Shaved or unshaved?
- Thread starter firegooroo
- Start date
so it is kind of an expected thing for those who are dedicated to cycling (for most anyway) basically from what I am gathering, there is NO reason to do it other than for phsycologically or to "look the part"? I am a sucker for looking the part, so I guess I better stock up on my razors!
Well you'll hear a lot of 'reasons' but I don't buy most of them. I think most of the common reasons have been mentioned in this thread, but here's some that come to mind:bianchi10 said:
- Better in a crash either due to less damage, less risk of infection or easier time applying bandages. (not buyin' it)
- Easier to use massage oils for those regular post workout massages from your paid soigneur (yeah that applies to most of us!)
- More aerodynamic (doubtful and if anything very small impact relative to things like aero bars and position on bike, helmet, wheels, skinsuit...)
- Better 'acceptance' in the peloton (there might be some truth to this for beginners, but plenty of hairy legged guys get into the mix if they've got the power and bike handling skills to stay near the front)
Anyway, there's probably other 'reasons' but I expect for most it's either because it feels fast or because it's what the other racers are doing and the unspoken peer pressure is stronger than many folks like to admit.
-Dave
If nothing else your wife will find out what stubbley legs feel like when the hair starts to grow back....
With the amount of hair removal that goes on nowadays for both sexes I don't think shaved legs on men would be extremely unusual even for non-cyclists. Certainly plenty of bodybuilding and fitness types go for the legs and arms right after skinning the chest and stomach.
daveryanwyoming said:
You live in sunny climes, and substitute oil for sunscreen. How much fun is rubbing the 30+ into sasquatch legs.
alienator said:
I am just relieved that I have several thousand kilometres (none of that awful imperial measurement nonsense here) of briny water between you and I. My waking nightmare at the moment is having an accident, ending up in residential care and waking one day to find you on the shift.
I'd wager that day you would shave your legs so that you'd be slightly in character in the nurse's uniform.
I see a lot already covered but here is my $0.02
After a bad crash involving stitches I was converted. it is way easier to pull the tape off an injury with out the hair...I have a lot of it. Also easier to clean without the hair mixing in the scab/wound/gels. I had another injury where I had to scrub the injury 2X a day every day with a very stiff brush to remove any scabbing and let the wound heal from the outer edges in. It was a huge area, I can't imagine doing that with hair in place.
I get a massage every other week. Feels better sans hair and no pulling of the hair on a hard rub. I let it go in the winter and always wish I kept them shaved for the massage.
I do self massage after hard rides, same reasons as above.
But probably the biggest reason is that I am a poser just like the rest of you. You cannot discount the benefits of feeling like a serious cyclist. It surely won't save you any time, but feeling the part has to have some mental advantages...at least in my mind it does.
After a bad crash involving stitches I was converted. it is way easier to pull the tape off an injury with out the hair...I have a lot of it. Also easier to clean without the hair mixing in the scab/wound/gels. I had another injury where I had to scrub the injury 2X a day every day with a very stiff brush to remove any scabbing and let the wound heal from the outer edges in. It was a huge area, I can't imagine doing that with hair in place.
I get a massage every other week. Feels better sans hair and no pulling of the hair on a hard rub. I let it go in the winter and always wish I kept them shaved for the massage.
I do self massage after hard rides, same reasons as above.
But probably the biggest reason is that I am a poser just like the rest of you.
You cannot discount the benefits of feeling like a serious cyclist. It surely won't save you any time, but feeling the part has to have some mental advantages...at least in my mind it does.
64Paramount said:
It worked, although the chlorine made my nose bleed. I combined that with some lengthy gazing at Chicks and Bikes, and I'm quite cured.
Thanks
