General Cycling Discussion - Do you shave your legs, arms?

This thread was inspired by a couple of posts on the http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/771723-How-to-train-your-motorists-not-to-kill-you thread.

Do you shave your leg or arms? Why? What benefit do you derive from it?

Obviously the "aero" issue is invalid on its face, but do you believe, or have you found, that shaving decreases the loss of skin or tissue in a crash, and do you believe, or have you found, that shaving decreases healing time?

Have you found any other benefits?

i could never be be bothered to keep my arms and legs shaved, regardless of benefit. i have a hard enough time as it is keeping my face clean-shaven.

Oh joy, a shaving thread. I was wondering why this subject rarely comes up. :D

I shave my legs, ride wearing ear buds in traffic, think campy rules, and pack a pistol while riding.

I shave my legs, ride wearing ear buds in traffic, think campy rules, and pack a pistol while riding.

If you're as hairy as me, and don't shave your legs, you could hide the pistol in your leg hair...

That is what my butt hair is for.

That is what my butt hair is for.

Thanks for making me spit all over the monitor! :roflmao:

I shave my legs on occasion because society expects me to ... especially when I wear a dress or skirt.

I don't shave my legs but I have been growing my nails out (on one hand anyway) and perusing the nail polish aisle...

Oh joy, a shaving thread. I was wondering why this subject rarely comes up. :D

I just find it interesting that many Noobs don't understand, and then deny the benefits so they don't have to deal with it. I guess they just haven't gone done enough to get it yet....

I just find it interesting that many Noobs don't understand, and then deny the benefits so they don't have to deal with it. I guess they just haven't gone done enough to get it yet....

Give them time. Some just don't care for the shaving...percieved benefits or not.

Stumon gave the best reply 10 years ago.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/2498-OK-I-m-hip-to-the-helmet-and-gloves-but-I-won-t-shave-my-legs!?p=17836#post17836

Stumon gave the best reply 10 years ago.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/2498-OK-I-m-hip-to-the-helmet-and-gloves-but-I-won-t-shave-my-legs!?p=17836#post17836

Now that was funny! And I guess that that might be part of the reason there is so much resistance, but I am beginning to think that simple ignorance of youth is really the primary reason, along with a campaign of disinformation akin to the "Helmets don't save lives" crowd....

Shave? No, Trim? Well...

...If you live past fifty, you better get some good trimmers. You will start growing hair longer than you have ever had on your head, in places you never thought hair would grow.

I trim the underarms eyebrows, ear lobes, nose, and some other places I won't mention.

Shorter hair under my arms also keeps body odor down.

Trim yes! Shave? Not so far :)

Stumon gave the best reply 10 years ago.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/2498-OK-I-m-hip-to-the-helmet-and-gloves-but-I-won-t-shave-my-legs!?p=17836#post17836

LMAO!!!! Awesome...

Stumon gave the best reply 10 years ago.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/2498-OK-I-m-hip-to-the-helmet-and-gloves-but-I-won-t-shave-my-legs!?p=17836#post17836

Hilarious post!

I shave my legs on occasion because society expects me to ... especially when I wear a dress or skirt.

+1

This thread was inspired by a couple of posts on the http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/771723-How-to-train-your-motorists-not-to-kill-you thread.

Do you shave your leg or arms? Why? What benefit do you derive from it?

Obviously the "aero" issue is invalid on its face, but do you believe, or have you found, that shaving decreases the loss of skin or tissue in a crash, and do you believe, or have you found, that shaving decreases healing time?

Have you found any other benefits?

Until I read your post, I thought you had a popcorn-worthy thread that was going to ask..."why shave your legs, but not your arms or face"? You let me down....I'll have to take my popcorn to another thread.

I just noticed that you posted this in the General Cycling forum too...if you're gonna post a shaving thread, the roadie forum is your huckleberry. DOUBLE FAIL! :(

Until I read your post, I thought you had a popcorn-worthy thread that was going to ask..."why shave your legs, but not your arms or face"? You let me down....I'll have to take my popcorn to another thread.

I just noticed that you posted this in the General Cycling forum too...if you're gonna post a shaving thread, the roadie forum is your huckleberry. DOUBLE FAIL! :(

Have you read the posts on the referenced threads? I thought not. I did shave my arms and legs for at least 8 years to reduce the injury level and improve healing time because I learned over a 4 year period that not shaving reduced my riding time due to healing time. For so-called veteren riders to poopoo shaving when talking to Noobs is like veterens recommending that Noobs not wear helmets. You have proven my point and I will place you in the "Disinformation" side of the equation. No problem.

BTW: Mountain bikers have a greater need to take advantage of the benefit than Roadies because they are far more likely to go down, and they are going down on dirt with whatever organic/inorganic contaminents, rather than potentially cleaner asphalt.

If it was just for road I would say that most that shave do so to be part of the tribe. But from a mountian bike stand point it makes a lot of sense, The legs are shaved smooth and everything else is trimmed short. Suntan lotion and poision ivy bock go on much easier. After the ride its easier to clean up before you crawl back into your truck. Easier also to check for ticks.

The amount and where I shave is directly proportional to how hard I'm trying to get laid.

I haven't shaved any body part in over 6 months. I don't foresee any changes in the next 6 months either.

Have you read the posts on the referenced threads? I thought not. I did shave my arms and legs for at least 8 years to reduce the injury level and improve healing time because I learned over a 4 year period that not shaving reduced my riding time due to healing time. For so-called veteren riders to poopoo shaving when talking to Noobs is like veterens recommending that Noobs not wear helmets. You have proven my point and I will place you in the "Disinformation" side of the equation. No problem.

BTW: Mountain bikers have a greater need to take advantage of the benefit than Roadies because they are far more likely to go down, and they are going down on dirt with whatever organic/inorganic contaminents, rather than potentially cleaner asphalt.

Wait a minute. Are you saying that road rash prevented you from cycling? Seriously? You better wear more protective gear than just that helmet, me bucko; you should invest in some leathers. And, if you happen to riding near a body of water, perhaps a set of water wings would be in order.

I've received my fair share of road rash. I was once a 20 year old, aggressive urban cyclist, I longboarded for 5 years in my mid-twenties, and I am an occasional drunk. As such, I've been knocked/have fallen to the pavement repeatedly, and have the scars to prove it. I never shaved anything other than my face (except once on a drunken dare, but that was my head), and all that road rash still healed just fine.

Put a bandage on it, keep it clean, and keep riding.

The amount and where I shave is directly proportional to how hard I'm trying to get laid.

I haven't shaved any body part in over 6 months. I don't foresee any changes in the next 6 months either.

TMI. :twitchy:

Just my ear hair, I remember looking at my grandpas excessively hairy ears and they always made me laugh as a kid, well apparently it's genetic.

I shave my legs and sometimes arms simply because I like it that way. I have been a swimmer all my life, began shaving early. I can feel the water much better and any benefits to cycling are just icing on the cake. Don't care what people think. Occasionally somebody notices and will ask, I simply answer that I swim, bike and run and shave, lol.

I shave my legs on occasion because society expects me to ... especially when I wear a dress or skirt.

Well if I shaved my legs and wore a dress or skirt, I would probably get beat up. For some reason society doesn't think that I should do that.

Depends on what part of society you are a member of.