by kelly
/ October, 25 2017 01:30
No one is invincible to skin cancer. From the best athletes to the weekend warrior, it can happen to anyone. Recently top cyclists Luis "Lucho" Herrera announced that he contracted skin cancer due to sun exposure over the course of his career. Luis was one of the first South Americans to win one of the three major European cycling tours. Now he’s an advocate for sun protection. So the next time you embark on a long bike ride remember these 5 key tips.
Wear Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is 101 for preventing skin cancer and skin aging. This tip goes for cyclists and really anyone heading outdoors. There’s not much more for me to say except do it 
!
Apply Before and Reapply
Make sure you apply sunblock 15 minutes before heading out to cycle.
If you’re going on a long ride make sure your reapply. The recommendation is every two hours and even more often if you’re sweating.
Carry a Bottle
You might be thinking - now, how am I going to reapply if I’m on a long ride? Well bring a bottle along!
Many sunscreens come in small TSA approved carry on sizes that are at or under 3.4 ounces. All this means you can easily slip a bottle into your pocket which, conveniently, many biking jerseys come with.
Avoid Riding During Peak Times
If you race you may not be able to control your event times but you can control the hours you train to minimize your exposure to the sun.
Peak sun intensity hours are between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight savings time. So try training in the early mornings or evening hours.
Cover Up
Long sleeves, tights, hat and sunglasses are all things to consider wearing on a ride. You might be thinking what about on a hot day – long sleeves and pants? Well there’s tech clothing on the market that provides SPF protection and turns your sweat into a coolant. Pretty neat.
Sun Protection for Everyone
These tips really can apply to anyone spending time outside, cyclists and non-cyclists alike. Of course cyclists need to take extra precaution, as they tend to be out in the sun longer.
Fight skin cancer by checking out our other sun protection tips in our Skin Cancer and Suncare Smarts blog series.
