I race, I train hard. I shave. As I type this I have a week of growth on my face and like 14 days on my legs.... I'm on an off week right now, so I'm letting it grow a little past the stubby stage. It makes shaving harder the next time, but I feel it helps the skin and prevents ingrown hairs. I dunno. Its also laziness... Right after xmas I start training full-on again so i'll be shaving them again then. Here are my reasons:
*Shows you as part of the "club"
*Road Rash
*Sweat Evaporation
*Looks
*My girlfriend is on the women's counterpart of my team - she likes it.
*Lycra is more comfortable.
Not in that order... Primarily its for the Lyrca. If i'm hairy, the hair tends to poke through shorts (esp cheap ones) and leg warmers. It doesn't hurt at first, but after you move around a bit the hair sticks out of te lycra and then every time your muscles flex or move it rips on the hair. Not fun.
Someone earlier noted that shavers are in the minority. Thats true, but even I'll admit shaving isn't really required unless you are a roadie racer. Not just a rec cyclist, you probably aren't going to fall on a comfortable ride, but on a fast group ride you could. SO it is not worth it for those people. (unless your hair is like mine with the lyrca - about 30% of people I know that shave do it for that reason, the others aren't bothered by it). The question is, of all the people who shave or don't in this poll how many non road racers are there? I've seen quite a few mountain bikers reply as well as non racers, and non racers tend to outnumber racers on this board - THAT is why shaving is the minority. If you are serious about racing and winning, chances are VERY, VERY good that you shave (I would say even Men's C in NCCA 90% of guys shave). I don't care if people don't though, one of the best riders on my team only shaves before races, so far I've only seen him as a hairy beast... LOL - he kicks my ass though.
*Shows you as part of the "club"
*Road Rash
*Sweat Evaporation
*Looks
*My girlfriend is on the women's counterpart of my team - she likes it.
*Lycra is more comfortable.
Not in that order... Primarily its for the Lyrca. If i'm hairy, the hair tends to poke through shorts (esp cheap ones) and leg warmers. It doesn't hurt at first, but after you move around a bit the hair sticks out of te lycra and then every time your muscles flex or move it rips on the hair. Not fun.
Someone earlier noted that shavers are in the minority. Thats true, but even I'll admit shaving isn't really required unless you are a roadie racer. Not just a rec cyclist, you probably aren't going to fall on a comfortable ride, but on a fast group ride you could. SO it is not worth it for those people. (unless your hair is like mine with the lyrca - about 30% of people I know that shave do it for that reason, the others aren't bothered by it). The question is, of all the people who shave or don't in this poll how many non road racers are there? I've seen quite a few mountain bikers reply as well as non racers, and non racers tend to outnumber racers on this board - THAT is why shaving is the minority. If you are serious about racing and winning, chances are VERY, VERY good that you shave (I would say even Men's C in NCCA 90% of guys shave). I don't care if people don't though, one of the best riders on my team only shaves before races, so far I've only seen him as a hairy beast... LOL - he kicks my ass though.
