Sunstrike - any tips??

[Leong]

Coming back from Maraetai a bit later than usual yesterday, had a bit of hayfever, slightly watery eyes, then extreme sunstrike as well. Not good!! Apart from not being able to see, I got very tired, very quickly...

A search here brought up one title where a rider passed away after an accident attributed to sunstrike, during a group ride.

I found it easier to see with the visor up. Unlike a car there's no sunvisor and I can't really ride one handed for long. Also, I also felt uneasy about possibly being hit from behind by a cage who couldn't see me (because of the sunstrike), if I slowed down too much!

Any tips?? eg would a tinted visor help?, apart from avoiding this time of the day....

[MSTRS:Me]

Tinted visor *may* help. Be aware tho that as darkness falls, with a tinted visor you will lose the ability to see at all. Sure, you can lift it but then eyes are exposed to dust & bugs (which are often thick in the air around dusk. Sunstrike is made worse by a scratched visor, so replace the one you are using if it is scratched. Some of these scratches are probably very fine and hard to see except at certain angles etc - caused by wiping the visor with abrasive material (glove, tissue paper....).
I had a peak on my FFM as well as the visor - just duck your head a little to block the sun. Make some inquiries at your bike shop.

[madboy]

I don't recommend slowing down to much, for exactly that reason you gave. But in saying that, I don't recommend plowing along at a billion miles an hour when you can't see either!!

I run a tinted visor during daylight (a real dark black tint) and it seems to do the trick. Since I wear glasses, I don't really have the option of sunglasses. I've often wondered about a bit of duct tape across the top of the visor to give you a sorta sunvisor effect. Then by tilting your head you could still see ahead but block the sun. Never tried it though. I'm not sure though if you leave the duct tape on for days on end, that it would leave traces, or would that clean off??

[Cibby]

You should ask Dover about this.


oh wait.. perhaps not....

[Leong]

Yes, I wear glasses too, and while it may help keep the bugs and dust out sometimes, it's also another surface for the light to bounce/reflect(or whatever) off.

[The_Dover]

Yeah, just grab a handful of the right lever and make like Superman, you'll fly home.

[Leong]

I saw that Dover has read this thread.... is this what caused his recent *****

[Drum]

I just try to duck my head down as much as I can and look through the top of my eyelids (shading face with forehead of helmet). Wouldnt want to have to do it for 100's of k's but OK for short distances. Tinted visor helps a bit, but doesnt solve the problem.
I find the worst is when you are suffering from sunstrike and heading towards a shady corner - just cant see that corner at all! I usually slow down some (checking rear view mirrors of course).

[crashe]

Put 2 inch Black Duct tape right along the top outside of your visor.

I have this on my visor and then when I have the visor down when riding into the sun.... I just tilt my head slightly forward.. and have no trouble seeing.

A really cheap way to block out the sun's glares.

[Motu]

My helmets have a peak - just drop and tilt your head to block the sun with the peak - like a sunvisor in a car.

[bugjuice]

best thing is to get used to the sun. Stare at it for as long as you can, then your pupils will go tiny, which are nature's sunglasses. Then when you look at everything on the road, your eyes will be used to the bright sun, so everything will go dark and you can see the road again..
When you need to open your pupils after the ride home, I've found these mushrooms growing out the back in my neighbours garden (he's really private about his stuff), that makes your pupils open really huge, which will make them relax after being so tiny staring at the sun. He's getting low tho (and annoyed for some reason), so let me know before you come round, so I don't eat them all first.

[Robbo]

My Open Face Helmet has a visor so that works well. On my Full Face Helmet i removed the visor and painted a satin black strip at the top and on the inside. Just masked it out and used a quick drying spray can.
This works extremely well as all you need to do is tilt your head down slightly when riding into the sun.
I lost a collegue earlier this year when he was blinded by sudden sunstrike and had a fatal
crash on his bike, so i know how dangerous it can be. I don't even think a Tinted visor would shield you as it needs to be totally blocked out.
Hope this helps.

Cheers

Robbo

[Zapf]

just use your helmet to block the sun... and tilt your head down.

[Leong]

I'll try the duct tape trick - will experiment with the position/thickness, and maybe paint it on later. Just tilting my head down wasn't enough.

Thanks for the replies.

[ajturbo]

i fined going faster helps... you get out of the sun-strike quicker.... or my other favourate one... turn around and go the long way home...