Road Cycling - Hair Removal

I know this has been discussed to the point of agony but I am still going to ask.
I am quite hairy and I am getting ready to remove it and I have two questiions?

1 should I shave the traditional way, with cream and razor or would a chemical cream be ok (I have NEVER shaved my legs and I'm 38)

2 I know I have to shave my legs, but my arms are just as hairy, should I shave those also?

sorry to drag this out again but I did a search and didn't the answers to the above questions

Thanks again

Buzz with clippers first, I prefer to wait a day, then shave with a razor (I worked for Gillette so Mach 3 Turbo or a once used Mach 3) and use sensitive skin shaving cream. After words put moisturizer on your legs everytime you get out the shower. At first it probably be a bit hellacious but it oughta get better relatively quickly.
Nair is bad smelling hell

I just mowed em with the electric shaver, and then went back over it with my Mach 3 and conventional shaving cream, no burning, no lotions, etc.

Yes, trimmer first then blade. I do 'em in the shower with a blade; no soap, no nothin', no pain.

You've gotta have some muscle tone or they'll just look like girls legs. :D First time ya do 'em you feel like a plucked chicken.

The excuse I use for shaving: "oh, I have regular massages, and you can't get a proper massage with hairy legs" --works every time -- but, let's face it, we do it 'cos it looks good.

I started out shaving my legs but have begun waxing now. My legs are reasonably hairy and I found the regrowth after a shave to be too uncomfortable. Especially when wearing pants.

And I would leave the arms alone.

I prefer waxing at the beginning of the season. It’s nowhere near as painful as folks make it out to be. As far as the arms go, I have a friend who races Cat 3 and he takes it off of his arms as well. His reasoning, anywhere you might get scraped up should be clean.

Go to Wal-Mart and buyy "Sally Hansen's Hair Removal Cream" (or something like that). In a pink bottle. Wipe it on, wait 4 minutes, then wipe it off w/ a washcloth and warm water. Works WONDERS and no nicks, cuts, etc :) Lasts a good two weeks for me...

I started shaving recently. I did the chemical thing (Nair) to mow down the forrest. Now I just shave with a razor and soap once or twice a week in the shower.

Is shaving supposed to reduce wind resistance or something? Is this a proven performance gain or simply a cyclist's fashion?

Is shaving supposed to reduce wind resistance or something? Is this a proven performance gain or simply a cyclist's fashion?
Easier to clean scrapes when theres no hair in the way. And it makes you feel so pro.

Maybe people should work on their riding skills if they bite it often enough to require shaved legs :)


Easier to clean scrapes when theres no hair in the way. And it makes you feel so pro.

i shaved my legs for like, three or four weeks, then i got tired of doing it. plus i got some nasty razor burn even though i used sensitive skin shave cream and lotion afterwards. the hair is just now getting to the point where it's not itchy anymore, and i'm thankful for that.

be careful around your knees and the backs of your knees. even the tiniest knick back there will be so friggen annoying while you're riding.

Note from the ladies guys...take it or leave it...but...guys with legs smoother than your own is not a big turn on.

Note from the ladies guys...take it or leave it...but...guys with legs smoother than your own is not a big turn on.

speak for yourself, sister! ;)

Note from the ladies guys...take it or leave it...but...guys with legs smoother than your own is not a big turn on.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to go ahead and sort of...disagree with you there, based on Wifey's comments to the contrary about my legs.

Maybe people should work on their riding skills if they bite it often enough to require shaved legs :)

Do you race? you will want shaved legs when you are in a massive pile up or when all of a sudden your bike disappears from under you at 28mph in a corner.

be careful around your knees and the backs of your knees. even the tiniest knick back there will be so friggen annoying while you're riding. Amen. Also occasionally use a lufa (sp?) sponge and some lotion or the ingrown hairs around the cycling short "leg grabbers" get bad :)

Note from the ladies guys...take it or leave it...but...guys with legs smoother than your own is not a big turn on.

Note from the guys ladies...take it or leave it...but...ladies with legs HAIRIER than your own is not a big turn on.

don't shave your arms unless you're a trackie. for legs, use a decent quality razor, and instead of shaving cream, use hair conditioner.

epilator

I saw a picture of "The Lion King," Mario Cippolini in the Tour of Georgia and it looked like he hadn's shaved in several days. What is shaving your legs and arms going to gain if you have a face full of foliage?

I just can't seem to bring myself to shave my legs:

1. my wife would laugh at me
2. I guess I just don't have high enough self-esteem to ward off judging eyes
3. I'm somewhat lazy and it sounds like work.

well, I did it and I must admit, I like the look of them. I didn't know that my legs were so defined, I can really see the muscles and I like it. It does make me feel like a professional.

This is why I shave-

1. I do massage after every ride and
a clean leg takes a massage much, much
better than a hairy one.

2. A clean leg heals faster (though I don't
plan on crashing).

3. It look good and it shows some level of
commitment if you're going as far as doing
that.

After being on chemo last year, I lost
all my hair anyway, so it's no big deal
not having it now. And as far a it being
too "feminine", there is nothing more
grueling that 15 treatments of chemo
in 12 weeks so I know how tough I am.

Has anyone here tried the LASER hair removal for legs? Too permanent? I just got back from Tyler, TX. My sister is a dermatologist there, and owns a laser hair removal tool. Which is pretty slick, cause it would cost mucho $$$ to pay for that treatment. I am having her laser off my neck hair, starting from a little below my adams apple, all the way up to right below my chain. (Even if I ever did want a beard, I would not want one on my neck.) It typically requires multiple treatments. This is my 2nd treatment, and even the 1st worked well. I imagine a hardcore rider might be willing to laser the legs. It's only semi-permanent -- without maintenance, it would eventually come back somewhat. But seems it would be far more effective than shaving or Nair.

As a tangent, the majority of guys between 20 and 35 have already been introduced to shaving - ahem - down there. Not necessarily 100% shaven, but women tend to appreciate good grooming. If you're going to shave your legs, you may as well go ahead and try some other grooming if you haven't already.

I don't see the point of shaving legs though. If I was ever good enough for leg hair to actually matter, my legs would probably be a helluva lot more impressive anyway. Otherwise, I think it's rather clique-ish.

This is why I shave-

1. I do massage after every ride and a clean leg takes a massage much, much
better than a hairy one.

2. A clean leg heals faster (though I don't plan on crashing).

3. It look good and it shows some level of commitment if you're going as far as doing that.
4. Leg grippers don't "grip" hairy legs.

5. Sunscreen and leg hair?

I do massage after every ride

Self massage, I assume? How do you do it? How hard?
What does it do for you?

OK...I'm gonna crank it up a notch...we're all friends right? I have a very hairy back and shoulders, it makes getting a good massage difficult. Obviously I can't reach back there well so.....how do the body builders do it? Not sure my wife would real excited about helping...

OK...I'm gonna crank it up a notch...we're all friends right? I have a very hairy back and shoulders, it makes getting a good massage difficult. Obviously I can't reach back there well so.....how do the body builders do it? Not sure my wife would real excited about helping...

If you can recruit your wife, get the Nair for Men. It sorda smells like cucumbers, doesn't burn, gets the job done, and lasts for some time. I actually think the hair has gotten thinner over the past year or so.

Take a got shower, smear it on your back, but don't rub it in. Let it sit for 20 minutes (10 won't work) then take a towel that a bit coarse (soak it with warm water then wring it out real good) and with some pressure, have your wife or whoever you can con into helping you, rub down your back. You shoudln't need to rub back and forth, just long strokes in one direction should do it. YOu may need to repeat the process the first time or two until you get used to it and your hair's not so thick.

The other way is to tape a Mach 3 to the handle of a shower brush and simple shave your back. You'd be surprised how quickly you get the hang of it.

I pluck my hair out with tweezers one at a time...it's a Zen thing. Or when I'm in a hurry I apply industrial strength Duct tape in full length of the chest, arms and legs then just rip it off fast.

Seriously though I do not shave, I also think it's one of those cycling clique things that does absolutely nothing for your performance...unless you average over 75mph then the hair may produce some slight air resistence then you should shave.

Something that no one has yet brought up, but that I think is a real plus. The way it feels while riding. Once I shaved the first time, I noticed immediately that I couldn’t feel the air passing over my legs. The lack of turbulence is far less fatiguing.

Obviously I can't reach back there well so.....how do the body builders do it? Not sure my wife would real excited about helping...

A girl I work with told me she saw lots of body builders at the place where she got waxed. Apparently they service a lot of men for hair removal...

OK...I'm gonna crank it up a notch...we're all friends right? I have a very hairy back and shoulders, it makes getting a good massage difficult. Obviously I can't reach back there well so.....how do the body builders do it? Not sure my wife would real excited about helping...

Again, some of you need to try laser hair removal. I was going to do my back this weekend, but the office did not have a razor (it helps to have the hair freshly shaven or with a few days growth - longer hair absorbs too much of the laser). But my neck is working out great.

I don't race, but I am very familiar with road rash. My leg hair didn't present a big problem to cleaning the wound and keeping it clean. Just my opinion but it seems that shaving provides more psychological benefits than practical ones. Although the massage aspect does make sense.


Do you race? you will want shaved legs when you are in a massive pile up or when all of a sudden your bike disappears from under you at 28mph in a corner.

I can't shave my legs. If I did, I'd have to shave my arms. I don't want to shave my arms. But if I shave my legs, I'd have to shave my arms because being a rather hairy biped I'd look mighty odd with orangutan arms and glass-smooth legs :eek:

I have a friend who races Cat 3 and he takes it off of his arms as well. His reasoning, anywhere you might get scraped up should be clean.

How right he is! I shave my arms too for the same reason!

I was wondering the same thing. I did shave my legs (love it) but I'm kinda scared to do my arms

I was wondering the same thing. I did shave my legs (love it) but I'm kinda scared to do my arms

I use the nair for men on my arms and it works great!

Does anyone wear sleeveless jerseys? Do you men shave your armpits?

Does anyone wear sleeveless jerseys? Do you men shave your armpits?

I wear sleeveless jerseys. I shave my arms up to my shoulder, but do not shave my armpits. Hey, I need a little masculinity. ;)