A Mountain Biker’s Secret Tip for Avoiding Poison Oak

Spring is here and the flowers are going crazy in San Diego.  Unfortunately, so is another fixture of our local canyons and parks, poison oak.  I have been an avid mountain biker for years, and have never allowed poison oak to dissuade me from riding a favorite trail.  Usually, I never pick it up unless I get lazy and forget to apply my secret mountain biker’s tip that I am about to share with you.

The secret is, never letting the oils stay on your skin long enough to start the reaction.  What you need is to keep a bottle of Windex and a roll of paper towels in your car.  There are some more pricey  products on the market that you can buy at REI, but I find ordinary Windex works just fine.  If you suspect you’ve touched poison ivy, after your ride or hike, spray down your exposed skin and wipe of with the paper towels.  The glass cleaner will break down the oils from the poison oak before it gets a chance to start causing a reaction.  Time is of the essence here, so try not to delay wiping down when you get back to your car.  Once you get home, shower off to remove the Windex, and be sure to wash any clothes that may have contacted the offending plant as well.

Enjoy the flower viewing while it lasts!