the UV sleeves for when we do 60+ mile rides. He burns so easily and we found it’s easier to be able to use those during long rides than re-apply the sun screen. Don’t know either about the skin color affecting UV levels but i know i don’t burn like my husband so i assume the pigments in my skin protect better? i mean why else would African’s have the darker skin for protection from the heat and sun? I guess i’m just trying to say we shouldn’t be as crazy anti-sun and we are and when i see comments like yours i think we are or it causes the freak out in people.

  6. I don’t want to freak out but I have two people that have had skin cancer so I have respect for what UV can do. It sounds like you have identified the issue and your husband has protection.

  7. i can defiantly understand the desire to want to freak out, especially when friends have it. But i think there are many factors that get involved with skin cancer. Just don’t neglect the need of your body to be in the sun. I think everything should be done in moderation. I was once grossly obese cause i didn’t eat in moderation. I am not fit as an athlete and eat in moderation. I am a bit obsessive with my exercising though, defiantly addicted but i’m thinking that’s ok

  8. Moderation is the goal but one I struggle with. Regarding sun exposure, bikers in Texas are closer to the equator than the northern states which increases the intensity somewhat. This reminds me of the gardening shows my wife likes to watch where the gardens are up north and the tips they promote do not work in our zones.

    Congratulations on your weight control success and loss. Exercise is an important step.

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