Road Bike Racing - Do I have to shave my legs? If so, when?

As a really promising pudgy, middle aged, Cat 5 mid-packer, do I have to shave my legs? If so when? I assume the time would be before the first non-full-length-tights race...

Or maybe it is unacceptable to have leg hair even under full length tights?

Any non-shaving racers out there? Have you been the victim of abuse and discrimination?

Sit on the sofa and tell Oprah all about it.....

And one last, really horrifying question. Where does the shaving stop as you go northward? :eek:

Yuck.

Yes. With a machete.

You must shave everything below your eyebrows.

And no, you don't really have to shave them. I do, but I am a killer Cat 4 just points away from superior Cat 3 status. It really helped my riding.

To share the female perspective, ladies like it when male cyclists shave their legs. It makes it easier for us to see how cut you are. lol. Now if you are married, have a GF or whatever then well maybe you don't have to. If you are a hairy beast, then it's probably good, you know to help with cleaning up road rash...

It's totally an "in crowd" thing. No need to do it if you don't want to. I didn't do it last season (my cat 5 season). I will say it makes pre/post ride rubdowns easier, though...

As a really promising pudgy, middle aged, Cat 5 mid-packer, do I have to shave my legs? If so when? I assume the time would be before the first non-full-length-tights race...

Or maybe it is unacceptable to have leg hair even under full length tights?

Any non-shaving racers out there? Have you been the victim of abuse and discrimination?

Sit on the sofa and tell Oprah all about it.....

And one last, really horrifying question. Where does the shaving stop as you go northward? :eek:

Yuck.

Yes, before your next ride.

it is unacceptable

non-shaving racers are the scourge of the peleton

oprah who?

give your significant other a razor and can of shaving cream and go big.

If you're afraid of shaving, you can use a lighter.

Or just use some nair. that felt very similar to an open flame on my legs...

I will say it makes pre/post ride rubdowns easier, though...


Is Dr. Pete offering to give us rubdowns?

Wait a minute. Is this "Dr. Pete" a REAL doctor?

Is Dr. Pete offering to give us rubdowns?

Wait a minute. Is this "Dr. Pete" a REAL doctor?


No. He just got married so he has better things to do with his time.

Use a straight razor, and practice on your scrotum before attempting to shave your knees.

If you're afraid of shaving, you can use a lighter.

ahhh... the ol' turkish barbers technique to remove ear hair.

1. Is Dr. Pete offering to give us rubdowns?

2. Is this "Dr. Pete" a REAL doctor?

Absolutely not, and yes I am.

Or just use some nair. that felt very similar to an open flame on my legs...

That is so friggin GAY.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

FWIW, Men's Nair was totally painless for me, and no I'm heterosexual.

I'm hairier than average so hair under lycra for me ends up feeling like I'm being tweezed in a million places.

In another thread it was mentioned that guys with hairy legs are deemed by other riders to be highly likely to cause crashes. If you don't shave, realize that this is the reason for the very wide berth.

In another thread it was mentioned that guys with hairy legs are deemed by other riders to be highly likely to cause crashes. If you don't shave, realize that this is the reason for the very wide berth.

There are a lot of threads that say a lot of things. More quality BF "advice."

i think being pudgy helps. i am rasmussen/skeletor skinny, and shaving the knee area can be difficult. of course, i never tried botto's practice method, so maybe that would improve things.

as a side note, do not use a razor before at least shortening the hair with clippers or something. you will dull the blade before you make it to your first knee and have to run to the store to get more blades with one leg shaved. also, i think it is a man law (or should be) that every male should own clippers.

I don't. Primarily because my wife won't let me. It's very odd feeling peer pressure to shave your legs.

There are a lot of threads that say a lot of things. More quality BF "advice."

More quality posting from a doctor who couldn't find a real world job. Where's your sense of humor besides in that very large object turned sideways in your rectum? Come out swinging doc, expect to get hit. If this is like before, you'll start crying again.

I only road bike so I can justify shaving my legs w/the moto guys

I don't. Primarily because my wife won't let me. It's very odd feeling peer pressure to shave your legs.

Just wanted to get that in quotes. :p

More quality posting from a doctor who couldn't find a real world job. Where's your sense of humor besides in that very large object turned sideways in your rectum? Come out swinging doc, expect to get hit. If this is like before, you'll start crying again.

Bitter much?

The fact that you're not funny doesn't mean I don't have a sense of humor.

I don't shave, and saw about 6 other pairs of unshaven legs in my M35+ field. Only one pair mixing it up at the front, but nobody said anything. I think the wide berth for me was because I visted the ditch briefly :D

I don't shave, and saw about 6 other pairs of unshaven legs in my M35+ field. Only one pair mixing it up at the front, but nobody said anything. I think the wide berth for me was because I visted the ditch briefly :D

No, WR, it wasn't the rocks in the helmet, the holes ripped in your kit, or your visibly hopping wheel. It was totally the hairy legs. :D

I don't. Primarily because my wife won't let me. It's very odd feeling peer pressure to shave your legs.

..especially when you're a man.

Actually though, I've never felt pressured or looked down upon by other riders for not shaving. At least it wasn't obvious or to my face.

.... I think the wide berth for me was because I visted the ditch briefly :D

Wipe next time. j/k!

My wife and I get in our big tub together and have a big shaving party. We talk about American Idol, trade recipes (and Lady Gillettes), sip wine and laugh, laugh, laugh about what Whiskers, our cat, did that day.

Actually though, I've never felt pressured or looked down upon by other riders for not shaving. At least it wasn't obvious or to my face.

It really is interesting how much "peer pressure" in cycling is self-inflicted. I've never heard anyone actually make fun of someone's bike at a race or tell them that they need to shave their legs, yet we all think that everyone's making fun of our bikes or judging our hairy legs. Nobody really told me I needed to shave mine either. I just decided one day that I was going to do it. Why? Who the hell really knows. But I like it, so I'll keep doing it.

My wife and I get in our big tub together and have a big shaving party. We talk about American Idol, trade recipes (and Lady Gillettes), sip wine and laugh, laugh, laugh about what Whiskers, our cat, did that day.

That post made this thread worth reading.:D

That post made this thread worth reading.:D

+10. :D

It really is interesting how much "peer pressure" in cycling is self-inflicted. I've never heard anyone actually make fun of someone's bike at a race or tell them that they need to shave their legs, yet we all think that everyone's making fun of our bikes or judging our hairy legs. Nobody really told me I needed to shave mine either. I just decided one day that I was going to do it. Why? Who the hell really knows. But I like it, so I'll keep doing it.

I agree. For me, alot of this stuff is self ridicule or a way of just being able to laugh at myself a bit.

My biggest reason for not shaving is that my legs are hairy beasts and they would be very high maintenance if I started shaving. If I ever lost a race by a hair (pun intended), then I'd shave and perhaps save a second or two on the next race.

That post made this thread worth reading.:D

Thank you.
Part of it is true though. Uh, the shaving part.
It's strange when I ask my wife to hurry up so I can shave my legs too.

I agree. For me, alot of this stuff is self ridicule or a way of just being able to laugh at myself a bit.

My biggest reason for not shaving is that my legs are hairy beasts and they would be very high maintenance if I started shaving. If I ever lost a race by a hair (pun inteneded), then I'd shave and perhaps save a second or two on the next race.

Mine are very hairy as well. Once you get passed the first layer it's nothing - just maintenance.

You must shave everything below your eyebrows.

To really be truly hard core you must shave the brows as well...it's required.

To really be truly hard core you must shave the brows as well...it's required.

What cat is this hardcore racer?

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/TeteDeCourse/AnybodyOutThere7.jpg

No, WR, it wasn't the rocks in the helmet, the holes ripped in your kit, or your visibly hopping wheel. It was totally the hairy legs. :D
:lol:

I actually realized I was going into the ditch, rode into it, kept my speed up, got situated, and rode back out. Stayed upright, didn't unclip. I have a lot of MTB racing experience too -- plus the 36h Deep Vs :D

When I merged back into the pack, I was still up front, in 4th wheel.

I imagine it must have scared a couple guys off my wheel. I should have attacked at that point :D

Only the cool racers shave, so if you want to be cool, you must shave your legs.

Seriously though, I doubt anyone would say anything to you if you did not. If you don't want to then don't.

What cat is this hardcore racer?


Oh, sure...but I hear he might be a doper.

man im too lazy to even shave my face!

that being said i really want to be part of the cool kids so i will eventually shave them.

In another thread it was mentioned that guys with hairy legs are deemed by other riders to be highly likely to cause crashes. If you don't shave, realize that this is the reason for the very wide berth.


Oh man and I've been dragging pedals through corners to keep people away from me in crits I would have been much happier just not shaving.

I'm thinking of shaving too ... although I haven't got a license yet. I'm another old guy, getting back into riding after 15 years off. On the other hand, I might stay hairy, keep riding my 20 year old bike, and 20 year old helmet, ride unattached in a generic jersey & make everyone think I'm some old novice geek, and then use my old 15 years of racing experience to try and get some placings in my "comeback" year.

- Rip Van Winkle in CT

You guys are too much and this thread is SOO hillarious. "Every thing below your eyebrows," it gets no funnier.

Being female -- ahemm-- I find it sexy, guys who have the courage and the physique to have shaven legs -- and what ever else..:D

I personally know guys who mountain bike that shave, " just so its easier to pull of the bandaids."

Jamie ;)

Sweet, just got out of the shower. :wink wink:

Oh man and I've been dragging pedals through corners to keep people away from me in crits I would have been much happier just not shaving.
Now that's funny! :beer:

What cat is this hardcore racer?

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/TeteDeCourse/AnybodyOutThere7.jpg

Cat 0/Pro or better known as serial killer.

Where's your sense of humor besides in that very large object turned sideways in your rectum?

rectum?...

damn near KILLED 'em!

Shaver: I don't even know her.

My wife and I get in our big tub together and have a big shaving party. We talk about American Idol, trade recipes (and Lady Gillettes), sip wine and laugh, laugh, laugh about what Whiskers, our cat, did that day.


Awesome! Do you do each other's toenails too? :p

I just started shaving and I like it. I think it's a personal decision. Hair under skin tight lycra is not comfortable. If you wear baggies then why shave? Ultimately it doesn't matter and nobody will really care one way or the other.