Legs and shaving...

Fender76 · 03-09-2010 11:15AM #1

So my wife asked me last night why cyclists shave their legs.... and you know what, I couldn't give her a convincing answer..... dammit :mad:.

Why do cylcists shave their legs...?

niceonetom · 03-09-2010 11:16AM

For the same reason that golfists wear terrible jumpers - it's just part of the culture.

Raam · 03-09-2010 11:18AM

My sports massage this morning reminded me why I do it. Ah, no hair pulls

Also, it looks better on the bike.

ednwireland · 03-09-2010 11:25AM

pro cyclist get a massage twice a day (i think) when racing, having had a massage last week i am tempted (also it makes cleaning road rash easier)

DirkVoodoo · 03-09-2010 11:30AM

It looks and feels better. But it's a lot of work and I find it time consuming enough to shave my face so it will be growing back over the winter.

Here are what I think are the top 5 reasons to shave.

Crashes
If you crash, it’s easier to clean up the road rash and doesn’t hurt as much taking off bandages. I say at least for mountain biking, if you never crash you aren’t riding fast enough or riding technical enough trails. Even if you just ride on the road, if you ride enough you’re bound to go down.

Tradition
Road cyclists have been shaving their legs for decades. If you you show up for a serious group ride with unshaven legs, other riders will shun you. Nobody will want to be riding close to you. They will think you aren’t experienced riding in a pack. This means you’ll likely cause a crash. Even mountain bikers should be using group road rides for training. Pro mountain bikers spend about 70% of their time training on the road.

Psychological Advantage
I generally end up shaving my legs about the time I start getting fast on the bike. Having my legs shaved makes me feel even faster. Other riders I know have said the same thing. Thinking you’re faster can make the difference between being dropped or dropping someone else.

It Feels Better
I’ve found that when it’s warm and I haven’t shaved my legs, I get more bugs hanging out and biting me. I also don’t like the feel of the wind on my hairy legs when descending at 50 mph. After a mountain bike race with mud bogs and and stream crossings, it’s no fun standing in the parking lot with only a little water and trying to clean mud off hairy legs.

I left massage out of that, I've had one massage in 4 years of cycling. Yes, I regret not having more now after seeing how great they are, but we don't get massaged to the same extent the pros do.

bcmf · 03-09-2010 12:09PM

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I find it time consuming enough to shave my face so it will be growing back over the winter.

You gonna be growing a beard for the colder months?

alfalad · 03-09-2010 12:15PM

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I left massage out of that, I've had one massage in 4 years of cycling. Yes, I regret not having more now after seeing how great they are, but we don't get massaged to the same extent the pros do.

Where did you go for the massage? Is there anywhere good in town?

DirkVoodoo · 03-09-2010 12:22PM

alfalad wrote: »

Where did you go for the massage? Is there anywhere good in town?

It was after the SK, I got a card in the door a week or so ago offering a mobile massage service though. I was very skeptical about the benefits of massage but honestly I felt like I could have done another 160km after having it. Legs felt really, really good.

@bcmf: Might be handy to have a face warmer but any attempts I have made previously to grow one have ended with frustration and a lot of scratching. I suppose it would complete the winter look though, will have to consult the euro police.

bcmf · 03-09-2010 12:59PM

a Dali-esque style growth would be tres-euro.

Jawgap · 03-09-2010 01:11PM

Fender76 wrote: »

So my wife asked me last night why cyclists shave their legs.... and you know what, I couldn't give her a convincing answer..... dammit :mad:.

Why do cylcists shave their legs...?

for the same reason she does - to attract admiring glances from other men!!:D:D:D

tunney · 03-09-2010 01:38PM

Fender76 wrote: »

So my wife asked me last night why cyclists shave their legs.... and you know what, I couldn't give her a convincing answer..... dammit :mad:.

Why do cylcists shave their legs...?

Why do women shave or wax their.............

Cause it looks good and feels better

AstraMonti · 03-09-2010 02:26PM

Good article here, old but it doesn't really matter.

Chips Lovell · 03-09-2010 02:35PM

Chicks dig it.

Whats a derailleur? · 03-09-2010 04:28PM

I'd like to know where people shave to? A recent pub discussion (with a cyclist) proved futile....

DirkVoodoo · 03-09-2010 04:30PM

Whats a derailleur? wrote: »

I'd like to know where people shave to? A recent pub discussion (with a cyclist) proved futile....

How much time do you have and how much do you care are probably good answers.

EDIT: Oh wait, it's you! I can't remember what the answer was.

Chips Lovell · 03-09-2010 04:39PM

Whats a derailleur? wrote: »

I'd like to know where people shave to? A recent pub discussion (with a cyclist) proved futile....

Well I do know of one forum member who proudly announced some time ago that he shaves his arse and is prone to advising others that they should do the same.

Maybe you could get the ball rolling by telling us where you shave to?

niceonetom · 03-09-2010 04:43PM

el tonto wrote: »

Well I do know of one forum member who proudly announced some time ago that he shaves his arse and is prone to advising others that they should do the same.

Well, among his first words to us upon his arrival in Dungarvan were that you, very definitely don't and should. He didn't announce it so much as whisper it hoarsely in a what-has-been-seen-cannot-be-unseen kind of way.

Whats a derailleur? · 03-09-2010 04:45PM

el tonto wrote: »

Maybe you could get the ball rolling by telling us where you shave to?

To my knees - blonde hairs above the knees can stay there!

Chips Lovell · 03-09-2010 04:46PM

Whats a derailleur? wrote: »

To my knees - blonde hairs above the knees can stay there!

I do the entire leg. Hairy bermuda shorts is not a good look.

DirkVoodoo · 03-09-2010 04:48PM

Ahhhhhh, too much, too much!

godihatedehills · 03-09-2010 04:54PM

Whats a derailleur? wrote: »

To my knees - blonde hairs above the knees can stay there!

In fairness, when you're still wearing your lycra at 11pm the other occupants of the pub are less likely to notice how far you shave.....

Whats a derailleur? · 03-09-2010 05:03PM

godihatedehills wrote: »

In fairness, when you're still wearing your lycra at 11pm the other occupants of the pub are less likely to notice how far you shave.....

True, no one noticed a thing!!!

Guybrush T · 03-09-2010 07:16PM

Whats a derailleur? wrote: »

I'd like to know where people shave to? A recent pub discussion (with a cyclist) proved futile....

Just to up the TMI quotient of this thread, it's hairy boxer shorts for me, but no further.

dave2pvd · 04-09-2010 02:04AM

Guybrush T wrote: »

Just to up the TMI quotient of this thread, it's hairy boxer shorts for me, but no further.

OK, that's just weird. Hairshorts?? Why man, why??

I had a teammate who did this. Then one day he had a decent sized crash and ripped his bibs up fairly comprehensively. The EMT guys gave him an awful hard time about the hairshorts. Road rash and leg hair = not good.

That reminds me, I need to get up 10mins earlier tomorrow....

Guybrush T · 04-09-2010 11:39AM

dave2pvd wrote: »

OK, that's just weird. Hairshorts?? Why man, why??

I had a teammate who did this. Then one day he had a decent sized crash and ripped his bibs up fairly comprehensively. The EMT guys gave him an awful hard time about the hairshorts. Road rash and leg hair = not good.

That reminds me, I need to get up 10mins earlier tomorrow....

I think you're misreading, it's hairy boxer shorts, so near the top of the leg. Basically I refuse to shave my arse, that's just weird.

Lumen · 04-09-2010 11:47AM

Guybrush T wrote: »

I think you're misreading, it's hairy boxer shorts, so near the top of the leg. Basically I refuse to shave my arse, that's just weird.

Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.

dokter · 04-09-2010 12:55PM

Check the last picture from the tour of spain last Wed.
Who has the best legs.....
http://www.steephill.tv/2010/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-05/

dave2pvd · 04-09-2010 01:08PM

Guybrush T wrote: »

I think you're misreading, it's hairy boxer shorts, so near the top of the leg. Basically I refuse to shave my arse, that's just weird.

Just shave the whole leg, no? Why the shocking transition, hidden under the hem of your boxers? It's just not natural

I agree re arse-shaving - too difficult. And also too much potential for ingrowns there.

ROK ON · 04-09-2010 02:04PM

el tonto wrote: »

I do the entire leg. Hairy bermuda shorts is not a good look.

Guybrush T wrote: »

Just to up the TMI quotient of this thread, it's hairy boxer shorts for me, but no further.

I prefer the hairy thong look myself;).

caseyann · 04-09-2010 02:06PM

Because hair on the legs slows them down.

Bluefoam · 04-09-2010 04:39PM

Back, crack & sack...

Legs and shaving...

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