Proud of my funky tan

Triathlon Forum
1

Hi gang!

Lately, I’ve heard a few comments about my tan. I have that funky looking bike rider tan. I’ve got white feet but dark legs. There’s that dramatic tan line just above the knee that makes most folks suggest I sign up at the local tanning salon.

But more striking and I suppose disturbing to anyone who is even remotely style-conscious is that profound white band around my wrist where my watch is when I’m out bike riding.

Those tan-line imbalances along with my ebony-ivory tan line on my biceps are glaring and I guess nerdy indicators that this man is much more serious about putting in long hours on the bike than he is with his epidermal appearance…

I admit that I’m guilty on all counts… But damn I’m proud of it! For those who know me, you realize that those funky aspects of my appearance are in someways like the red badge of courage…

Every time I view those imperfections, I get giddy because I know what they really mean… They are bona fide evidence that this man has finally made it through the storm…keeping afloat after fighting chronic illness for almost 10 years…

My friends have made some good suggestions…buy some instant tan…go to the tanning salon to even things out…

Good ideas, but I just don’t think I can do that… To me it would be like taking your kid’s A+ report card and painting over it with a dull even color…

2

I have the same tan and I love it! I got some major burns though at IMC this year because I wore a sleeveless tri suit and missed a few spots with the suncreen. I get real funny looks when I go to the pool.

3

Two suggestions if you want to loose the funky tan:

  1. Use sunscreen. The numbers of deeply tanned triathletes is a bit disturbing. All that sun exposure can’t be good for the skin over the long term.

  2. Go to a nude beach. Of course, this goes against point number one, but it will get rid of the funky tan lines.

Fleck

4

A sleeveless jersey would take care of at least the biceps tan line…

I don’t wear a watch when I’m riding – you could wrap yours on the handlebar.

Or you could just continue to do exactly what you’re doing and wear your tan, just as it is, with pride.