Time to Shave the legs?

Reality_Check1 · 03-05-2021 1:32pm #1

Ive looked through some old threads on this and there were mixed opinions on it but the last one was 5 years ago. I'm new to cycling and have never shaved my legs. With the summer coming along is it time to get the Veet / razor out?

Do you shave your legs or not and what are your reasons for doing so?

homer911 · 03-05-2021 1:42pm

I'm guessing you are a bloke..

Biker79 · 03-05-2021 1:47pm

Eh no

100% shave your legs.

Otherwise forever be branded a Fred.

Reality_Check1 · 03-05-2021 1:52pm

Eh no

homer911 wrote: »

I'm guessing you are a bloke..

Yes should have stated that

koutoubia · 03-05-2021 2:11pm

Eh no

Biker79 wrote: »

100% shave your legs.

Otherwise forever be branded a Fred.

A Fred with shaved legs is far more acceptable then a Fred with hairy legs!

byrnem31 · 03-05-2021 2:19pm

Not a hope I would.
A pro was discussing it before and said if you come off the bike, it's easier to treat the wound. Other than that, I see no reason why any man would shave their legs.

secman · 03-05-2021 2:22pm

I'm lucky enough to not have any hairs on my legs at all, used to have to shave about 20 years ago but haven't had to for about 10 years now

.
Mates always forget and as soon as shorts come out they usually comment that i shaved. No cuts no nada

Beasty · 03-05-2021 2:28pm

koutoubia wrote: »

A Fred with shaved legs is far more acceptable then a Fred with hairy legs!

I really do not care - it's not happening with this Fred

Reality_Check1 · 03-05-2021 2:31pm

Eh no

Beasty wrote: »

I really do not care - it's not happening with this Fred

I feel bad for asking but what is a Fred? I feel like asking makes me one

fat bloke · 03-05-2021 2:35pm

I rarely bother anymore. I used to alright for the small bit of racing I used to do but now I find I'm so rarely out without leg warmers I couldn't be ar$Ed with the clammy itchiness and the ingrowing hairs. If you've some killer calf definition and tan easily it's worth it but otherwise...

CramCycle · 03-05-2021 3:01pm

For the time and effort, no, for nearly all of us there is no risk to not doing it and no real benefit to it.

magicbastarder · 03-05-2021 3:05pm

have never tried it, never contemplated it. only reason i can think would make it worth it was if i was afraid of getting road rash.

Wishbone Ash · 03-05-2021 3:19pm

Reality_Check1 wrote: »

I feel bad for asking but what is a Fred? I feel like asking makes me one

Take the Sticky Bottle test:

https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/cycling-fred-bingo-card/

[Deleted User] · 03-05-2021 3:25pm

I always thought that the pros only do it to make massages easier

I don't even shave my face let alone any other part of me.

Biker79 · 03-05-2021 3:34pm

Eh no

koutoubia wrote: »

A Fred with shaved legs is far more acceptable then a Fred with hairy legs!

Correct. Points are awarded for a dignified effort.

Sock height can also mitigate against poorly maintained guns. Not by much though.

You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear ( ..or something like that ).

breezy1985 · 03-05-2021 3:36pm

Eh no

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Take the Sticky Bottle test:

https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/cycling-fred-bingo-card/

I have Fred feet. I think I'm in the clear for the rest

As much as I would love clipless for my long spins I use it for commuting way more so the basic pedals stay

Reality_Check1 · 03-05-2021 4:01pm

Eh no

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Take the Sticky Bottle test:

https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/cycling-fred-bingo-card/

Thought I was in the clear but I would be susceptible to the odd coffee and cake stop on shorter rides :pac:

ednwireland · 03-05-2021 4:51pm

question is where do you stop ?

breezy1985 · 03-05-2021 4:54pm

Eh no

ednwireland wrote: »

question is where do you stop ?

At the silk purse like Biker79 said above

cletus · 03-05-2021 4:59pm

It doesn't look like I'm a Fred from the sticky bottle website, but I don't shave my legs, I wear ankle socks when cycling, I take pictures of the non drive side of the bike, I measure distance in miles...

There are studies that suggest a saving of between 40 and 90 seconds over 40km by simply shaving your legs. I don't need to save that sort of time.

The massage thing baffles me too. I have particularly hairy legs, and have had leg massages in the past. Once the massage therapist is using enough oil, it's not an issue.

magicbastarder · 03-05-2021 5:02pm

my beard has gotten long enough that i can now feel a slight drag on my face when going at speed.

corelokttikka · 03-05-2021 5:06pm

I’m still in bib tights however I did a rough shave electrically as when I was getting a massage the hairs we’re getting ripped out so getting legs massaged much better without hairy legs.

breezy1985 · 03-05-2021 5:13pm

Eh no

cletus wrote: »

It doesn't look like I'm a Fred from the sticky bottle website, but I don't shave my legs, I wear ankle socks when cycling, I take pictures of the non drive side of the bike, I measure distance in miles...

There are studies that suggest a saving of between 40 and 90 seconds over 40km by simply shaving your legs. I don't need to save that sort of time.

The massage thing baffles me too. I have particularly hairy legs, and have had leg massages in the past. Once the massage therapist is using enough oil, it's not an issue.

Many of the rules are just a bit of fun and I wouldn't worry too much.

But ankle socks are an absolute sin and have no place near a bike

cletus · 03-05-2021 5:27pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

Many of the rules are just a bit of fun and I wouldn't worry too much.

But ankle socks are an absolute sin and have no place near a bike

If I'm wearing shorts on the bike, then I'm wearing ankle socks. Sometimes they're so low, it looks like I'm not wearing socks at all

[Deleted User] · 03-05-2021 5:29pm

All of my socks on or off the bike getting into this time of year when I'll be in some kind of shorts all the time are ankle socks.

I've the added benefit from being out of long socks and trousers of the hair on my lower claves growing back

breezy1985 · 03-05-2021 5:41pm

Eh no

Ye are all evil

daragh_ · 03-05-2021 6:28pm

Eh no

Standards on this Forum have gone off a cliff. Time was you would get PermaBanned for suggesting you didn't need shaved legs at all times.

07Lapierre · 03-05-2021 6:34pm

Eh no

Shave legs? Yes

Fake tan? No that’s a step too far!

TheBlaaMan · 03-05-2021 7:39pm

Eh no

Tan easily
Use to shave * - loved the feeling!
Didn't do so in past 2 summers
Thinking of doing so again **
......but might not bother if it looks like I won't get away out foreign this summer

* used to wet shave, ultra cool, but too much trouble and itches like a bitch after 2-3 days so resorted to a trim back to <1mm stubble with a lecky razor and then refreshed every week/10 days;

* keeping it to hair shorts - she fcukin' hates that though

EDIT:
And as for ankle socks?
....get in to the sea with ye!

magicbastarder · 03-05-2021 8:38pm

i actually don't know what people mean by ankle socks - socks that only come up to the ankle? or ones that go a few inches above it?

breezy1985 · 03-05-2021 8:52pm

Eh no

magicbastarder wrote: »

i actually don't know what people mean by ankle socks - socks that only come up to the ankle? or ones that go a few inches above it?

They show off your ankle. It's the kind of shameful muck that triathletes would wear

Time to Shave the legs?

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