Road Cycling - The Shaving Thread Again

As I descend farther and farther into cycling I keep thinking about shaving my legs. Not so much for crash repair, that would be nice as I did have some trouble with it over the summer, but I just like the look better. My legs are pretty well developed and every time I put on the shorts and the hair sticks out I think 'thats it, Im shaving'. I still havent done it, I might very shortly though. My legs are definetly on the hairy side, I remember having hairy legs for years now. Anyone else shaving just for the looks? How long did it take you when you first shaved? You use shaving cream I assume right? And how do you, uh hum, reach everywhere? Or rather where do you shave to? My leg hair sticks out all the way up the spandex so Im thinking pretty high.

Shaving your legs just feels better

But it's getting cold now so I don't see a point :)
You might consider trimming the hair first and then using shaving cream. I usually shave in the shower.

I am a hairy beast. Many people have said I should shave, heck some people said I should braid! I refuse to shave, other than my face.

shaving your hairy ass legs:
items needed:
sheers/electric razor (first time only)
good razor (im a mach 3 fan)
shaving cream/gel/whatever
soap

first time you shave, use the sheers to cut the hair down as short as you can so your razor actually works (I didnt realize this the first time until my second leg). I prefer to then clean my legs with cold water and soap (though you don't have to). Then put on shaving cream (not all at once though). Then shave, first with the growth of ur hair (generally down). Clean your legs if you've cut yourself, then re-lather and shave against the growth (up). Clean again and get ready for one funky ass feeling of putting pants on.

little notes:
if you get a lot of razor burn in certain spots, only shave with the growth of your hair for a bit, it tends to get better with time
dont bend over for too long, first time I tried to shave the backs of my thighs I nearly blacked out (oops)
make sure you soap ur legs at the end!!
moisturizer helps now

Getting cold!?!?! Here in AZ it was 98 degrees F today. Where the *&$% is fall? They are even saying we might be up over 100 degrees again next weekend. Just great. Needless to say I hardly need any 'fur' to keep warm! Thanks pinky, thats exactly what I was looking for. Didnt even think of trimming it down first.

eh, the fur doesn't make the difference...tights and leg/arm warmers on the other hand...

Of course your fur isn't an insulator

but there's no point in shaving if you're only going to be wearing tights/leg warmers and not showin any leg :P

right, I just have the additional thing of my girlfriend/myself enjoying it :D

What about arms though? I'm considering shaving more and more but I worry I'll look lop-sided with so much hair on my head and arms.

go from top to bottom. just take your time, the first go round is long, but the maintenance after isn't too bad.

You do triathlon so no reason not to shave your arms and everything in between, if you did not swim I would skip the arms since then people will think you are a swimmer :)

LIke pinky said get the weed wacker out first need to cut down the formest before you can clear the land :)
I would suggest putting some lotion or specific anti-razor burn lotion on your legs afterwards. At first you will get razor burn and it will itch pretty badly first few days.

Shave. It'll increase your average speed by 10mph!

Shave 'em! Take it from an AZ native, it never gets THAT cold in the Grand Canyon State. I do it just for looks and will never go back to my hairy Italian legs again.

After a crash many years ago I also decided to go withour hair. For me I used an electric razor with a sideburn cutter to remove the initial har. I then used a disposable razor and cream to complete the job.

Now I use an electric razor on the legs and arms for a quick touch up in the morning and evening. Once a week I stand in the shower with a disposable razor and cream for a closer shave. Several years ago I moved onto shaving my chest also so it may be an indication I am out of control. All I know is my wife and I compete for the best legs contest. :D

I shaved a couple times I got WICKED Razor burn tho, look like a 15 year old zitty face all over my legs... Needless to say IT SUCKED.... any ideas on how to not get that? or is that with just the more you do it the less it will happen.

The first time you will get that Nofx, you have virgin skin there.. It took me about a week for my skin to actual return to normal. But I have to shave atleast every other day at min to keep from looking and feeling bad. So alot of times I do it daily. Try different creams, also I find the mach 3 razor does the best job and causes the least irritation, also there is creams for it also.

Shave 'em! Take it from an AZ native, it never gets THAT cold in the Grand Canyon State. I do it just for looks and will never go back to my hairy Italian legs again.

Wow, you folks need to drive a couple of hours north. It always gets THAT cold up here. I've had to bust out the arm and knee warmers for a couple of rides already. You poor bastages. Enjoy the century mark for temperature this week!

I shaved a couple times I got WICKED Razor burn tho, look like a 15 year old zitty face all over my legs... Needless to say IT SUCKED.... any ideas on how to not get that? or is that with just the more you do it the less it will happen.
I agree with Kev, use Mach 3 razors, get a shaving gel for sensative skin, and take your time and go slow. If I hurry while using a razor I can slice myself up also despite years of practice.

how about using Nair for men?? wouldn't that be better than shaving?

For those cyclists who shave their legs,all the power to you.

But not me. Frankly,I like having long hairy legs and so do most of the women I meet.

Regards.

Basicaly nair uses a chemical to burn the hair off you're body, some have problem with it causing irritating their skin so can not use it. I actualy tried it once did not work very well for me personaly.

For those cyclists who shave their legs,all the power to you.

But not me. Frankly,I like having long hairy legs and so do most of the women I meet.

Regards.

Hm, back in my single days, I found the opposite to be true.

Regards.

My fiancee said if I shave my legs, I'll be sleeping on the couch :(
I dont think they look to bad, does it really make you go faster ?

I dont think they look to bad, does it really make you go faster ?

Nope. But it makes it easier to clean gravel etc out of road rash. :D

IMHO, there's no performance advantage on the bike, but there are many discussions out there that talk about how it makes you look like you're in 'the club'. That is, the good cyclist club. Other cyclists will know you're serious about riding, and will generally feel more confident with you riding close to them when on a group ride. Odds are you're experienced if you'll take the addiction tha far. ;)

My fiancee said if I shave my legs, I'll be sleeping on the couch :(
I dont think they look to bad, does it really make you go faster ?

Wow. If my fiancee had dropped a line like that, my love of riding might have trumped my love of her. Of course, mine were shaved when we met. I bet, if you shave, she'll come around. Or go around.

For those cyclists who shave their legs,all the power to you.

But not me. Frankly,I like having long hairy legs and so do most of the women I meet.

Regards.

That's not what I remember.

Tan, hairless and super tone legs seemed to be enjoyed by many a woman. Who wants to rub godzilla's leg?

Above all, shaved legs are just more comfortable. It's funny to hear that statement denied by people who have never shaved their legs.

I kinda want to shave me legs, but a) the rest of me is really hairy too, so I'd look really odd, b) my girlfriend would have a fit (she can hardly be bothered to shave herself), and c) I only shave my face every four or five days, so there's no way I could ever be bothered to keep it up.

BTW, I noticed that not only were new World Champ Igor Astarloa's arms covered in road rash from an earlier crash (can't be many people that have crashed and still won), but also very hairy, even by my standards (that's pretty hairy).

My bride of many years freaks when I shave my legs. I am rather hairy, plus it seems to grow fast. I have to shave every other day to look decent and not have truly fierce stubble. Plus she hates it when my legs are smoother than hers.

Above all, shaved legs are just more comfortable.

Perhaps for you.

But I consider hair both natural and comfortable. Besides,I've yet to hear any female complain to me about the hair on my legs. There are also beautiful women who don't shave their legs.


It's funny to hear that statement denied by people who have never shaved their legs.

I have no reason to shave my legs or use nail polish at this time. But I do support anyone who chooses to do so.

Regards.

Use shears to get the leg close and then buy some "Nair" (I actually use a $5 cream from Wal-Mart that smells much better). The hair just wipes off. Just remember it's getting cold and goosebumps after shaving suck!

PS With respect to the whole "My fiancee hates it" "my girlfriend freaks" just tell them "I supported you when [insert male sexist thing that you stood by them on here]. Why can't you support me here? If we're ever going to acheive a truly gender-blind society, men have to be allowed to shave their legs. To be quite honest, your sexist attitude really surprises me." Works every time ;)

IMO,dumb unless you are a serious racer.Its more of a cool factor.

IMO,dumb unless you are a serious racer.Its more of a cool factor.


Interesting point of view. At 43 a "coolness factor" is far from the logic for me to shave my legs. I do know this, when I train 8-12 hours a week my legs need to be massaged. My lovely wife is happy to do this for me, if I had hair on those legs the hair would be pulled making it painful to get the message. Additionally on the rare occasion I crash it sure is a mess to clean and heal those legs when I have hair involved. Perhaps I am "dumb" but the lack of hair sure makes practicle sense to me.

IMO, dumb not to.

Anyone else shaving just for the looks?
Doesn't everyone??? :D


How long did it take you when you first shaved? You use shaving cream I assume right? And how do you, uh hum, reach everywhere? Or rather where do you shave to? My leg hair sticks out all the way up the spandex so Im thinking pretty high.
I use shaving cream and a Mach3 razor. Use Nair or an electric shaver for the first shave of the season.

How high?? Well up to my .....
Actually I shave about 2" above the tan line on the inside of the leg. Gotta make sure the hair doesn't show when you sit down while wearing regular shorts. On the outside of the leg I shave up to my hip joint area. If I crash, I'm going to fall and slide on the outside. :(

http://home.mindspring.com/~rhorne/male.jpg


Another reason to shave. Leg grippers don't grip on leg hair.

Just like shaving your face - take your time until you get used to doing it.


Shave my arms?? Not yet.

Nice diagram!

In other news, swallow your manhood and get an epilator! No stubbles! Grows back thinner! Chicks dig the hairless legs... they say "you shave your legs?" I say, "No, I epilate." they say, "ooohhhh, do me in the butt."

It's all true except the last part!

For those cyclists who shave their legs,all the power to you.

But not me. Frankly,I like having long hairy legs and so do most of the women I meet.

Regards.

The women I meet don't, but for balance I'd be shaving everything. I'm the guy the New Joisey lady comediannes make fun of. We get to a certain age and the hair leaves the head and migrates everywhere else. It would be too much problem to constantly shave everything, including my back. I just leave it on and hope they don't use too much tape on the road rash bandage. When they put in my new pacemaker, it took 30 minutes to get the tape off all the monitoring sticky tabs they stuck on me without tearing off clumps of skin with the hair. If you're not too hairy yet, go ahead and strip those gams clean.

Nice diagram!

In other news, swallow your manhood and get an epilator! No stubbles! Grows back thinner! Chicks dig the hairless legs... they say "you shave your legs?" I say, "No, I epilate." they say, "ooohhhh, do me in the butt."

It's all true except the last part!


Thanks for the laugh


I used to shave my legs when i was a wee lad racing, now im an overweight beer guzzler, i reckon my mates down the local would snot me one.

But as for 'To shave or not to shave' Procrastinate and you'll die wondering, just do it.

Interesting point of view. At 43 a "coolness factor" is far from the logic for me to shave my legs. I do know this, when I train 8-12 hours a week my legs need to be massaged. My lovely wife is happy to do this for me, if I had hair on those legs the hair would be pulled making it painful to get the message. Additionally on the rare occasion I crash it sure is a mess to clean and heal those legs when I have hair involved. Perhaps I am "dumb" but the lack of hair sure makes practicle sense to me.
Its dumb,not you unless ya race.If you just ride,i dont see a need but thats mo.

Its dumb,not you unless ya race.If you just ride,i dont see a need but thats mo.
I suppose it may depend on your definition of a ride. I work out on a bike to race, so a ride to me might be a 5 hour hammer ride in the mountians working those legs until they burn. I know that after ride massage from the wife sure helps.

Heh, I'm not really considering it at this point, but I think it's a funny topic. I'm a pretty hairy guy and my girlfriend jokes around about it all the time. But when I joke back that I'm shaving it all off or waxing, she is completely disgusted. I think she likes me hairy. Just maybe not this hairy.

I suppose it may depend on your definition of a ride. I work out on a bike to race, so a ride to me might be a 5 hour hammer ride in the mountians working those legs until they burn. I know that after ride massage from the wife sure helps.I've said that in my posts that i can understand it if you race or i suppose ride 100's of miles a week.

If I dont have an electric razon to trim up before going in with my mach 3 what do you guys suggest to use? I 'trimmed' with some scissors on my upper thighs then shaved them but that was really impractical, had to clean the razon out after every run through, still way too much hair for a razor. Any suggestions?

Posted by CarlJStoneham - 10-14-03 at 07:44 AM
PS With respect to the whole "My fiancee hates it" "my girlfriend freaks" just tell them "I supported you when [insert male sexist thing that you stood by them on here]. Why can't you support me here? If we're ever going to acheive a truly gender-blind society, men have to be allowed to shave their legs. To be quite honest, your sexist attitude really surprises me." Works every time


That sounds like a good plan. After all, I have gone to the store in the middle of the night to buy tampons on more than one occasion. :rolleyes:

have a couple beers and the ideal will get better

If I dont have an electric razon to trim up before going in with my mach 3 what do you guys suggest to use?
Any suggestions?
Try Nair (or Nair for Men) to remove the long stuff. Then use the Mach3 as the stubble begins to grow back.

ITS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Say hello to smooth legs! Took forever. Have quite a few nicks but once I learned what angles worked best for various leg parts it smoothed out. Used a helluva lot of shaving cream! Did make it pretty smooth, no razor burn that I can really see. I didnt completly get a few spots so I'll catch them tomorrow after my ride. I'm loving the look! Thanks to all for the advice!