Road Bike Racing - Are there ANY pro road cyclists that don't shave?

OK, I know the arguments over shaving go back and forth and everybody has a strong opinion, whatever.

I am just curious, can anyone think of an example of a pro rider that didn't shave?

If there is such an example, what was their highest finish &/or biggest event?

I am just curious if such a person exists, and how good they were(are).

take care,

Jester

Johan Capiot won the 1991 Paris-Tours in an advanced state of leg-hairiness.

OK, I know the arguments over shaving go back and forth and everybody has a strong opinion, whatever.

I am just curious, can anyone think of an example of a pro rider that didn't shave?

If there is such an example, what was their highest finish &/or biggest event?

I am just curious if such a person exists, and how good they were(are).

take care,

Jester

Hell, I would be hard pressed to name a decent club rider who doesn't shave!

Hell, I would be hard pressed to name a decent club rider who doesn't shave!



Ha! True.

shave your legs. It shows that you think like a cyclist. It's a sub-culture thing. If you are going to be a cyclist...you might as well look like a cyclist and think like a cyclist. I hope I never lose to a hairy legged racer. I would feel like I lost to someone whom doesn't take it as seriously as I do. That would be a slap in the face...in my view. Besides...Chris Horner shaves his legs..so dang it I'm gonna shave mine(te he!)

Chris Horner had a beard.

.....and a bad ponytail.

shave your legs. It shows that you think like a cyclist. It's a sub-culture thing. If you are going to be a cyclist...you might as well look like a cyclist and think like a cyclist. I hope I never lose to a hairy legged racer. I would feel like I lost to someone whom doesn't take it as seriously as I do. That would be a slap in the face...in my view. Besides...Chris Horner shaves his legs..so dang it I'm gonna shave mine(te he!)

HA! Funny you should say that, there was a cocky guy on a team at my first race that wasn't taking me seriously because it was my first race and I had hairy legs. You should have seen the look on his face when I passed him with 3 laps to go :D

"KHHHHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!"
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/250px-Kirk_scream.jpg

HA! Funny you should say that, there was a cocky guy on a team at my first race that wasn't taking me seriously because it was my first race and I had hairy legs. You should have seen the look on his face when I passed him with 3 laps to go :D

"KHHHHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!"
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/250px-Kirk_scream.jpg

Please don't let that happen to me Lord!! :D

I usually finsih in the top 15 when racing and pass up plenty of club riders with my hairy legs.

I usually finsih in the top 15 when racing and pass up plenty of club riders with my hairy legs.

Yeah, but you cant podium with hairy legs! I have, BTW, made the podium a few times with hairy legs in my unenlightened days! :D

I saw a hairy legged guy kick butt in a Cat 3 race last year and now I see he is racing at the Pro 1-2 level. I don't know if he is shaving now though.

Belov didn't shave.

But technically, he was a Russian National teamer.

More correctly, he was an actor playing a Russions National Teamer.

Ah, but those were the 80s.

Belov didn't shave.

But technically, he was a Russian National teamer.

More correctly, he was an actor playing a Russions National Teamer.

Ah, but those were the 80s.



From the look of him, he didn't worry too much about diet either.

I rode a local crit once where a rider spoke to another (hairy legged) rider after the race about 'race etiquette'. Little did he know that the hairy legged rider had ridden the Giro and won ***** loads of national ranked pro races in years gone by!

My great grandfather used to say to me when I played Aussie Rules as a kid - you've gotta look the part boy. Clean guernsey tucked in, socks pulled up. Same with cycling. Shaved legs, no holes in the shorts, no beards, white socks ankle length, bloody look the part.

shave your legs. It shows that you think like a cyclist. )

Well if you feel better about yourself by shaving then by all means. I never really gave it much thought myself and always felt the way I rode would distinguish me as a serious rider. I may be shunned by the posure crowd with their fancy team kits and decaled up bikes but on the road they know who is boss.

After all this is not a beauty contest. :D

I rode a local crit once where a rider spoke to another (hairy legged) rider after the race about 'race etiquette'. Little did he know that the hairy legged rider had ridden the Giro and won ***** loads of national ranked pro races in years gone by!




Michael Wilson?

Michael Wilson?

Shane Bartley

1979 Giro. Impressive.


More obscure than Jaanus Kuum

:D

Belov didn't shave.

But technically, he was a Russian National teamer.

More correctly, he was an actor playing a Russions National Teamer.

Ah, but those were the 80s.

Belov, what he lacked in form and fitness he more than made up for with one of the great "Attack Faces" of all time.

Hey Voo.
No one here knows who Belov was.
What has this world come to?

After all this is not a beauty contest. :D

Life is a beauty contest. Fashion is always in fashion.

More correctly, he was an actor playing a Russions National Teamer.

A stereotypical Russian. The only thing lacking was "I must break you."

A stereotypical Russian. The only thing lacking was "I must break you."
but it was there in the attitude during those epic climbs during the
"Hell of the West".
Yah, I know who Belov was and I could pick out the
Stetina's in some of the scenes

Marty

shave your legs. It shows that you think like a cyclist.

I'm honestly not posting this to help me make a decision or anything. Just wondering what % if any of pro riders buck the trend. So far we have one or two out of thousands. I know people are generally sheep but if there was no real benefit would they be that sheepy?

We can argue till we are blue in the face over why or why not one should do it on technical merits, but if we trust that the people at the pinnacle of the sport know what they are doing, and 99.5%(estimated) do the same exact thing, can we agree and say it has some benefit, wether scientifically provable or not?

The placebo effect, er force, is strong in this one. AKA Just because it makes no sense doesn't mean it doesn't work.


fancy team kits and decaled up bikes

I know its common but it really seems odd to me when people wear gear for a team they aren't on when training for the same sport. Its one thing to wear your favorite jersy to eat brats and drink beer sitting on your ass at the ballpark cheering your hero. Its another to dress up like mario andretti and go driving at your local go cart track, but I digress.

take care,

Jester

I'm honestly not posting this to help me make a decision or anything. Just wondering what % if any of pro riders buck the trend. So far we have one or two out of thousands. I know people are generally sheep but if there was no real benefit would they be that sheepy?

We can argue till we are blue in the face over why or why not one should do it on technical merits, but if we trust that the people at the pinnacle of the sport know what they are doing, and 99.5%(estimated) do the same exact thing, can we agree and say it has some benefit, wether scientifically provable or not?

Pro riders have a team masseur.

Just after last years TDF Lance found out that shaving drains your strengthand wastes valuable training time.
http://img23.echo.cx/img23/4562/lanceflash1800ii.gif

If I were a wooly mamouth, I might have qualms about being on a podium with the podium girls in disbelief..WOuld not want to disappoint a podium girl...
But since I am only lightly hairy about the legs, I can only wish I had that problem..Too much hair might distract from showing off muscle mass..?

I know its common but it really seems odd to me when people wear gear for a team they aren't on when training for the same sport. Its one thing to wear your favorite jersy to eat brats and drink beer sitting on your ass at the ballpark cheering your hero. Its another to dress up like mario andretti and go driving at your local go cart track, but I digress.


I have been in plenty of pick up basketball/football games where people where their favorite team jerseys. whats wrong with it? Before I joined a real team I know I liked wearing a team jersey better than wearing something plane, just because I liked the jersey design better. But I will agree that the guy I see around occasionally riding in a full mario cippolini skinsuit is taking it a bit far.

I have been in plenty of pick up basketball/football games where people where their favorite team jerseys. whats wrong with it? Before I joined a real team I know I liked wearing a team jersey better than wearing something plane, just because I liked the jersey design better. But I will agree that the guy I see around occasionally riding in a full mario cippolini skinsuit is taking it a bit far.

I find it interesting that you want it both ways. You defend the wearing of team stuff (I agree with that defense), but then you go on to judge a guy who no one in the world will mistake for Mario or his ex teammates, who decides to wear the "full" outfit. I guess it is okay to wear tops, but not tops and bottoms. Interesting to in effect take both sides of the argument! You should be a politician! :D

You can wear all of the Team stuff you want. But never, ever wear a Mavic shirt to a Race, trust me on this one.

Gee I must be causing a stir at my local club, racing with a mullet, a moustache and hairy legs. And I've been on the podium several times this year. :D