Cycling jerseys vs tank tops?

[ny biker]

That's what I was wondering. It gets gawd awful hot here in the summer. 95 degrees (35C) and 95% humidity. Would the Cool Wings really keep me cooler? Or would I strip them off and be sorry I spent the money? Or just wear it as an arm warmer in the spring and fall? What is the fabric difference between an bolero arm warmer and the cool wings anyway?

You are reading my mind.

[shootingstar]

I just saw my dermatologist last week and she chastised me for wearing tank tops while riding because of the sun damage I'm inflicting on myself. I have a history of basal cell carcenoma, and she basically told me I'm just inviting a future of skin cancer surgeries if I don't start wearing long-sleeve shirts to ride.

I told her I wear 30 sunblock, but she said it's just not as effective as fabric, as she's pointing out the freckling starting to come out on my arms. "First you get all freckly and then you get leathery and you really can't come back from that," she said.

Naturally, TE isn't selling any long-sleeve jerseys right now, it being summer any second now. Luckily, I've got a couple of long-sleeve fitness shirts.

If you choose to wear regular clothes to ride in, you might look for something with an SPF rating.

Good luck.

Roxy

Been cycling regularily since 1992. I am 50. I stopped lying out in the sun for a "tan" since ...um around 1989 or so.

Before I started approx. 1999 wearing short-sleeved cycling jerseys for very hot /humid days when I lived in Toronto, I wore short sleeved T-shirts. I did WAY more self-loaded long distance touring during cycling seasons ranging from 300 kms. to 1,100 kms., most of it during summer and early fall.

I never wore sleevless nor tank tops at all all those years and not even now while cycling. Would only wear sleeveless/tanktops for outfits off-bike.

It helps that my natural skin colour is not exactly white. So the need to look glowing and slightly tan just isn't there. I've been mistakened for looking Filipino or Malaysian. (Hmmm, am not that naturally dark. Whatever.) So this "problem" of evening out, funny uneven tan lines really is not meaningful..at least to me. And if it shows when I wear sleeveless dressy top off-bike, so what. Am proud to sport the cycling tan lines.

I am seeing a dermatologist next month on some facial spots. It concerns me. I do wear sunblock 30 sfp regularily. I tan naturally fast and easily without much burning..which can be very misleading to myself, in terms of skin "damage".

Yes, the skin across my back and front of me is still soft and smooth because I don't cycle in tank tops/sleeveless.

YOu get used to wearing short sleeved tops under hot blistering sun...can't as bad...as hearing stories of people I knew last year, who worked in Dubai (in Middle East) where it rose to 40-50 degrees C.

Would I wear long-sleeved in humid, hot summers? I have ..when I got badly sunburned on the 2nd day of a 3-wk. long cycling tour in Canadian Maritime provinces during the summer. And this is despite wearing sunblock! It worried me nearly to tears, being at the start of a bike trip. So in tiny town of Shelburne, Nova Sotia, I went to the Salvation Army store and bought a man's white cotton/poly dress shirt for $2.00. I rolled up the sleeves to my wristwatch. And wore that shirt nearly 80% for the remainder of the trip.

I wore that shirt several times during our first trip in Hawaii when I was on bike and hiking around. It finally fell apart after I used it as an art painting-cover up shirt.

[tctrek]

That's what I was wondering. It gets gawd awful hot here in the summer. 95 degrees (35C) and 95% humidity. Would the Cool Wings really keep me cooler? Or would I strip them off and be sorry I spent the money? Or just wear it as an arm warmer in the spring and fall? What is the fabric difference between an bolero arm warmer and the cool wings anyway?

I just bought them... it gets pretty dang hot here also and my poor arms always get burned even with sunscreen. I'll let you know if they work!

[Blueberry]

That's what I was wondering. It gets gawd awful hot here in the summer. 95 degrees (35C) and 95% humidity. Would the Cool Wings really keep me cooler? Or would I strip them off and be sorry I spent the money? Or just wear it as an arm warmer in the spring and fall? What is the fabric difference between an bolero arm warmer and the cool wings anyway?

I don't have a bolero, but I really don't think these were any hotter than just sun on skin (which is HOT!). It was 95 real temp/105 heat index on my MS ride last year, and I was about as uncomfortable as everybody else.

In terms of size, they're pretty forgiving, I think. I technically shouldn't be able to wear a large (I think) - I'm slightly too large. But, it works for me. I'd call TE if in doubt, but I think you can add at least an inch to the stated sizes (and even though mine was stretched a little, I didn't get any real sun through it). I think snug is fine - I actually think it wicks better that way - but again, I'm sure Susan is a better reference than I am

CA

[Resi]

I live in the south, there is no way I wear tank tops or sleevless jerseys... I wear shortsleeve jersey's and armcooler... also in my collection of jerseys a longarm summer top from Jaggad/Australia...

No interesst in skincancer...think about that. (my father in law died a couple of weeks ago of cancer)...


Resi

[ny biker]

So I decided to give the Cool Wings a try, and I ordered one last night. I think I looked pretty funny trying to measure my bicep to figure out what size to get.

We should start getting some really hot weather here soon, so I look forward to trying it out.

[channlluv]

There just aren't a lot of choices in the larger sizes. I'm just going to have to stick with long-sleeved t-shirts until this weight starts coming off.

Roxy

[surgtech1956]

SPF clothing? Does this really work?

[sundial]

It gets gawd awful hot here in the summer. 95 degrees (35C) and 95% humidity.

Exactly! I wonder how well it works in balmy, humid, southern temps.

[tctrek]

I rode this weekend with the Cool Wings. The fabric is super lightweight... nothing like arm warmers. I actually didn't even feel like I had anything on and they protected my shoulders and arms. They can roll up into a little ball about the size of a handkerchief. I'm thinking if I had them on a super-hot day, I'd be tempted to wet them and wear them to cool myself even more. The fabric is so light, it would probably dry in a few minutes.

[Becky]

How do the Cool Wings stack up against Terry's Bolero Light in white? I've never used either, but I'm intrigued....

Also, can these be worn with shortsleeve jerseys without too much bunching?

[ny biker]

How do the Cool Wings stack up against Terry's Bolero Light in white? I've never used either, but I'm intrigued....

Also, can these be worn with shortsleeve jerseys without too much bunching?

They make arm covers, too - they look like arm warmers but are the same fabric as the cool wings. TE sells them.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodDE_AC5.html

[Crankin]

Well, I have had freckles all of my life, so I am not worried. Been wearing high # sunscreen for years. Living in the Sunbelt made me more aware of skin cancer before it was "talked about" so much. I could not ride in long sleeves in the hot weather. I find that I go from my LS jerseys quickly to sleeveless ones; my tolerance for heat is less as the years go on. I wear cycling tanks or sleeveless jerseys, so they have pockets or at least a zipper pocket.
It's been cool so far, so I've mostly been wearing my short sleeved jerseys and I have a farmer's tan. While I don't mind it now, later in the summer it looks pretty bad when wearing regular clothes.
I have 4 Terry Eurohalters. It comes up high in the front and back and has a zipper pocket. So, the shoulders are exposed, but I never burn with #45 sunscreen. I like this top because I wear it to yoga, running, etc.