Comments | kurukami: Less than nine days to departure.

kurukami

Less than nine days to departure.

Jun 25, 2008 14:25

Departure on my bike trek across New England and down to New York, that is. I'm looking forward to it with a strange mix of apprehension and excitement -- off, to explore places I've never been to before! On the road for a week, playing bike nomad! (I feel like I should buy a copy of "On the Road" just for the synchronicity of it. *grin ( Read more... )

bike trek 2008, biking, to-do list, life in massachusetts

Comments 15

jebbypal June 26 2008, 00:01:41 UTC

chewing gum

chapstick (w/ sunscreen in it).

Do you have a portable bike pump or am I just reading over it?

Depending on how bad you burn, remember to put sunscreen on under your clothes too --- skin can burn through cotton jersey shirts and the like.

kurukami June 26 2008, 00:21:33 UTC

Thankfully, I've already got a hand bike pump racked on my bike. I just failed to mention it. : )

I haven't had any trouble at all with burning through my clothes, but I'll definitely keep an eye on that after the first day or two.

Chapstick. Hmmmm. *considers*

kurukami July 9 2008, 01:37:37 UTC

Surprisingly, even though I didn't put much sunscreen on under my clothes, I had no trouble with burn through my shirts. I did end up with some weird suntan patterns on my legs, though -- a little bit above the knee and below the hem of the shorts, and tan all the way down the back of my calves. Most bizarre. : )

starcat_jewel June 26 2008, 02:59:18 UTC

Are you sure SPF 15 is enough? You're going to be mostly in the sun for 6-8 hours a day, and that's not your normal activity pattern. I'd boost it to 30 or better if I were you.

kurukami June 26 2008, 11:03:53 UTC

I've actually got tubes of both. I'm judging from the three hours or so I spent out with that on on a bike trip down to Boston. It's easy enough to take both, really.

kurukami July 9 2008, 01:38:04 UTC

I ended up using the 30, and given what happened on Sunday I'm VERY glad I did. *grin*

soundingsea June 26 2008, 03:57:31 UTC

Buy some SPF 45. The Neutrogena Ultra Light stuff is nice (and available at drugstores).

Oranges? Apples?

kurukami June 26 2008, 11:04:15 UTC

... but I have no need to maintain a Gothic vampire pallor. ; )

soundingsea June 26 2008, 11:10:57 UTC

When my Irish/Polish boyfriend hikes all day in SPF 15, he burns. The SPF number just is a multiplier times the normal amount of time it takes you to show color (which, yes, is damage! Just like when you are browning onions!) It's not about being a vampire... it's about making sure you don't ruin your trip with a sunny day. :)

Also, don't forget to re-apply. Sweat will remove sunscreen, even the "waterproof" kind.

kurukami June 26 2008, 12:03:19 UTC

Huh, good to remember. I'll take both my 15 and my 30. : )

... though out of curiosity, how darkly-complexioned is said Irish/Polish boyfriend?

Thread 7

helenkacan June 26 2008, 05:16:40 UTC

::staggers::
Your list made me dizzy ... er, dizzier.

Actually, I'd suggest getting a SPORTS version of sunscreen, because it takes into account sweat and oil production. Hee - and now I've made you feel all grungy.

Good luck,
H.

kurukami June 26 2008, 11:04:59 UTC

I'm riding from Boston to New York City. I suspect I'd feel grungy towards the end of it regardless! *grin*