Fifty Plus (50+) - Do older guys shave their legs?

I'm really new to this activity having only been riding a road bike for a few months now. Right now it's pretty cold out so I'm in tights most of the time but what about when spring gets here? I really hate to be a victim of peer pressure but in a normal group of cyclists I'm afraid my hairy legs really stand out. So I guess I'm asking if it's cool for older guys to shave their legs or is it better to go natural ?

Another sign of a few advanced years for me......mine seems to have disappeared the last few years......or maybe it's just that I've been going so fast it has blown off!!!

Seriously I know some that do but most probably don't. It would be a good subject to take a poll on, though.

I'm really new to this activity having only been riding a road bike for a few months now. Right now it's pretty cold out so I'm in tights most of the time but what about when spring gets here? I really hate to be a victim of peer pressure but in a normal group of cyclists I'm afraid my hairy legs really stand out. So I guess I'm asking if it's cool for older guys to shave their legs or is it better to go natural ?

At our age, peer pressure should be a distant memory. Shave if you like, or go natural if you prefer. Who cares what anyone else thinks? ;)

Shaving's a pain in the butt to do regularly and to get used to-- your legs feel wierd for a while, and the locals aren't quite "sure" about you. But then, get a good road rash and hairy legs are a pain, too. Your choice. Long ago I decided to take my chances with hair. Must say that bronzed, well musceled legs are set off by the hairless look-- but then, that's not an issue for me. ;)

I have never shaved my legs and have yet to notice any ill effects. My advice: Do what YOU want.

old guyz shave? you bet

the ear hairs

old guyz shave? you bet

the ear hairs

:roflmao:

Cyclezen....a few more years for you and you can join me in adding "nosehairs".
David (Still searching for his bellybutton which he somehow lost around age 50).

:roflmao:

Cyclezen....a few more years for you and you can join me in adding "nosehairs".
David (Still searching for his bellybutton which he somehow lost around age 50).


And let's not forget eyebrows. What IS it with them anyway? Each one of mine has one or two gonzo hairs that have a mind of their own -- and grow faster than a speeding bullet.

I wonder if increased hair activity in eye(brows), ears, and nose is inversely related to decreased activity on the dome?

You guys crack me up. Thanks for making my morning a little brighter :)

One of my long term goals is to ride the Hotter 'N Hell 100 (k), if not this year then the next, and I told one of my long term cyclist friends that I would shave them for THAT, if I made it there.

At our age, peer pressure should be a distant memory. Shave if you like, or go natural if you prefer. Who cares what anyone else thinks? ;)

+1 on this opinion. When you reach our age, just do what you want.

Na. I use Nair hair remover. ;)

Seriously, I think the hair on my muscular legs make them look sexier. Why change a good thing.

SG

When I trained as a race official I heard that shaving legs was once done so it hurt less when bandages were pulled off of road rash. I do not crash enough for that. Aerodynamic reasons? Has anyone even tested it? I doubt it is worth the trouble. To fit in with a fashion clique? Now that sounds about right. I was too mature for that the day I learned to ride. The only fun/sport riders I have seen with smooth legs were clique racers mixing with a social ride or pre-op transsexuals in a gay bike club in LA. Now which was which ;) .

Last time I had my legs shaved was when I was 18 and had to go in plaster for 3 months. They said it would ease the pain when the plaster did come off. They were wrong.

As to shaving the legs- my bald patch gets larger every year so anyone know if transplants are available or if they work.

I'm really new to this activity having only been riding a road bike for a few months now. Right now it's pretty cold out so I'm in tights most of the time but what about when spring gets here? I really hate to be a victim of peer pressure but in a normal group of cyclists I'm afraid my hairy legs really stand out. So I guess I'm asking if it's cool for older guys to shave their legs or is it better to go natural ?
When it's cold and you're wearing tights or leg warmers, don't bother.
When it's warmer weather and you're wearing bibs (I'm sure you're old enough to have graduated from shorts), shaving makes lots of sense.
The 4 or 5 main reasons for shaving have been discussed in several threads. Do a search or PM me for the list.

I'm 61 and I'll be shaving again once the warmer temps get here. Gotta show off my leg muscles and new tattoo. :beer:

I shaved my legs during my racing years (1984 through 1992) and haven't shaved since. I've had some serious road rash both with and without the hair and it is easier to handle without the hair. Somehow, shaving my legs at 55 y.o. would seem a little pretentious.

I have never shaved my legs and have yet to notice any ill effects. My advice: Do what YOU want.

I haven't tested it yet, but would think that shaving would cut down on some of the wind noise at top speed and make it easier to hear irregular sounds from the drive train.

If you stay up on both wheels without crashing, why bother? I son is a weight lifter and shaves from head to toe. I've often wondered how many razors he goes through in a week. He's too big for me to ask.

You're all wrong. Period. This shave-the-legs thing is a red hairing :o . The real question is how to get chainring-grease tatoo off your right calf. I know its the mark of a newbie...but I've been so branded for almost 20 years. Once saw a rider with that same unmistakable mark for-reals tatooed on his leg. I prefer to renew mine afresh every few rides.

My calves went bald years ago. I don't shave what hair is left on the rest of the leg.

I haven't tested it yet, but would think that shaving would cut down on some of the wind noise at top speed and make it easier to hear irregular sounds from the drive train.

Not an issue for me as the only thing I hear anymore is the ringing in my ears!

Some do; some don't.

My calves went bald years ago. I don't shave what hair is left on the rest of the leg. Same here, primarily on the outside surfaces. I wonder whether friction with trousers is a cause.

Of course, the gradually expanding bald spot on top of my head is just plain old genetics and hormones in action. My father and my wife's father both went bald in their 20s, so I tell my sons not to get too attached to their (head) hair, since the only prevention for male pattern baldness has been known since someone observed that the castrati and eunuchs never went bald.

I just pull up my white ankle sox a little higher and nobody seems to notice my hairy legs.

We don't suck in our guts, so why should we shave our legs ??!!!!!!

I shaved my legs in my racing years (late 50's and 60's) for looks primarily but, the reasoning was that hair collected lots of nasties and when you crashed you were prone to infection...I really don't know if that was true. Tape was more easily removed from cuts and serious road rash but the bandages still hurt when pulling off the rash.
That was then and this is now...don't worry about it! If you are willing to wear spandex and clownish shirts why should you worry about hairy legs. I don't but at 63 my attitude is who cares.

I just pull up my white ankle sox a little higher and nobody seems to notice my hairy legs.

Good idea but I'd have to pull the socks up under my riding shorts :eek:

A lot of good ideas and opinions here but I get the feeling that what some of you guys think are hairy legs I'd call peach fuzz :)

The Question: To Shave or Not to Shave....
Answer: The First Wife doesn't care if I do or I don't. But the boyz on the Tuesday Crit sure do!!
What's a fella to do? Hang with the boyz and the wife will get use to it.
Remember "Hair Today, Gone tomorrow"
I gotta go.

Hotter 'n Hell 100 Been there done that! Lots of water and Gatorade and carry a couple of baggies to ice up and put in the rear pockets of your Jersey to ice down your backsides. And get a Plain white riding jersey that will reflect the sun and reduce the heating. And have fun. There are more riders in that ride than anywhere else I have ever seen. Good Luck

Hotter 'n Hell 100 Been there done that! Lots of water and Gatorade and carry a couple of baggies to ice up and put in the rear pockets of your Jersey to ice down your backsides. And get a Plain white riding jersey that will reflect the sun and reduce the heating. And have fun. There are more riders in that ride than anywhere else I have ever seen. Good Luck


It'll be a while before I'm ready for it but does the ice pack last long enough to be of any good? I'm sure the white jersey helps, how about a long sleeve (loose fitting) jersey to keep the sun off the arms? Would it do more harm than good. A Camel Back seems like a good idea also?

Sorry for the longish response, but this needs a bit of setup.

Back in the late 1970's and through the 1980's until late 1991 (when my first child was born) I did a lot of road riding. I was FAR from being a racer. If I had the time I probably would have been more like a randoneer-type as I like to go out on LONG solo rides at a moderate pace. Between 1991 and last Spring I still would put in a couple of thousand miles per year, but no where near the kind of miles I used to put in. Not only did I get kids, but I also acquired two rental properties. Kids and rental properties can really eat up your time, especially if you do all the yard maintanence on them and your own yard. (All the properties are on more than 1/2 acre plots and things grow for a LONG season down in Florida.) All that extra time commitment really took a toll on my cycling.

Up until late last year I would play full-court basketball three times a week with a very competitive group. That was enough aerobic workout to keep me in pretty good shape along with my reduced cycling and fencing. Well, I got really tired with being in constant pain from playing basketball at that level, so at 50 years and 4 months old I hung up the sneakers. To replace that activity I started ramping up my cycling, but this time I was riding with fitness in mind instead of just going out for a nice day touring the countryside.

I started out doing some 30 mile rides and these were OK, but kind of slow (~1 hr and 50 minutes at first). I knew from my past experience that I needed to build up the base miles before I started working on strength and speed. I set my goal to be able to ride 50 km (~31 miles) in less than 1.5 hours by the end of the year. In November of last year I finally did it and I felt SUPER!

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago ... I found myself riding the same route and I decided to see just how fast I could ride it now. I was able to break my old record (1 hr 29 min 5 sec) by over a minute (1 hr 27 min 57 sec). I rode home (pretty slowly for the first few miles!) and must have been on some sort of endorphine high and looking for some way to commemorate the experience so I SHAVED MY LEGS. Does it make any sense? No, not really. I guess that I did it as some sign of commitment to working hard to get better and stronger. Does this make sense to anyone but me? It doesn't make sense to my wife who thinks it's kind of weird. :)

I find no aero advantage that I can detect other than no longer getting distracted by the turbulence interacting with the leg hairs at high speed. There is a substantial increase in the cooling effect on the shaved legs, but that won't be a major benefit until summer.

Sorry for the longish response, but this needs a bit of setup.

Up until late last year I would play full-court basketball three times a week with a very competitive group. That was enough aerobic workout to keep me in pretty good shape along with my reduced cycling and fencing. Well, I got really tired with being in constant pain from playing basketball at that level, so at 50 years and 4 months old I hung up the sneakers. To replace that activity I started ramping up my cycling, but this time I was riding with fitness in mind instead of just going out for a nice day touring the countryside.

I rode home (pretty slowly for the first few miles!) and must have been on some sort of endorphine high and looking for some way to commemorate the experience so I SHAVED MY LEGS. Does it make any sense? No, not really.

As a former gym rat I can greatly appreciate the transition from the hardwood to the asphalt. I played well into my 40's and can still shoot it with the best of 'em but it takes me a little longer to get the shot off!!

I wonder what your old bball players would think of your newly shaved legs!!

(Congrats on the new record by the way!! That's just terrific!)

As a former gym rat I can greatly appreciate the transition from the hardwood to the asphalt. I played well into my 40's and can still shoot it with the best of 'em but it takes me a little longer to get the shot off!!

I wonder what your old bball players would think of your newly shaved legs!!

(Congrats on the new record by the way!! That's just terrific!)

Being originally from Chicago basketball has always been part of my life. I miss it, but I also like being able to walk down the stairs first thing in the morning without pain in my ankles and knees.

I can still drain the 3 pretty well, but over the years the rim became a distant memory. I swear it is higher off the ground that when I was 18.

I suspect that if my old hoop buds saw my legs in the showers I wouldn't hear the end of it. But if they saw me on teh road they wouldn't get to look for long! :)

There is a substantial increase in the cooling effect on the shaved legs, but that won't be a major benefit until summer.

That's pretty cool. I think we have a lot in common. I never road a bike until about 7 months ago. At that time I was suffering from extreamly hi blood pressure, angina and flunked a stress test so bad the cardiologist wanted to hospitalize me. The doc said I had to do something or start picking out a plot so I choose to start riding. I bought a mountain bike and at first could only do a couple of miles per day. About 5 months later I passed the 1000 mile mark and celebrated by buying a road bike. After 7 months I worked up to doing my first 43 mile ride just last weekend. Each weekend I do at least a 25 mile ride and average real close to 18 mph. Right now that magic 18 mph is my target and I'm finding it real hard to beat. As soon as I can consistently do 60 miles I plant to do the Hotter 'n Hell 100K ride. Not to race mind you, just to see if I can do it. I need challenges to keep motivated. It's thinking about the H'nH that really got me thinking about the pros and cons of shaving. The cooling aspect of clean legs I've wondered about. I'm sure it's not a big deal for most but some of us have a fairly heavy "coat".

...but I also like being able to walk down the stairs first thing in the morning without pain in my ankles and knees.
:eek:
That's why my wife and I have always lived in a one-story house and will get another for our retirement home. Stairs are for young people. :p


Shaving doesn't make you faster, but shaving shows off the muscles. You earned those muscles. Why not show them off? I do. :D

Shaving doesn't make you faster, but shaving shows off the muscles. You earned those muscles. Why not show them off? I do. :D

Talk about an on target comment with an economy of words. Well don.

I've been shaving my gams for a long time. Why? If you do take a tumble, the resulting road rash won't be nearly as bad, and much easier to clean and bandage up. That's the only "real" reason I can think of, and yes, I have taken a tumble or two, and been thankful for having shaved. Other reasons: I like the look and feel, but there is another, very valid reason: The ladies love it! :D

I kid thee not. Many adult women really to like the well-toned, shaved leg look. I can think of no better reason than this. See for yourself.

As others have already noted, your choice.

:

Shaving doesn't make you faster, but shaving shows off the muscles. You earned those muscles. Why not show them off? I do. :D

OK. I've also worked hard at cultivating and earning my belly. I'm going down to the mall tomorrow without my shirt. I may shave it first. :D

I don't even like shaving my face! I'm not going to increase the agony by shaving anything else.

There are places where it wears off. I'll leave it at that.

I shaved my legs back in the 80s when I briefly did some road racing. Once I got used to it I liked the look and feel of smooth legs, and my wife did to...thought it was really sexy. On the downside, it's a hassle.

Like just about everyone else suggests, do what you want. Try it for a little while, if you don't like it, it'll grow back!

Perhaps I was too pessimistic when I said there was no aero effect with shaved legs. Earlier I posted that in celebration of setting a new personal best time for 50 km I shaved my legs. Today I went out and rode the same course and DEMOLISHED my old record. Today I rode it in 1 hour 25 minutes 33 seconds which is 2 minutes and 18 seconds faster than my previous best. You could say that I "shaved" over 2 minutes off my old record. I am SO pumped! I'd shave my head if I wasn't already pretty bald. :D

That's pretty cool. I think we have a lot in common. I never road a bike until about 7 months ago. At that time I was suffering from extreamly hi blood pressure, angina and flunked a stress test so bad the cardiologist wanted to hospitalize me. The doc said I had to do something or start picking out a plot so I choose to start riding. I bought a mountain bike and at first could only do a couple of miles per day. About 5 months later I passed the 1000 mile mark and celebrated by buying a road bike. After 7 months I worked up to doing my first 43 mile ride just last weekend. Each weekend I do at least a 25 mile ride and average real close to 18 mph. Right now that magic 18 mph is my target and I'm finding it real hard to beat. As soon as I can consistently do 60 miles I plant to do the Hotter 'n Hell 100K ride. Not to race mind you, just to see if I can do it. I need challenges to keep motivated. It's thinking about the H'nH that really got me thinking about the pros and cons of shaving. The cooling aspect of clean legs I've wondered about. I'm sure it's not a big deal for most but some of us have a fairly heavy "coat".

This is what it is all about. I salute you. Keep riding and remain forever young.

I just pull up my white ankle sox a little higher and nobody seems to notice my hairy legs.

You wear WHITE ankle sox?

And, no I don't shave my legs. Got to have SOME place where there is some hair.

One of my long term goals is to ride the Hotter 'N Hell 100 (k), if not this year then the next, and I told one of my long term cyclist friends that I would shave them for THAT, if I made it there.

Just do it! I'm 63 and I've ridden the last 7 Hotter'n Hell Hundreds (100 miles). The last three have not even been hot. It's a great ride and typical Texas, FLAT, FUN, FRIENDLY, and FULL OF HOT AIR. :)
http://www.hh100.org.

And no, I've never shaved my legs.

Al

I will shave my body hair for a medical reason, no other.
Glen

I will shave my body hair for a medical reason, no other.
Glen

Now this I can identify with! After 4 knee operations and a heart cath I know what it's like to be shaved. You just helped me remember what it's like when it starts growing back out. :eek:

And let's not forget eyebrows. What IS it with them anyway? Each one of mine has one or two gonzo hairs that have a mind of their own -- and grow faster than a speeding bullet.


They grow out like cat whiskers so we don't bump into things.

They grow out like cat whiskers so we don't bump into things.

You know you're getting old when.... the barber asks if you want the eyebrows, nose trimmed. They do the ears without asking.