There is no faster or easier means of transport for getting from point A to B than a bicycle. It is efficient, does not require fuel, and it gives you a great workout as you travel. You will never get these benefits from a vehicle.
However, the same bicycle that is helping you burn calories could be exposing you to another danger: the ultraviolet rays! This is why you need to find a means to protect yourself against this in the form of a bicycle sun shade. Today, you can find such sun canopies in the online marketplaces. They will protect you from the rain and sun.
And why not? Vehicles have car window shades to block the UV rays from reaching the occupants. It is only fair that a bicycle has some means of protection too.
The bicycle sun shades come in different designs and materials. They do not add a lot of extra weight to your bicycle, but the drag will be higher.
How popular is the bicycle sun shade?
Unfortunately, this bicycle accessory is not very popular. Most people consider it an unnecessary bother, especially the ones that have complex attachment mechanisms. Hopefully, with more people across the west taking up cycling for health, these shades will become more popular.
The bicycle sun shades come in different designs, but the two most common ones are:
- The bubble-style canopy that protects against the sun, rain and wind
- The rectangular sun shade attached to a telescoping arm
Despite the bike sun shade looking like a new invention, it is not. Bicycle canopies have been around for a long time. The very first canopies were not designed with aerodynamics in mind. They were made for weather protection only.
Today’s sun shades come in excellent design, aerodynamic (not all) and are foldable for portability and storage.
If you don’t want to wear your rain cape or poncho whenever the weather turns, buy a good bicycle canopy. They come in different designs, such as the sunshade, designed to offer protection against the sun only. There is also the enclosed/bubble-design canopy that offers protection against the sun, the wind, and the rain.
