Shaving legs..

dahat

I'm sure this has been done to death but as I'm new to cycling it's all new to me.

Have a fairly good coverage without being too wild on the pins but as i have never shaved em before I'm iffy about it. I'm qjite likely to be in a big group spin Sunday and it looks like shorts weather so have tp make a decision either way.

Is it just cycling etiquette to do it?

Mycroft H

dahat wrote: »

I'm sure this has been done to death but as I'm new to cycling it's all new to me.

Have a fairly good coverage without being too wild on the pins but as i have never shaved em before I'm iffy about it. I'm qjite likely to be in a big group spin Sunday and it looks like shorts weather so have tp make a decision either way.

Is it just cycling etiquette to do it?

Pretty much etiquette. Helps if you fall and get a bad abrasion on your legs, cleans easier supposedly.

Though, I'm in the can't be bothered brigade. Hair's there for a reason.

Alek

Its up to you. I don't shave. If anyone does not like this, its their problem.

endacl

There's no point in shaving your legs unless you're a pro rider who wants to look like the other pro riders who shaved their legs because that's what pro riders do.

dahat

Well i aint a pro or a racer of any sort but wary of being the only hairy muppet in the group.

jethrothe2nd

Maybe it's just me but I couldn't give a flying monkeys wanger whether someone shaves their legs or not. I'd be more interested in the bikes than how hairy it's owners legs are

dahat

jethrothe2nd wrote: »

Maybe it's just me but I couldn't give a flying monkeys wanger whether someone shaves their legs or not. I'd be more interested in the bikes than how hairy it's owners legs are

A very fair point but being a newbie i was just wondering.

runnerholic

Don't do it. As it grows back it gets very itchy and you get into a situation where you have to do it for years after you stop cycling just to get rid of the itch. That's what happened to me anyway.

Plastik

LOL! I heard it grows back but twice as long as before and actually can end up hanging out the end of jeans.

Eamonnator

Rule #33 applies.

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#33

No exceptions.
So, get that razor out.

And if you don't like those rules, here's another set.
Rule #4 applies here

https://eurocyclist.wordpress.com/about/

equivariant

Just shave them. You will have self respect, the respect of your club mates and you will go faster. Make sure that you shave high enough up the leg aswell (ie all the way up) - nothing worse than hair sticking out from under the shorts, ruining an otherwise well presented rider.

dahat

equivariant wrote: »

Just shave them. You will have self respect, the respect of your club mates and you will go faster. Make sure that you shave high enough up the leg aswell (ie all the way up) - nothing worse than hair sticking out from under the shorts, ruining an otherwise well presented rider.

Not so sure about go faster!

dragratchet

Racing groups are more likely to have the legs shaved, sportif/general cycling groups would be more of a mix i reckon. its always been a racing thing that has filtered down to others. i do it personally but i wouldn't feel in any way awkward about rolling up to any group with it not done.

equivariant

dahat wrote: »

Not so sure about go faster!

Definite speed advantage. Nothing to do with aero mind you. Its more psychological - you will feel faster and therefore go faster

iwillhtfu

Absolutely no need to shave your legs unless you're into that sort of thing.

As for the argument it helps if you fall. I've taken a fall numerous times and other than the hair being a pain in the arse as rash dries I fail to see the benefit. If anything I now have bald patches on legs from falling

My opinion but I think it looks a bit sad on anyone other than pro riders and elite athletes. There'll be a million who disagree so it comes down to personal opinion but either way there is little benefit to shaving your legs.

sullivlo

I'm female and barely remember to shave my legs in the summer for cycles.

Yes, if I fall and get a graze, it would be easier to have it hairless. But in all honesty, who would have the time or energy to care how others legs look?

On a club spin last year one of the girls commented how she had hairier legs than her husband. Everyone laughed and got back to cycling. Nobody gives a toss.

Do whatever you feel best.

OleRodrigo

It's in the rules. Therefore, the matter has been settled.

Leroy42

What would Jesus do?

endacl

What would Lance do?






******runs away.......

Unknown Soldier

Apparently it is one of the most "aero" thing you can do, better than Aero wheels, helmets etc.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/shaving-your-legs-makes-you-faster-41658/

I'll stick with leg warmers covers

killalanerr

Comes up very year about this time , Get over your Irish macho man stuff and get the razor out ,

Hairy legs and lycra just don't mix

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Shave your legs if you're that interested in pleasing people who probably don't give a damn.

As for going faster and being "respected" utter nonsense.

OleRodrigo

Hadassah Wooden Comedy wrote: »

Shave your legs if you're that interested in pleasing people who probably don't give a damn.

As for going faster and being "respected" utter nonsense.

killalanerr

Nothing looks worst than a bunch of hairy legged A4s bumping into each other on a sunday morning :P

harringtonp

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Apparently it is one of the most "aero" thing you can do, better than Aero wheels, helmets etc.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/shaving-your-legs-makes-you-faster-41658/

I'll stick with leg warmers covers

This reason is the only reason why I shave beginning of the season and keep it short to September or so. Some may think its gobbledegook but I believe it.

dahat

Guess for those racing its pretty normal but for those of us who are called weekend warriors its debatable..

Still undecided...

Eamonnator

Hadassah Wooden Comedy wrote: »

Shave your legs if you're that interested in pleasing people who probably don't give a damn.

As for going faster and being "respected" utter nonsense.

Do you not realise, that you could shave almost 5 minutes off your Ring of Kerry time?

calistro

I'm still undecided so have just gone with one shaved leg and one hairy until the debate is finally settled.

Carawaystick

killalanerr wrote: »

Comes up very year about this time , Get over your Irish macho man stuff and get the razor out ,

Hairy legs and lycra just don't mix

You could follow Peter Sagan and just not care what people think.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/shortcuts/2016/mar/14/cycling-scandal-unshaved-legs-peter-sagan-hairy

Eamonnator

Carawaystick wrote: »

You could follow Peter Sagan and just not care what people think.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/shortcuts/2016/mar/14/cycling-scandal-unshaved-legs-peter-sagan-hairy

How many races has Sagan won, since he stopped shaving his legs?
Also,if you can read to the end of the article, Sagan says he now has time to shave his legs.

killalanerr

Carawaystick wrote: »

You could follow Peter Sagan and just not care what people think.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/shortcuts/2016/mar/14/cycling-scandal-unshaved-legs-peter-sagan-hairy

If you can ride like Peter you don't have to care , lads just get the moths razor and get on with it

iwillhtfu

Eamonnator wrote: »

How many races has Sagan won, since he stopped shaving his legs?
Also,if you can read to the end of the article, Sagan says he now has time to shave his legs.

Shaved them for his last race. How did that go for him

Eamonnator

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Shaved them for his last race. How did that go for him

He was a much better person.

crosstownk

Shaving would just make my milk bottle legs look even whiter - especially at this time of year. I'll have to wait until I have serious tan lines - in this country that'll be a long, long time.

Maybe I could use some of Mrs. crosstownk's 'tan in a can' - but that would be cheating.

crosstownk

Shaving would just make my milk bottle legs look even whiter - especially at this time of year. I'll have to wait until I have serious tan lines - in this country that'll be a long, long time.

Maybe I could use some of Mrs. crosstownk's 'tan in a can' - but that would be cheating.

ford2600

OP on your first club spin, you'd probably be well advised to trying to get around safely; put your energy into learning the etiquette of how to ride in a group.

Shave your legs or not, don't be taking sh1te from anyone on your first day. Enjoy your plenty strong for any club spin

BTW I came down Mellary today, it's an awful descent to be going for a KOM on; it's really narrow and steep with a fair bit of jeep traffic. If your going to do it make sure it doesn't coincide with some Jesus freak crew on the way to/from monastery.

doozerie

Shaving legs is essential when riding in a group, otherwise hairy riders' legs will stick together like velcro when they get too close.

You could be stuck there together like that for days, the Shearing Rescue Team are invariably working 24 hours a day at this time of year as the GAA yetis dispense with their winter tracksuit legs and entire teams find themselves balled up together like cranky wool.

OleRodrigo

Recent research has shown that the propensity to have bibs with a see-through arse is directly proportional to the length of leg hair. FACT.

doozerie

Personally I chose not to shave my legs for many years. It's not that there was any pressure to actually shave them that I resisted - I've yet to meet anyone that felt such pressure from any source other than themselves - I just couldn't see the point and, more importantly, I couldn't be arsed really. I find shaving my face a hassle, the main reason that I cut my (head) hair so short is so that I don't have to fight "bed hair" every morning, etc., imposing a regular care routine on myself for my leg hair held no appeal at all.

But the final straw was a sunny summer ride. I coated my legs in sun cream before setting off and by the time I got back I was human fly paper. I decided that it would take less time to de-fuzz my legs regularly than to regularly wash out all the bugs stuck to the hair. I didn't actually shave them though, I used Veet instead, treacherous stuff in the shower (more slippery than a slippery thing when it gets between feet and shower tray) but it does a great job. I emerged from the shower a nervous wreck but convinced of the benefits of hairless legs. They just feel great, and it's suddenly like having air conditioning built in when riding in shorts on a warm day.

Veet didn't lead to much, if any, itchyness for me as the hair started to grow back. Shaving them, which I've done on occasion since, tends to aggravate my skin a little sometimes. I haven't de-haired them in ages at this stage, I'm long overdue donning some body armour and bringing Veet into the shower with me again.

Jan Laco

Would a beard make the same difference. When I see cyclists with full hipster beards together with lycra and I just think what's the point?

Alek

full hipster beards together with lycra and I just think what's the point

In what way one is against the other?

dahat

ford2600 wrote: »

OP on your first club spin, you'd probably be well advised to trying to get around safely; put your energy into learning the etiquette of how to ride in a group.

Shave your legs or not, don't be taking sh1te from anyone on your first day. Enjoy your plenty strong for any club spin

BTW I came down Mellary today, it's an awful descent to be going for a KOM on; it's really narrow and steep with a fair bit of jeep traffic. If your going to do it make sure it doesn't coincide with some Jesus freak crew on the way to/from monastery.

Nasty old descent so maybe best left where it is really. Still proud of my 4th overall though.

I think i will leave them as is and see how it goes. Learn road amd group etiquette first should be the main aim at this point.

68 lost souls

Jan Laco wrote: »

Would a beard make the same difference. When I see cyclists with full hipster beards together with lycra and I just think what's the point?

Less than 1 second over 40km http://road.cc/content/tech-news/119553-video-beard-or-not-beard

dahat

Jan Laco wrote: »

Would a beard make the same difference. When I see cyclists with full hipster beards together with lycra and I just think what's the point?

Beard stays! Im bald as **** n love my facial fuzz.

Wishbone Ash

Jan Laco wrote: »

Would a beard make the same difference. When I see cyclists with full hipster beards together with lycra and I just think what's the point?

...or shaved legs with excessively hairy arms!

stecleary

Lads it's 2016 and we are all talking about shaving our legs.... What has man become....down the stone age tools and pickup the veet. 10 min and job done. I once spent 45 shaving my legs, never again.

stecleary

Oh and on where to stop, it's to the hip baby!

inc21

Eamonnator

stecleary wrote: »

Lads it's 2016 and we are all talking about shaving our legs.... What has man become....down the stone age tools and pickup the veet. 10 min and job done. I once spent 45 shaving my legs, never again.

If you're thinking of using Veet on your legs, read some the reviews in the attached link. And be very careful about how high you go.

http://www.amazon.com/Veet-Hair-Removal-Creme-200ml/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK

Lusk_Doyle

stecleary wrote: »

Lads it's 2016 and we are all talking about shaving our legs.... What has man become....down the stone age tools and pickup the veet. 10 min and job done. I once spent 45 shaving my legs, never again.

Have not done mine in over 7 months. Should be quite the event when I prepare myself for re-entry into the cycling season.

Lusk_Doyle

Eamonnator wrote: »

If you're thinking of using Veet on your legs, read some the reviews in the attached link. And be very careful about how high you go.

http://www.amazon.com/Veet-Hair-Removal-Creme-200ml/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK

Some people are just so stupid.