Biker Tan

[Jiffer]

I've read some comments from some of you who are proud of your biker tan. I can certainly relate to the feeling, which I had a bit of the first time I started to notice a hint of biker tan. "Hey! Check me out! I'm getting a biker tan like my Honey! I'm a cyclist and have the tan lines to prove it!"

However, I didn't REALLY want to devlop my biker tan any further and, therefore, go to great lengths to avoid it. I put on sunblock, targeting those "biker tan" areas, every time I ride. It's a hassle and kind of makes me sad because I'd love to get more color without taking the time to lay out by the pool, but I sure don't want to wear my bathing suit or tank top with white shoulders and a dark biker tan line! (In addition to the shorts and sock areas.)

Does anyone else do the same?

[Eden]

I do value my skin and my continued existance (ie not getting skin cancer...) so I slather up with spf 48 before I go out. Still doesn't keep me from getting rather noticable tan lines. Good thing it doesn't bother me.

[Grog]

You might avoid farmer's tan on the arms, and it's possible to control the ankle line by removing your shoes during breaks, but I have found that there is nothing to do against the golden quads. From my knees to my shorts line, I have a golden skin. Above it... well, it's white. Doesn't look especially good with running shorts.

My tan lines stay through the winter and just get worse in the summer.

And I cover myself with 30 SPF sunscreen, repeating every two hours or so, when I ride in the sun.

I could perhaps go to the outdoor pool more, but I'm too busy cycling!

[KSH]

Yea, I'm not too keen on my tan. Doesn't look too great having all these weird tan lines... and my thighs look sad in a bathing suit.

I slather on sun block, but at some point I get some sun. Eh.

I would lay out by the pool but I honestly just don't have the time. I use to go to a tanning bed to keep the tan lines evened out... but again... no time to go there these days.

So, I keep putting on sunblock and I hope that it just doesn't get any worse.

[Thorn]

For every positive, there is a negative. The biker tan, well, is just part of the game. Suncscreen only goes so far to prevent it--can't imagine what I'd look like without the sunscreen habit!

I've learned to lessen the abruptness of the quad-line by having shorts with different length inseams and wearing knickers if the temps are lower.

But, the quad-line I can cope with--it is the line the line at the wrist and fingers that I find disturbing, particularly when sitting at meetings (not, of course because it looks wierd, but because it reminds me I could be riding ). I wish I could learn to go gloveless every now and then, but I can't. Oh well, at least, gloves have solid backs now and I don't get the big spot

[Kano]

But, the quad-line I can cope with--it is the line the line at the wrist and fingers that I find disturbing, particularly when sitting at meetings (not, of course because it looks wierd, but because it reminds me I could be riding ). I wish I could learn to go gloveless every now and then, but I can't. Oh well, at least, gloves have solid backs now and I don't get the big spot

DH has the spot this year! New gloves for him, and they have the hole, so he's got the spot... Me, I've just got the lines -- last year I had the spot, and for a while, I thought it was a nasty bruise, wondered how come it didn't hurt when I poked it, and eventually realized....


Karen in Boise

[Aggie_Ama]

Somehow I just don't care what people think of it. I am very fair skinned and last summer was my first tan ever- biker style! I do not lay out and I do not do tanning beds. I tried self tanner for a time but it is too high maintenance and made me itch.

Several members of my family have caught pre-cancer cells and it just isn't worth it. That being said, my hands are blinding white and my arms golden through sunscreen. I wear sleeveless most summer, so my farmer tan has faded from the fall. My quads are golden, the tops of my thighs ghostly. And I have a kick butt timex tan line. My watch has cutouts that you can see and my dress Bulova watch is much thinner, so it is obvious.

[VeloVT]

Sunless tanning lotion...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

DH has the spot this year! New gloves for him, and they have the hole, so he's got the spot...

My DH wears these gloves:
http://www.rivbike.com/images/catpics/22-137.jpg
so not only does he have The Spot....but he has this weird reptillian scale pattern from all the tiny holes too! It looks CREEPY, but he loves the gloves and simply doesn't care. I worry that people will think he has a skin disease, but he won't change.

I alternate the place my shorts or knickers end on my legs by pulling them up and down a bit every hour or so while riding- at least it makes the tan cutoff point look softer and more gradual.
When I'm out in the sun but not biking I put sunscreen on my forearms but not my hands, so they can catch up a bit. It actually works well.

[jobob]

Yep, I have white hands from the wrist up to the first knuckle, with the brown spot & brown fingers past the first knuckle.

I use L'Oreal bronzing gel on the white areas of my hands, which at least helps minimize the contrast.

[SouthernBelle]

Generally my biker tan doesn't bother me, but I was thinking about actually wearing a swimsuit later this week. I have milky white upper thighs and golden brown from shorts line to knees. So attractive at the pool or lake.

[Mr. Bloom]

I don't like tan lines because it looks funny with the variety of clothers I wear.

So, when I ride, I use sunscreen (which I don't usually do once I have a base tan since I'm not then prone to burn)

So, today, we went on a two hour ride. I was wearing spf45 on my arms and legs...and I still had a tan line (along with about 5,000 gnats that got stuck in the sunscreen)!

I'm biologically Italian, but adopted into a German/Irish family, so I'm the darkest one in the crowd!

Right now, Silver has the patch work of tan lines and peel patterns...it's kinda unique.

[silver]

Right now, Silver has the patch work of tan lines and peel patterns...it's kinda unique.

You meant to say "kinda sexy" right?

[Grog]

Generally my biker tan doesn't bother me, but I was thinking about actually wearing a swimsuit later this week. I have milky white upper thighs and golden brown from shorts line to knees. So attractive at the pool or lake.

Actually my sweet partner in life - also a cyclist - is indeed attracted by my tan lines. I think that's one of the things he liked about my body when we first met!

[PinkBike]

wear your tan lines with pride!