Cycling UK Forum

mjr wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 8:38pm

Bonefishblues wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 8:34pm

mjr wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 8:11pm

Having your hands stuck in sweaty gloves (and they will get sweaty in a hot summer) can lead to a range of skin problems including contact urticaria, dermatitis and triggered eczema.

Close fitting sun gloves have a greater surface area to evaporate sweat than skin itself does. They rinse out in seconds and dry in minutes. They're a viable alternative for many.

Links to any examples, please?

Maybe for many, but far from all.

I said many. I didn't say all

Searching UV sun protection gloves brings up any number of examples in both natural and synthetic fibres.

ETA
I have these for fishing

https://www.seriousfishing.com/SIMMS240 ... EwQAvD_BwE

A traditional cotton cycling cap is thick enough to prevent the burning of the bonce-top, unlike them polystyrene hot-hats with slits in them for burning-on head stripes. I discovered on recent bike rides in The Very Hot that a cotton cap soaked in cold water before placing on one's nut has a remarkably good cooling effect for the first ten miles. Re-soaking is any easy thing if one goes past a nant or even an afon.

Don't forget that useful cap-brim either. Up for a full view ahead and down to keep the sun ahead from cooking the peepers in pothole-obscuring glare. A white cap stands out above the hedge tops, as well. Sometimes the raving motorist about to come 'round the corner on the wrong side of the road (to get back to his B 0.03 seconds faster) will spot the cap-signal and baulk at crushing the cyclist beneath, despite the loss of all that time wasted by driving correctly.

Also, if you don the cycling cap you will then look like a cyclist, rather than a space invader with a Mekon big head. I know that "image" is important to many, these days.

Cugel

mjr wrote: ↑16 Jul 2022, 4:44pm So, a post above recommends uncoated zinc sunblock to avoid nasty chemicals. I looked in two large stores today. Lots of sunblock. None like that. Where do you find it? What are some suitable products?

Boots used to carry some, including an own brand version, but I don't see any on their website, now. I'm adding some brands, with links for Amazon below. The ingredient is actually zinc oxide, though sometimes titanium dioxide is used, as well. You can look or ask for 'mineral' sunscreen.

Natural health shops tend to carry one or two brands. Jason is the most common health food shop brand... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jason-Natural- ... C80&sr=8-9

ThinkSport and Nutrogena are probably the most commonly available in chemists and outfitters.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ThinkSport-Sun ... C71&sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neutrogena-Dry ... 71&sr=8-13

If you search on Amazon for 'zinc oxide sunscreen' or 'mineral sunscreen' you will find others.

The only thing about zinc oxide is that it's white. No matter how well you rub it in, it's white. It frankly doesn't look very good on most people.

gcogger wrote: ↑12 Jul 2022, 8:57am

mattheus wrote: ↑11 Jul 2022, 1:43pm

atoz wrote: ↑11 Jul 2022, 12:13pm The trouble with suncream is that you need to remember to reapply. Yesterday needed to reapply twice on a 86 mile run, mostly in North Lancs.

Maybe some brands are better at this? I used to use exclusively P20 (Riemanns), but recently found the cheaper brand "Calypso" following rave reviews in some respectable journal. [The P20 is priced like golddust, but I think it's worth paying for.]

Never had a problem with it lasting all day. On Saturday I was roasting hot [in mid-Wales mainly]. Dawn-to-dusk audax, rode about 150 miles; no burn problems, and I do burn quite easily (learnt the hard way!)

I'll second the recommendation for P20. I'm very pale (can burn on a dull day in the winter ) but, so far, I've not had to re-apply the P20 even after several hours of very(!) sweaty riding. Yes, it's pricey, but I won't use anything else now.

My skin can be sensitive, so I'm wary of changing brands, but sound like investigating- cheers

Jdsk wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 6:00pm

Biospace wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 5:52pmWhich is why above mentioned mate makes his own sunblock with Zinc and Titanium oxide and carrier wax/oils - not only does he know what he's using on his body but it costs a fraction of ready-made products.

How does he know whether that mixture is more or less hazardous than a commercial product?

Thanks

Jonathan

A product bought in an 'emergency' didn't work as well as the usual, plus caused some irritation to the skin (I was there and saw the mess) - a pharmacist mate of his set him wondering, reading and on the road to the diy approach. I think originally it was only intended as an experiment, but cost less and worked well.

He has lectured us all about why he doesn't use nano sized particle oxide powders - his homemade block is not transparent - and boasts it lasts way longer between applications than what he used to use.

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 7:51pm

Jdsk wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 6:00pm

Biospace wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 5:52pmWhich is why above mentioned mate makes his own sunblock with Zinc and Titanium oxide and carrier wax/oils - not only does he know what he's using on his body but it costs a fraction of ready-made products.

How does he know whether that mixture is more or less hazardous than a commercial product?

A product bought in an 'emergency' didn't work as well as the usual, plus caused some irritation to the skin (I was there and saw the mess) - a pharmacist mate of his set him wondering, reading and on the road to the diy approach. I think originally it was only intended as an experiment, but cost less and worked well.

According to him, it lasts way longer between applications than what he used to use and smells better!

Thanks

I wouldn't use something that caused irritation.

But I was thinking about that mixture of "chemicals" that he is using in that combination without any long-term testing. Some adverse reactions don't occur immediately.

Jonathan

Jdsk wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 8:00pm
Thanks

I wouldn't use something that caused irritation.

But I was thinking about that mixture of "chemicals" that he is using in that combination without any long-term testing. Some adverse reactions don't occur immediately.

Jonathan

Couldn't agree more with regards to not using anything without long term testing, in an 'emergency' or otherwise.

Others have asked the same but the reply has been that everything used is available in commercially available products, if only the more expensive ones. He's lasted over a decade and I doubt it's anywhere near as hazardous as some of the stuff many regularly ingest!

Jdsk wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 6:00pm
How does he know whether that mixture is more or less hazardous than a commercial product?

I emailed him your question... his response was that what is commercially available passes all the safety tests yet routinely causes bad reactions in people and has longer term questions over safety - and that the stuff he uses has safety data which has evolved over millenia, adding it's the same as used by 'posh' sunblocks.

The downside is that because this homemade mix doesn't use any modern techniques, there are times he looks a little... white. Someone once suggested he added colour to break up the monotony, which was written off as a 'daft idea'.

Biospace wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 5:52pmWhich is why above mentioned mate makes his own sunblock with Zinc and Titanium oxide and carrier wax/oils - not only does he know what he's using on his body but it costs a fraction of ready-made products.

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 9:12pmI emailed him your question... his response was that what is commercially available passes all the safety tests yet routinely causes bad reactions in people and has longer term questions over safety - and that the stuff he uses has safety data which has evolved over millenia, adding it's the same as used by 'posh' sunblocks.

What does "safety data which has evolved over millennia" mean? There are plenty of traditional preparations which we now know are harmful.

And who has been applying titanium oxide (sic) to themselves for "millennia", let alone recording the effects?

Thanks

Jonathan

Jdsk wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 9:39pm

Biospace wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 5:52pmWhich is why above mentioned mate makes his own sunblock with Zinc and Titanium oxide and carrier wax/oils - not only does he know what he's using on his body but it costs a fraction of ready-made products.

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 9:12pmI emailed him your question... his response was that what is commercially available passes all the safety tests yet routinely causes bad reactions in people and has longer term questions over safety - and that the stuff he uses has safety data which has evolved over millenia, adding it's the same as used by 'posh' sunblocks.

What does "safety data which has evolved over millennia" mean? There are plenty of traditional preparations which we now know are harmful.

And who has been applying titanium oxide (sic) to themselves for "millennia", let alone recording the effects?

Thanks

Jonathan

I don't think he was wording a legal document, just expressing that much of what he uses has been used for centuries if not more, that which hasn't been passes the safety testing in ready-made modern, commercial sunblock.

Titanium dioxide hasn't been commercially available for "centuries" let alone "millennia".

Jonathan

Jdsk wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 10:10pm Titanium dioxide hasn't been commercially available for "centuries" let alone "millennia".

Jonathan

Sure, he didn't say it was.

You appear to be treating what he said in a quasi-legal context when he was simply letting people know a little about his years-long experience of using his own sunblock, having had a bad experience with supposedly safe, commercially available varieties.

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 10:25pm

Jdsk wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 10:10pm Titanium dioxide hasn't been commercially available for "centuries" let alone "millennia".

Sure, he didn't say it was.

Biospace wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 5:52pmWhich is why above mentioned mate makes his own sunblock with Zinc and Titanium oxide and carrier wax/oils - not only does he know what he's using on his body but it costs a fraction of ready-made products.

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 9:12pmI emailed him your question... his response was that what is commercially available passes all the safety tests yet routinely causes bad reactions in people and has longer term questions over safety - and that the stuff he uses has safety data which has evolved over millenia, adding it's the same as used by 'posh' sunblocks.

My emboldening.

Jonathan

PS: I assume that everyone is aware of the disputed status of titanium dioxide in different jurisdictions' categorisation of carcinogenicity.

Jdsk wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 10:34pm

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 10:25pm

Jdsk wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 10:10pm Titanium dioxide hasn't been commercially available for "centuries" let alone "millennia".

Sure, he didn't say it was.

Biospace wrote: ↑17 Jul 2022, 5:52pmWhich is why above mentioned mate makes his own sunblock with Zinc and Titanium oxide and carrier wax/oils - not only does he know what he's using on his body but it costs a fraction of ready-made products.

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 9:12pmI emailed him your question... his response was that what is commercially available passes all the safety tests yet routinely causes bad reactions in people and has longer term questions over safety - and that the stuff he uses has safety data which has evolved over millenia, adding it's the same as used by 'posh' sunblocks.

My emboldening.

Jonathan

PS: I assume that everyone is aware of the disputed status of titanium dioxide in different jurisdictions' categorisation of carcinogenicity.

'Disputed status'. Can you elaborate a little, please? Regarding what 'disputed status' means, since titanium oxide is regarded as safe for use in commercially available sunblock.

I used a block with this in, years ago - should I be concerned?

Biospace wrote: ↑18 Jul 2022, 10:56pm'Disputed status'. Can you elaborate a little, please? Regarding what 'disputed status' means, since titanium oxide is regarded as safe for use in commercially available sunblock.

I used a block with this in, years ago - should I be concerned?

I wouldn't be concerned in the least about using as recommended a commercial product sold in the EU or the UK.

But it wasn't me that brought up "a bottle of chemicals"or "repeat once they've been absorbed into the body" or "knowing what's used on your body" or "anywhere near as hazardous as some of the stuff many regularly ingest". Or the idea that traditional preparations are safe because they're traditional.

But I wouldn't handle titanium dioxide powder without adequate precautions. So I wouldn't make my own sun block if it required me to do that.

Jonathan