The arrival of the warmer weather is a great opportunity to get out on your bike. However, while nothing beats cycling in the sun, it’s important to stay safe and protected.
If you leave yourself too exposed, you could become sunburnt or dehydrated. So, here are a few top tips to help you keep the UV rays at bay when you’re enjoying your sunny cycling adventures.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated may seem like an obvious point, but it’s something that many riders often overlook or underestimate. You don’t want to be without water when you’re in the middle of nowhere!
Here are some key things to consider before you head out on a ride:
How much water do you need?
How much you need to drink will depend on the intensity and length of your ride, plus the weather conditions. So, if you’re heading out on a multi-hour or high-intensity ride, carry as much water as possible, and plan stops to top up your bottle if necessary. Even on shorter rides, it’s still a good idea to carry a large water bottle.
Top tip: It’s generally recommended that you drink around 500ml of water per hour on a cooler day and up to two litres on an extremely hot day – but again, this will also depend on the intensity and length of a ride, the weather and the individual, as everyone sweats at different rates.
How will you carry your water?
This is where pre-planning becomes essential. Most bikes are designed to carry two water bottles. If you take a backpack, you may have room for one more, and some road cyclists store one in their jersey pockets. But sometimes you can’t carry enough water for a full ride – so what do you do?
While road cyclists are likely to pass plenty of places to buy water, mountain bikers are more often stuck on a trail in a remote location with no shops in sight. That’s where a hydration pack can come in handy. Usually holding anywhere between one to three litres, hydration packs are similar to backpacks except they store water.
There are lots of hydration packs available, and for a full day on the trails, the Camelbak Mule Hydration Pack is the ideal option. Its large reservoir holds up to three litres of water and it has an extra nine litres of space for any other essentials you need to carry.
Sometimes, hydration packs can be a great alternative to water bottles too. Like the lightweight Camelbak Hydrobak Light which carries up to one and a half litres of water, perfect for shorter rides and performance-orientated cyclists.
How often should you drink?
It’s easy to fall into the trap of only drinking when you feel thirsty, but by then you’re probably already on the road to dehydration.
Instead, aim to drink little but often. Get into the habit of regularly swigging from your bottle, making sure to start drinking from the moment you start your ride. If you’re getting to the stage where you’re having to down half a bottle in one go, you haven’t been drinking enough.
Electrolyte boost
Additional heat from the sun means you’ll sweat more, but it’s not just liquids you’ll be losing – you’ll also lose valuable electrolytes.
Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals that are needed to help your body function while cycling. They affect everything from muscle contraction to your body’s ability to hydrate, so they need topping up!
That’s why you should consider adding an electrolyte supplement to one of your drinks. Electrolyte supplements help replace key electrolytes lost in competition rides, training rides, or simply exercising in the heat.
Keep well ventilated
Summer’s arrival means one thing – time for a short-sleeve jersey and shorts. With the chillier months now gone, there’s no need to pile on the layers, but you still need to think carefully about what you’ll wear.
Ideally, you should opt for clothing with breathable fabric and sweat-wicking qualities – otherwise, you’ll find yourself baking in the sun. And it’s not just your torso that needs consideration, as your head and feet will welcome some added airflow. So, try to find cycle shoes and helmets with high-quality ventilation.
A cycling cap is also a good option as these provide additional cover from the sun. The Boardman Cycle Cap is perfect as its fabric is designed to wick away sweat, keeping you cool and comfortable. Versatile too, the cap can be used to provide shade from the sun but also doubles up as an extra layer on cooler days.
We know that the last thing you’ll want to do is put on a long-sleeved jersey if it’s a hot day, but for those who burn easily or struggle in direct sunlight, it may be the best option. Try and keep as much of your skin out of direct sunlight as possible.
Always wear suncream
Remember, the SPF isn’t about the level of protection that the sun cream offers, but instead how long you can stay out in the sun before it starts becoming less effective. If you’re not sure which SPF number you need for your skin type, then you can find out more at the Skin Cancer Foundation.
It’s always worth remembering that sun cream will protect against UVA/UVB rays but is never 100% effective at preventing sunburn or skin cancer, so try and spend time out of the sun, especially at midday or on completely cloudless days.
Grab some shade
Even if it’s only slightly sunny, take more breaks when riding than you usually would. Getting out of the sun completely every now and again is the best way to guard against sunburn, so use that as an excuse for a well-deserved break!
Wear sunglasses
Sunglasses not only help keep direct sunlight and glare out of your eyes (therefore making your ride a lot safer) but also help to protect your eyes from damaging UVA and UVB rays. Buy from a trusted retailer and look for the CE mark, which shows that they adhere to European safety regulations.
Halford’s range of sunglasses offers 100% UV protection, so you can keep your eyes on the road or trail.
Perfect for the sunniest of days, the Halfords Goggle Style Half Frame Sunglasses have polarised lenses that help define shadows and textures. An anti-fog design will also come in useful, preventing the inside of the lenses from steaming up – a common occurrence on warm days!
Enjoy your ride
As long as you’re well prepared, riding in the sun can be a great experience. Our outdoor time is precious and the health benefits of staying active while riding a bike outweigh any risks from the sun.
So, head out on those rides and enjoy your cycling adventures!
Follow our tips and head out on your cycling adventures, confident that you’re prepared. Head over to Halfords.com where you’ll find a range of summer cycling clothing, sunglasses and accessories.
