A skinflint sure pinches the pennies, and hates spending money. We all know Ebeneezer Scrooge, I think? But it doesn\’t pay a cyclist to be too much of a skinflint when it comes to skin care.

We might be out there for hours in sun and wind. A good sunblock is a necessity. Some are creams; others can be sprayed on. If you\’re riding with a child, don\’t forget that the children need sunblock, too. Expensive though sunblock may seem, it\’s a little cheaper than treatment for melanoma.

If you dislike having sunblock on your arms, try some sun sleeves. They feel can hot when you first put them on; but after your ride gets underway, they start to feel cooler. Your legs don\’t have to get left out; there are leg sleeves, too!

Skin care isn\’t limited to preventing sunburn and avoiding chapped lips. It\’s also about wound care. We\’ve all seen those Tour de France pics showing the aftermath of a crash. Those guys\’ skin looks like raw meat!

Road rash should not be neglected. It\’s better than broken bones, no doubt; but you don\’t want it to get infected. Clean and dress it as soon as possible. Day-to-day follow-up care is also important. You may need a tetanus shot; check with your health-care provider to be sure you\’re up to date on this.

Crashes can also result in cuts and/or puncture wounds; the same kind of precautions pertaining to road rash also apply here.

So slather on the sunblock — or pull on the sun sleeves — and enjoy your ride, knowing that you aren\’t a skinflint!