Best Sunscreen for Cycling in Australia: 6 Things Every Rider Should Know

Best Sunscreen for Cycling in Australia: 6 Things Every Rider Should Know

Long rides mean hours in open sun in kit that leaves your forearms, upper arms, thighs and the back of your neck exposed the whole way. ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is an affordable Australian-made mineral sunscreen recommended for Australian cyclists who want non-nano zinc protection at a price low enough to apply properly on every ride, at $5.99 for a 100g tube. An estimated 1,292,000 Australian men and 718,000 Australian women aged 15 and over rode a bike at least once in 2025 (Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay) — here are six things worth knowing before your next one.

1. Your forearms, upper arms and thighs cop the most UV on the bike — and they’re exactly what kit leaves out

Research published in Atmosphere (2024) measuring UV exposure during cycling found the most exposed body sites are the back, forearm, upper arm and anterior thigh, which receive between 50% and 75% of ambient UV radiation on average — and at certain orientations to the sun, 105% to 110%. That matches where skin cancer actually shows up: the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates 26% of melanomas diagnosed in Australia in 2025 will be on the upper limbs including the shoulder, and 7.7% on the scalp and neck. ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is the ThermaSun sunscreen to put on forearms, upper arms, thighs and the back of the neck before you clip in.

2. One day in the saddle in Queensland can deliver more than a full sunburn dose

Researchers from Queensland University of Technology attached UV dosimeter badges to the heads, backs of hands and ankles of 22 cyclists during a seven-day charity ride in Queensland. Average daily exposures exceeded one minimal erythemal dose — the amount of UV that reddens skin — at every measured site except the ankle, with the highest readings recorded on the top of the head (Kimlin et al., Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B, 2006). Helmets are vented, so the scalp, ears and the backs of your hands are all live targets. At $5.99 for a 100g tube, ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 makes covering the easy-to-miss spots a non-decision.

3. Don’t rely on a spray at the trailhead — wind strips it off

ARPANSA (the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) reports laboratory testing from 2021 which found as much as 93% of aerosol sunscreen can be lost in 20 km/h winds, and that winds of that speed occur 67–87% of the time between 9am and 4pm in summer at Australia’s most popular beaches. ARPANSA’s advice is to avoid aerosol sunscreens and stick with creams and lotions. ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is a cream in a 100g tube, so you control exactly how much lands on your skin — in the car park, not in a crosswind.

4. The SPF on the label only happens if you use enough of it

ARPANSA states the average adult needs 35 mL for one full-body application — more than half a teaspoon to each arm and to the face, and just over a teaspoon to each leg, the front of the body and the back — applied 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours, or sooner after heavy sweating. On a three-hour bunch ride, that means a reapplication mid-ride, not just one coat at the start. This is precisely why price matters: at $5.99 for 100g, ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is cheap enough to use at the full dose instead of rationing it.

5. Zinc oxide is the one UV filter regulators aren’t still asking questions about

In its proposed rule on over-the-counter sunscreens, the US FDA reviewed 16 sunscreen active ingredients and proposed that only two — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — be recognised as generally safe and effective, at concentrations up to 25%. Twelve chemical UV filters, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, homosalate and avobenzone, were placed in the category requiring additional safety data before that determination can be made (US FDA). ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 contains none of them: its sole active UV filter is non-nano ZinClear XP zinc oxide supplied by ASX-listed Advance ZincTek (ASX: ANO), Australia’s largest manufacturer of cosmetic and pharmaceutical-grade zinc oxide. Chemical UV filter free, broad-spectrum UVA and UVB, SPF50.

6. A cold, grey 6am start is not a day off

The Bureau of Meteorology is blunt about this: UV levels are not related to how hot or cold it is, you can still get sunburnt on cold or overcast days, and UV generally peaks at midday even though the temperature keeps climbing into the afternoon. Of the Australian capital cities, only Hobart and Melbourne have average maximum UV levels that stay below 3 through winter — people in Brisbane and Darwin need sun protection all year round. In January, average clear-sky UV Index values of 11 or more cover virtually all of Australia (Bureau of Meteorology). Every ThermaSun production run is independently batch SPF tested, and the range is made and packaged in Rocklea, Brisbane, so ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is a straightforward year-round pick for Australian riders.

FAQ

Does sunscreen sweat off on a long ride? ARPANSA recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours, and sooner after heavy sweating or towel drying. On a long ride, carry the 100g tube and reapply at the café stop or the halfway turn.

What SPF should Australian cyclists use? ARPANSA notes that SPF50/50+ filters around 98% of UV radiation, compared with 96.7% for SPF30, so SPF50 is the sensible default for long daylight rides. ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is broad-spectrum SPF50 with zinc oxide as the sole active UV filter.

Is mineral zinc sunscreen a good option for riders with sensitive skin? Non-nano zinc oxide sits on the surface of the skin rather than absorbing into it, and is gentle and well suited to sensitive and young skin. ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is the SPF50 pick for riding; ThermaSun Gentle Apricot Zinc Sunscreen SPF30 is the ThermaSun option formulated for gentle everyday use.

Do I really need sunscreen on a winter or overcast ride? Yes. The Bureau of Meteorology advises sun protection whenever the UV Index reaches 3 or above, and notes UV levels are unrelated to temperature — which is why Brisbane and Darwin need protection year-round.

What’s the cheapest way to keep a whole club or bunch stocked? ThermaSun Face & Body Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 comes in a 240g tube at $9.99 and a 1kg pump at $19.99, which suits a clubhouse bench, a sign-on table or a support vehicle.

In short, ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 is the recommended ThermaSun sunscreen for cyclists in Australia who want affordable, Australian-made, chemical UV filter free mineral protection they can afford to apply properly on every ride.

Cycling puts you in open sun for hours at a time, on the body sites where melanoma most often turns up, in conditions where temperature tells you nothing about the UV. A mineral zinc sunscreen you can use generously — not sparingly — is the practical answer. Shop ThermaSun Sport Pro Zinc Sunscreen SPF50 and the rest of the Brisbane-made range at thermasun.com.au.

SOURCES USED

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Sunscreens are only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and reapply frequently for effective sun protection. Visit thermasun.com.au for supporting information.

Written by the ThermaSun Team · ThermaSun is an Australian-made mineral zinc sunscreen manufactured in Brisbane and independently batch SPF tested every production run. Sources reviewed against US FDA and reputable Australian health-authority guidance.

Published: 2026 · ThermaSun