Biker Tan

[Ann G]

Because I do the vast majority of my riding in the summer, I have a bunch of sleeveless jerseys. To me they feel just a little cooler than those with sleeves, and it elminates that tan line on the arm, so at least I can wear a sleeveless dress without looking strange. That doesn't solve the bathing suit problem, but I don't really care about that a lot. Skin protection is more important than looks, so I put SPF 48 everywhere that gets the sun. I also have that Shimano sandal spot on my foot, but I doubt that a lot of people study the way my feet look.

[Fredwina]

I really could care less. as several ladies have mentioned , it's about health than looks.
I have Red hair and Fair skin. I can tan even with SPF 30 on I do have some sleeveless jerseys, but i'd rather try and avoid exposing as much skin as possible. The only folks that see me in a swimsuit are my biking buddies, so they have the same problems .

[Chile Pepper]

I was recently informed that I'm getting a biker tan on my face. I wear my hair pulled back, and my forehead is white (I always wear my helmet). Yikes. I suppose bangs would help, but I don't like hair in my eyes. I also prefer longer shorts--I like the look, and they do give a tad more protection just in case. But my current shorts are longer than my clothing shorts. Lovely.

[teigyr]

I am proud of the biker tan. I've been laughed at in a bathing suit, by my own mother no less! But the way I see it is I worked for those funky looking lines and that is more impressive than sitting by a pool or in a tanning bed.

That's not to say, of course, that I don't use sunscreen or try to avoid abovementioned tan lines. I do. But I get them anyway and they make me happy.

[Mr. Bloom]

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

You meant to say "kinda sexy" right?

Nope...I said what I meant!

But, I will clarify: it's kinda unique, but on a very sexy body!

[CR400]

I have the problem that if I wore shorter shorts or sleeveless jerseys I would burn to a pretty purple on the blindingly white skin. However where I am tan I can ride outside in sun for hours and not worry about burning. I have solved the glove problem by not wearing them.
I do however have an annoying watch line that I can't get rid of. I even take it off when I ride outside.

[aliceanne]

I get a lot of funny looks and questions about my lily-white hands (I always, always wear gloves), so I bought some waffle-back gloves so that my tan line would be even stranger.

[Geonz]

It's the helmet strap line that people find a little unsettling. At least I'm not bald and hvae stripes on my head

[MomOnBike]

Yeah, it's the helmet strap line that bugs me. I'm good with the polka-dotted hands from crocheted gloves, the Spot, two-tone (thunder) thighs, white feet, all that. I just don't like the helmet line showing off my extra chin. Bleh. I'm not going to stop wearing the helmet, though.

[Mr. Bloom]

At least I'm not bald and hvae stripes on my head

Hey! How's you know!!

[GLC1968]

Yeah, I'm Greek and I can get a tan from walking too close to a light bulb.

I wear spf 55 every time I ride and I've still got wicked tan lines. I also don't really mind the legs or arms (I normally wear sleeveless anyway)...but the white hands annoy me. If it wasn't such a drastic line, I might not care as much, but it's very obvious. I've had cashiers ask me why my hands were so white!

I've taken to wearing a fat cuff bracelet on my non-watch wrist to kind of cover the line a bit.

[HillSlugger]

I don't think that sunblock does much of anything to prevent tanning. The way I understand it, it blocks the UV that's bad but doesn't block whatever causes tanning.

I've got my biker's tan coming along nicely. I don't even think about it when I head to the pool. I figure it marks me as a triathlete in training.

I never noticed last year how much of a tan difference I get between the outer and inner lower leg.

[Andrea]

I've been wearing SPF 70 ( ) since the beginning of the summer, but I've still got lines! I actually love my wrist line. Otherwise, I switch between different length shorts to break up the thigh line. My arms don't really have a line because my team jersey is very thin, so it lets in enough sun that my upper body tan lines are sportsbra and bib-shaped.

You could always look around for a bottle-tan that somewhat matches your natural color and apply it to your white areas.

[meridian]

I've been wearing SPF 70 ( ) since the beginning of the summer

Dang, where do you get that stuff? I protect myself as much as possible and stick with the highest rating I can find in a sweat proof formula (48).

I've got irish blood, so I've resigned myself to inescapable tan lines, but I'm proud of them at the same time. Sure, I'd love to hit the town in a showy dress without the weird stares sometimes, but they are a reminder that I'm filling my life with something healthy and fun.

[Andrea]

^It's some new stuff by Neutrogena. It actually feels lighter weight than the last stuff I had, which was SPF65.

Sunscreen SPF to me is the same as saving grams of weight is to some cyclists... I'll pay 2x more for a little extra!