Before I get on my bike, I always go through a standard checklist: Spandex? Yep, nice and tight. Water bottles? Ice cold. Power music? Cued up. Helmet, gloves, and other safety gear? Ready as always. After attending stage one of this year’s Tour of Utah, however, I realized I’ve been consistently leaving something off of my list: sunscreen.

Yellow Jersey winner Mancebo Perez Francisco

The 85-mile stage from Pineview Reservoir to the University of Utah’s Research Park was sponsored by University Health Care. While all of the riders had the latest cycling gear, including sub 14 lb bikes and Campagnolo Super Record components, two of the riders were wearing one additional piece of high-tech equipment: a UV dosimeter. As it turns out, two dermatology professors at the U, Chris Hull, M.D. and Mike Hadley, M.D. (both active cyclists),  were quantifying the amount of sun exposure received that day.

In my interview with them (which will soon be available on the U’s Facebook page and YouTube channel), they were less concerned with the number of rays soaked up during the six-day tour and more concerned with using the data to educate cyclists on the importance of lathering up with 45+. According to Dr. Hadley, everyone, especially cyclists, should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and every two hours thereafter.

I must admit, I often neglect using sunscreen when cycling. Since I don’t burn easily, I’ve always figured I’m doing little damage to my skin. But like Dr. Hadley and Dr. Hull pointed out, unlike other forms of physical activity (swimming, running, weightlifting, etc.), cycling usually involves prolonged exposure to the sun (2-6 hours) with little shade.

Both doctors were clearly practicing what they preach, Dr. Hadley was wearing sunscreen and Dr. Hull had on a large “cycling sombrero” that rivaled some of the vendor’s shade tents. Dr. Hull was anything but frail and nerdy though, with calves that had clearly logged tens of thousands of miles in the saddle.

Dr. Hadley and Dr. Hull

Having never been to an event like this before, it was cool to see some of the best cyclists in the world cross the finish line in the U’s Research Park (including, former Tour de France stage winner Dave Zabriskie). Equally cool was talking with two University professors who were world-class in their own right. I have to say, I’m going to be adding sunscreen to my cycling checklist.

NOTE: If you want to help fight sun cancer, you can contribute to “Miles for Melanoma,” a fund-raising effort associated with the Tour of Utah.

Cycling fans, do you recognize this guy?