Heat & Sun Awareness: Upgrade Your Sunscreen

Springtime & sunnier days are just around the corner!

While we need sun protection all year round, now is the time to upgrade your solar guard.  Why? Well, the days are getting longer and brighter. That plus the warmer temps means we will be spending more time outdoors and exposing more skin to the harmful rays of the sun. While I'm not a fan of looking like a ghost, I know from walking, running and cycling that burned skin looks even worse! Still, I'm a fan of tinted moisturizers and airbrushed tans for a Victoria's Secret model glow and NO they don't tan either..

Sunscreen Issues
One of the problems I've had with sunscreens is that even the ones for the face are often greasy and cause your makeup to slide off or pill up. I hate that! I've purchased Bobbi Brown's Brightening SPF 50 UV Protective Face Base and found it to be good but at less than 2 oz in a tube, (1.7 to be exact), you'd go through it very quickly. What I like even better is G.M. Collin's High Protection Cream SPF 30.

Favorites for the road: SPF Tinted Moisturizer, Lip Moisturizer and Sunblock

High Protection Cream from G.M. Collin - Paris
This sunscreen comes in a convenient 4 oz twist dispenser topped bottle. Using natural sunscreens like Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, it uniformly blocks both UVA & UVB rays by creating a gentle, transparent physical barrier. It is SO light that it doesn't mess with my makeup application. It leaves behind no white film and does not block pores. This super SPF 30 sunscreen also contains botanicals like Cassia Alata Leaf Extract to protect DNA from UV damage and antioxidants like vitamins E and C.

I wore it under my makeup while marching in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade this year and was very comfortable. My skin didn't get burned even though it was quite sunny along the parade route. High Protection Cream can be used on both the face and body. So rather than just settling for a high SPF, get sun protection that is more complete and actually good for your skin.

Get a jump on this season's best bets for solar protection and avoiding heat exhaustion at the Heat & Sun Awareness Project on Pinterest.

Giordana Gita Women's Bib Shorts

Having an epiphany...Bib Shorts DO make your ride better, especially if they are made by Giordana. XENON 2.0 Cycle Jersey & Signature Cap by Gore Bike Wear

NEW for Summer 2012 Xenon 2.0

I've always wondered just what men cyclists see in their bib shorts.  I mean they look like they are wearing white stretchy suspenders to hold up their cycle tights. I did try a (unisex) team racing set by LOOK a few seasons back but as I am, let's say NOT flat chested, I found the straps to be really uncomfortable and bothersome.

So it took quite a bit of doing to test drive this new set of Women's Bib Shorts by Giordana for Road ID.  Since these are actually women-specific, they are already quite a bit ahead of the unisex version by LOOK.  Now I'm not saying that I am a chamois snob but my bottom has been treated to some very fancy ones by Terry, Pearl Izumi and Gore Bike Wear to name a few. This season, however, I was introduced to a whole new level of road comfort.

Giordana Gita for Road ID Women's Bib Shorts

Now I'm not above asking, "Do these shorts make my butt look big?" but really there was no need with these. Stretch Moxie Power Lycra with silicone leg grips keeps everything in place. Black is well, slimming!

  

Flat-lock seams smooth out your leg line and the Road ID graphics are very flattering. It was quite hot so I topped these bib shorts with this sleeveless Gore Bike Wear Xenon 2.0 Lady Singlet cycling jersey with lots of mesh and airflow to match the comfy straps on the bibs. These bib shorts are also made with 50+ UPF fabric and offers excellent UV protection. This means you won't need to apply sunblock to the area that the shorts cover although I do use it on the exposed part of my legs.

Matching Women's Giordana Cycle Jersey has UPF of 38+

The chamois itself is gender specific OmniForm TM and seamless so it doesn't interfere with your saddle positioning. Really everything is so smoothly put together that you don't see the outline of the chamois from the outside of the shorts. Sweet!  More specific details on the Giordana insert:

These bibs feature Giordana’s WMC3 O.F. insert. This chamois is specifically designed for use by women and is the result of a focused study on female body movements while pedaling. It is a single, seamless insert with differentiated thickness to contour to the female body and allow full range of motion. The WMC3 is molded using Giordana’s High Frequency OmniForm technique that shapes the chamois using high frequency waves instead of heat. This ensures that the pad remains soft and extremely flexible throughout its lifetime.

  

Take a tour inside the Giordana factory in Italy showing how the chamois insert is sewn into the bib shorts:

The Best Chamois Butter

The padded insert used to be made of deerskin, hence the name chamois.  Some hardcore cyclists of old used to put a steak inside their shorts for long rides. These days, most are made of easy to wash synthetic, high performance materials. The Giordana Gita Bib Shorts chamois, WMC-3-O.F. is a women specific one piece insert that is very lightweight, flexible. Like the shorts, it is made in Italy using a polyester microfiber.

Either way, you will need something between you and your bib shorts. I wear a minimalist thong under my bib shorts (ExOfficio's Give 'n Go Lacey Thong), and use a tiny dab of Mission Athletecare's 5 Hour Anti-Chafe Cream.  Silicone and botanically based, (infused with Aloe & Vitamin E), it has a super light feel but is waterproof/sweatproof. You can even do like the pros and apply this "chamois butter" directly to the pad as it contains no petroleum or parabens. You'll have to experiment to see what works best for you but for me, this Mission Anti-Chafe is the balm!

Exofficio's Give 'n Go Lacey Thong- like wearing nothing under your bibs

The Road Test

I've taken the Giordana Gitas out on my Terry Symmetry Road Bike (see photo below) at least three times for a 7-8 mile trip each time. This bicycle came with a very comfortable but road-worthy Terry Butterfly gel saddle. It is a comfortable saddle but not a "comfort - saddle" and I've always ridden it with some sort of chamois insert.

The Giordana's stayed in place and didn't slip over the seat.  The chamois is so much a part of the fabric of the shorts that it doesn't stick out or feel bulky between the legs. It conforms so well to the female form that all you need focus on is the ride, not pulling up or adjusting your shorts.  So there is my epiphany.  Bib Shorts when done right for your gender and anatomy can make a huge difference in the quality of your ride. These Giordana Gitas are amazing. Check out Giordana for Road ID's Team Cycling Jersey too!

Giordana Gita for Road ID Men & Women's Bib Shorts are available from Road ID

Hydration & Sun Protection

COOL the heat with a Fridge Pak and Stainless Steel Polar Bottle

One of the great things about summer workouts is that the days are longer.  The sun rises earlier and sets later giving us a few optional hours to get out there.  I covet that time because the summer heat is already on by 10 am.  Getting out before the temps peak, (usually between 1-3 pm), is always a good idea.  You can  lessen your sun exposure by picking times when the UV rays are their weakest.  Here are a few more tips on staying cool, unfried and hydrated for your summer cross training sessions:

Hydration 101:  

Yes, you've heard this 101 times too but did you know that drinking COLD water not only tastes better but forces your metabolism to speed up in the process?  Not just the amount you drink but the temperature of the water counts toward an improved workout experience.  An insulated thermal Polar Bottle on your bike or to take along canteen style is one of the best ways to combat the summer heat.  If you don't have a thermal water bottle, you can add ice to a stainless steel one and stow it in a Fridge Pak as shown here.  It even has an outside zippered pouch and will also keep your sandwich, snack, gel pack and beverages quite cold.

Thermal Polar Bottle

To get the most out of your insulated water bottle however, fill it 1/3 of the way with crushed ice.  Add cold water with just a squeeze of lemon and you have a no-sugar, refreshing drink to go.  Using this method my water stays cool for about 2 hours in high heat, (82-90 degrees).  

The essential oil of lemon helps retard the growth of bacteria once the bottle is empty and leaves it fresh for the next time.  Try it!
Congratulations to Cassie Gedbaw of Superior Colorado on winning our Polar Bottle - Chocolate #9 GIVEAWAY this month.  Go Cassie!!!

                 Sun Protection

To be honest, I like the sun-kissed color of a natural tan but as I normally work out when the sun is low, that doesn't happen too easily.  I have used sunless tanners to give me the "look" of bronze skin but protect myself with sunblock such as Avon's Skin So Soft, (CVS has a pretty good dupe), with an SPF of 30.  It is similar to baby oil so the mosquitoes don't like it which makes me quite happy.  I use this on my arms and legs because I do want some sun.  Blood levels of Vitamin D are on the decline due to excessive use of sunblock, researchers say. Pasty white legs?  Ugh.  No thanks.

Mission Skincare-Amanda Beard's Organic Strawberry Lip Balmer with a 15 SPF...luscious!  Rudy Project Ability Cycling Glasses

I am adamant about wearing a stronger sunblock on my face, neck and decolletage though.  Just because I'm into fitness doesn't mean that I want to look like a leather bag.  That's basically what tanning does to your skin.  Don't forget your lips.  They will love you for Mission Skincare's delicious Lip Balmers with a SPF of 15. They specialize in health products for athletes, developed by athletes so DO check out this line.
Deep sun damage is hard to repair but a product like Neutrogena's Age Shield for Face has a whopping SPF of 110 and protects several layers deep into the epidermis.  It resists perspiration so it doesn't need to be reapplied every five minutes like some creams.  Complete your UV protection plan with a pair of technically cool shades like these by Rudy Project.  I'm wearing their new Kylix Cycling glasses which also reduce road glare and wind.  Stay hydrated and sun-protected this summer and you'll not only feel better but you'll LOOK better too. 

Staying hydrated and sun-protected are the best ways to enjoy your summer workout.  Helmet by Lazer.