Sweaty riding, sun tan lotion and temporary blindness

navrig

I am just back from a week in the French Alps. Had a great time except I had to stop on several climbs because the constant stream of sweat was washing the sun cream into my eyes and making things very uncomfortable. Eventually I had to take off my glasses in order to be able to wipe my eyes.

I tried a cap under the helmet but it trapped heat and made things worse.

Any suggestions, even if a brand of sun cream which is more eye friendly.

briantrumpet

Stay in England. Problem solved.

Grill

Rapha Lightweight Cap wasn't too hot when I was in Arizona the last couple weeks and I can assure you it was a damn site hotter than the Alps.

lawrences

Just don't put sun cream on your forehead. You're sweating it off anyway so it's not doing much good.

navrig

lawrences wrote:

Just don't put sun cream on your forehead. You're sweating it off anyway so it's not doing much good.

I am bald, completely bald so need some SPF for my scalp. No cream is not an option unfortunately.

goonz

Grill wrote:

Rapha Lightweight Cap wasn't too hot when I was in Arizona the last couple weeks and I can assure you it was a damn site hotter than the Alps.

Ah so its you that's bought all the stock off the rapha site! If you have a white one your not using please send it my way! :P

navrig

briantrumpet wrote:

Stay in England. Problem solved.

At the risk of starting a fight I could say what I think about that suggestion but.........

goonz

Why not use a lightweight skull cap?

briantrumpet

Navrig wrote:

briantrumpet wrote:

Stay in England. Problem solved.

At the risk of starting a fight I could say what I think about that suggestion but.........

Only joking. I'll be in the Alps for the whole of August. I hope I'll be sweating. Last year it was 39C when I left - I could do with some of that now.

trooperk

try using a sweat band.

Wily-Quixote

Buff. UV protection+ sweat absorption. Thin enough to keep ventilating the scalp and dry sweat.

antfly

I can recommend Ultrasun sport lotion, it's not a cream and it dries almost instantly so doesn't run.

MikeMc

Aerosol sun screen. I don't know if it's available in the UK but I use Coppertone Sport. Spray it on and forget it, no mess or oily hands. I still use a sweatband as you're still going to sweat and it will run into you're eyes but at least it wont have sunscreen in it.

robbo2011

use a skullcap or a bandana. it won't stop the sweat completely, but it will be a lot better and will also stop you from burning.

metronome

Antiperspirant roll-on your entire head.

Works a treat.

luv2ride

Mavic do some good hot weather skull caps and cycling caps. I've got their "hot ride" summer cap and its a mesh all over so wicks brillianty, but still has a decent peak to keep the sun out your eyes. Used in Mallorca when v.hot in August and wouldn't be without it.

EDIT: Sizes come up a little small though

plus I wear contact lenses and if I get sun cream in my eyes with them in I can pretty much rule out seeing clearly for the rest of the day. They have to come out and be cleaned, not handy when up a mountain...

neeb

Just wear a bandana or skullcap under the helmet and keep the sunglasses on. That way should only really need to apply suncream on the face below the eyes (obviously also on nose, temples, ears, neck etc). Just make sure you don't miss the area just below the eyes where the sunglasses stop - that's often one of the areas that burns most easily, I suspect partially because the sun reflects off the frames of the sunglasses.

Mikey23

And chapeau for the most original thread title of the year so far ...

surfbodi

I rode the Dragon gran fondo last sunday under stunning sunny skies. I didnt put suncream on my bonce to avoid the dreaded condition you so well described but what I did get was perfect sunburn replicas of my helmet vents on my shiny dome! 1 week of wearing a hat later they are just about gone but they went down a storm with my workmates

duckson

antfly wrote:

I can recommend Ultrasun sport lotion, it's not a cream and it dries almost instantly so doesn't run.

+1 for Ultrasun as a brand at least, their suncream (only used SPF20 Sportsgel and SPF30 sensitive) is really fantastic. Once given 15 mins to soak in there is no trace of it ever being there, doesnt stain clothes, waterproof, apply once a day, no sun burn!

navrig

Wow, lots of replies and advice.

I am going to opt for the Ultrasun sport lotion AND the Mavic summer cap. That gives me a choice depending on weather.

Thanks guys.

johncp

Another option for sun lotion is P20. Goes on very easy, lasts all day and I have never burned using it, even all day windsurfing in Greece in August And you could put a smear of vaseline across your eyebrows - directs all the sweat +/- sunscreen down the sides

MattC59

I can't believe that there's only one mention of P20 ?!?

It's fantastic stuff. Apply, leave to dry properly, go riding.
You apply it once and it bonds to your skin, lasting all day. It won't sweat out and can't run into your eyes, and if you RTFM and apply properly, won't mark your clothes.

It's a little pricey, but is the best stuff I've found for cycling.

kayakerchris

+1

best suntan cream ever. Waterproof, non slippery does the job all day.

ashleydwsmith

I fell for the gimmick of a halo headband as I sweat profusely (apparently that means im uber fit), wasnt sure if it worked.

HOwever it does, it has a gutter on the front which directs the sweat away from the eyes. And plus I look like a ninja without my helmet on!

ballysmate

I seem to have the same barber as Navrig and for that reason , would recommend the buff. Keeps the sun off, soaks up the sweat and obviates the risk of the sun etching a nice stencil of your helmet on your shiny pate.

mwalters

I have one of these caps - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/assos-robofoil-cap/

SPF50 and wicks away sweat to help it evaporate. Recommended.

Mark

meth_tical

Halo headbands are very good for not getting sweat in the eyes. I have the headband option but i'm guessing the bandanna are the same with an spf factor and come in different colours to match bike/kit if that matters.
http://www.haloheadbanduk.com/product-category/bandanas

hatch87

Surfbodi wrote:

I rode the Dragon gran fondo last sunday under stunning sunny skies. I didnt put suncream on my bonce to avoid the dreaded condition you so well described but what I did get was perfect sunburn replicas of my helmet vents on my shiny dome! 1 week of wearing a hat later they are just about gone but they went down a storm with my workmates

lmao Would love to of seen a pic of that

onumnos

Concur with the "bandana" comment(s) - almost the perfect headwear. Cheap, effective - keeps the sweat out of eyes, the sun off your bonce (esp. if follicaly challenged) and your head warm (enough) in winter.

I don't wear a helmet, and this is the only sun protection I get. I was quite reluctant at first as it appears like you're trying for a "Rebel look" but it just "works" and anyway doesn't touch the "Hannibal lecter" scariness/embarrassment of a neoprene face protector I wore (once) in that lethal winter we had a few years back.

I bought a Buff once but I wasn’t aware they had “UV” versions and the non-UV versions let the rays straight-through – lesson learned the hard way, ouch!

cattytown

Ultrasun or P20. Both genuine all day protection. Both dry well. I find I personally get on better with P20, but P20 does sometimes seem to stain whites.

Paul.