Touring - Shaving on Tour

I recently discovered that the blades on my electric razor have become very dull and that the replacement blade costs almost as much as what I payed for the shaver. I'm not a fan of razors because I almost always cut myself or irritate my face. I'm leaving for a cross country tour in a week and i have decided that I'll just let my facial hair grow out for the two-three months the ride takes. I don't really see any bad things about having a beard while on the tour but I could be wrong? I mean Forrest Gump didn't shave when he ran across the country and he didn't seem to have a problem. I'm about to turn 19 and have been shaving four or five times a week for about six years now, I've gone for 4 days now and its only a matter of time before I have a bountiful crop of facial hair.

What are your thoughts of shaving while on tour? I'm looking forward to the weight savings of not having to bring my electric razor and constantly having to look for an outlet to charge it. I'm riding with two others and we plan to camp whenever we can. Hopefully I don't look to much like a bum.

I let my whiskers grow while on tour whether the tour. It is usually a week or so of slight itchiness and then fine.

I likely wouldn't start out shaving if I were you. However, your beard may get annoyingly long. I stopped shaving during a month-long vacation and near the end food was starting to get stuck in my beard. I shaved it as soon as i got home. But, a giant beard can be kind of a "souvenir" of your vacation, and make for some interesting pictures/conversations when you talk about your trip years from now.

If it gets long enough to start annoying you, just buy a cheap disposable razor and shave it off. You may need a pair of scissors to knock it down that far. Or stop off at a barber shop along the way and have it cut off for a few dollars.

You do realize that Forrest Gump is not a real person, right?

if you smile, brush your teeth, don't stink too much, walk with a bounce to your step you won't look like a bum, just a weathered bicycle rider. If you've never worn a beard you might be surprised to find that when you're in a bad mood or tired you will get more wary looks than you did before when clean shaven, especially from children. I had a beard for the last three years and noticed that happened more often. I used an electric razor until I was 25 but didn't have much of a beard. When the screen on the electric razor broke I switched to a disposable razor while looking for an electric and discovered pretty quickly that shaving in the shower was less bother than buzzing in front of a mirror. I tried an electric razor after a few years and found it more irritating than the razor. If you want to shave on a tour it's not difficult and the three bladed disposables with the soap strip don't weigh much.

Forrest Gump is not a real person?
Haha, sorry I didn't mean to confuse you, just trying to be a little humorous:)

if you smile, brush your teeth, don't stink too much, walk with a bounce to your step you won't look like a bum, just a weathered bicycle rider.
Will do!

I realize that It wont be hard to find razors if I decide to shave, I guess I'm just curious what it feels like to have a beard and what I would look like with one. I figure this tour is a good opportunity to experiment with it.

I'm a wet shaver, so I tend to go overboard with my shaving kit. I use a folding brush (http://thesuperiorshave.com/Shaving_Brushes_Travel.html), one of the little Gillette razors (kind of like this) (http://www.qedusa.com/merkur-merkur-travel-razor-p-64.html), plus a few assorted soaps and creams. Despite being rather over the top, the entire kit comes in a tad under 8 ounces.

Of course, if it's just a short tour, or I'm not going to really by interacting with people, I'll just let it grow.

fuzz you bring up something that concerns me:

Of course, if it's just a short tour, or I'm not going to really by interacting with people, I'll just let it grow.

Do beards really change social interactions between people that much? A big reason I'm going on his tour is to meet new people and I dont want a beard to prohibit that. Another thing is that I'm hoping to be invited to camp out in people's yards if invited. Do you think not shaving will lead to less invites? I sure don't want to be scaring anyone off because of my beard, I'd consider myself to be a very friendly and nice person. Wont people understand that I'm on a bicycle tour and might not have the ability to stay clean shaven?

Will do!

I realize that It wont be hard to find razors if I decide to shave, I guess I'm just curious what it feels like to have a beard and what I would look like with one. I figure this tour is a good opportunity to experiment with it.

bring a comb. It'll take out the bugs, boogers and bits of food you don't notice accumulating while riding but the folks in the grocery store do.

^starting to rethink the beard....

I have a AA battery powered Phillips shaver , cutters and heads
are the same as their triple head home rotary shavers.

NB: Norelco is Phillips NL in north america..

I've toured for years with a short, neat beard. Keep it that way with a disposable. Whole lot less hassle than shaving each day, not to mention the time savings. Seem to do plenty of interacting on tour. Being a young guy, you'll likely do a lot more. One reason touring is so much fun.

I did a 13 month tour with my brother, and I think I shaved 4 times - every three months or so. The beard didn't hurt our interactions with people - I think it almost helped, by giving a good conversation starter. After 3 months a beard gets really long. Plus it helps with pictures to be able to quickly identify how far into your tour you were, based on beard length.
I say go for it and don't look back.

Here's one of our shaves, in Peru:
248907248908

I'm a wet shaver, so I tend to go overboard with my shaving kit.

I am also a wet shaver, I use the Merkur travel razor, carry a couple of spare blades, use the same soap to shave with as to wash my face, and have a normal shave brush which I carry in a plastic tube. Not a lot of weight, but I feel so much better with a good shave in the morning.

Buy a $30 wahl beard trimmer on Amazon. It's what I bought when I didn't want to replace my last $120 electric razor that crapped out on me. I've had it for over a year and that's all I use to shave. It doesn't get razor close, but it keeps you from looking like a bum. Beards, whether full grown or well trimmed, definitely change the way people look at you, both positively and negatively depending on the person. If you're going to grow it out, at least keep it tidy. While some can see through a wild scruffy beard, most will look at you in a negative light.

fuzz you bring up something that concerns me:


Do beards really change social interactions between people that much? A big reason I'm going on his tour is to meet new people and I dont want a beard to prohibit that. Another thing is that I'm hoping to be invited to camp out in people's yards if invited. Do you think not shaving will lead to less invites? I sure don't want to be scaring anyone off because of my beard, I'd consider myself to be a very friendly and nice person. Wont people understand that I'm on a bicycle tour and might not have the ability to stay clean shaven?

It depends on the beard, but I think being able to look clean and well groomed is always a benefit. Most people don't care if you have a weeks shag, but when the opportunity presents itself for you to do something that requires a more formal appearance, it kind of sucks to miss out. Granted, that advice is taken more from general traveling than bike touring in particular, but I know I've had experiences granted to me that I wouldn't have had if I looked more scruffy. There have been art openings I've attended, VIP lounges I've infiltrated, Galas I've gate crashed and a few fancy dates I've been on that wouldn't have been possible without some attention to appearance.

A neat beard is fine, but it's probably best to avoid the mountain man look. If you're camping, looking to meet fellow travelers, or in an area with a lot of tourists, scruffy is more acceptable, but almost without exception, a neat looking person will have a better response than a scruffy one.

Let it grow,unless you cross the Mason/Dixon line,then just shave the left side......

The problem,if any,is with the person without the beard.

When mine gets to close to the front wheel,I trim it.

I use regular Gillette Fusion and use sunscreen cream instead of shaving cream.

I haven't shaved in 40 years (more or less). I don't see the problem.

bring a comb. It'll take out the bugs, boogers and bits of food you don't notice accumulating while riding but the folks in the grocery store do.

I would also suggest bringing a small pair of scissors. When I don't shave, I find that my mustache quickly grows to the point where it starts to interfere with eating and drinking! A small pair of scissors allows me to keep it trimmed.

These days, I bring a travel-sized can of Edge shaving gel, a Mach 3 razor, and some replacement blades. I can usually get away with shaving every other day.

I'll throw in one idea for anyone in favor of shaving: It was brutally hot and humid when I rode across Kansas. Previous experience with a beard always had me shave it off about March, because the beard was too hot. I was glad to be shaving when I had to cut the riding short every day when the heat index got too high, and it would have taken me even longer to get across Kansas if I'd had to stop an hour earlier every day.

Also, it's easier to apply sunscreen evenly if there's not hair in the way.

But honestly, that's mostly a rationalization for why I like to stay shaven. (As most of the reasons on the other side seem to be, as well.) Do what you want.

I did a 13 month tour with my brother, and I think I shaved 4 times - every three months or so. The beard didn't hurt our interactions with people - I think it almost helped, by giving a good conversation starter. After 3 months a beard gets really long. Plus it helps with pictures to be able to quickly identify how far into your tour you were, based on beard length.
I say go for it and don't look back.

Here's one of our shaves, in Peru:
248907248908

hey Sprintfree, look at those handsome guys! don't they look better with beards? grow it and have fun.

Been wearing a beard for 25 years and haven't scared anyone too much. I taught elementary school and was loved by most of the kids, so I wouldn't worry too much about the social aspects. I do trim around my beard with a disposable razor, even when touring, so I don't look unkempt. I can't imagine carrying an electric razor on a self-contained tour. Just grow it!

I use a straight razor, cheap and works quite well on the road. It's great because it doesn't really care whether you have a beard or not, whatever is in the way is just gone. I take one merkur blade and that will do for months.

One thing about the look is that if you don't have a beard now, or later, you may find it slightly annoying meeting people who might be friends for life, or looking at the photographs, when your look will change right after the ride. I wear a beard, so serial occasional shaving is fine for me.

I wet shave with a disposable twin blade and some shaving oil. It is a very compact kit that weighs nothing. I usually shave in the shower but if my campsite doesnt have one, I usually save a small amount of hit water for a shave.
I guess ever guy has to go through a beardy period just to see what its like.

I think I will just grow it out until it gets to hot or annoying. I have a really small pair of scissors Ill bring to keep it somewhat groomed. Great picture of you and your brother in Peru, both of you look really happy both before and after the beard! Im also sure I will not have the proper clothing to sneak into a VIP club so I'm not to concerned about that.
I figure this might be my only opportunity to grow a beard for awhile so I'm going to take it.

you're the dude riding for 'charity,' right? you plan to represent the charity looking like a bum?

If you shave, these guys will find you.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV-P-PsxQXY&feature=plcp

For your own safety and well being, let the beard grow.

I recently discovered that the blades on my electric razor have become very dull and that the replacement blade costs almost as much as what I payed for the shaver. I'm not a fan of razors because I almost always cut myself or irritate my face. I'm leaving for a cross country tour in a week and i have decided that I'll just let my facial hair grow out for the two-three months the ride takes. I don't really see any bad things about having a beard while on the tour but I could be wrong? I mean Forrest Gump didn't shave when he ran across the country and he didn't seem to have a problem. I'm about to turn 19 and have been shaving four or five times a week for about six years now, I've gone for 4 days now and its only a matter of time before I have a bountiful crop of facial hair.

What are your thoughts of shaving while on tour? I'm looking forward to the weight savings of not having to bring my electric razor and constantly having to look for an outlet to charge it. I'm riding with two others and we plan to camp whenever we can. Hopefully I don't look to much like a bum.

Failure in technique.

You have to get a bit used to using razors and you have to be patient and go slow.

People with beards often shave too. Though, it's easier to get away with not shaving (for a few days) with a beard.


fuzz you bring up something that concerns me:


Do beards really change social interactions between people that much? A big reason I'm going on his tour is to meet new people and I dont want a beard to prohibit that. Another thing is that I'm hoping to be invited to camp out in people's yards if invited. Do you think not shaving will lead to less invites? I sure don't want to be scaring anyone off because of my beard, I'd consider myself to be a very friendly and nice person. Wont people understand that I'm on a bicycle tour and might not have the ability to stay clean shaven?

No real problems with a beard if you look well-groomed. Not shaving at all (and no trimming) is not "well groomed".

you're the dude riding for 'charity,' right? you plan to represent the charity looking like a bum?
No I am not doing the ride for charity, If you look under the "Why" section in my blog you will see why I am doing the ride.
However I am donating some of the money I collect from Sponsors to a charity which I feel does a good job at promoting positive experiences and safety between motorist and cyclist.

Santa and Jesus are not well groomed,lots of people like them.......

People do judge you if you have a beard,just like people judge you if you wear "gangsta" clothes or your skin is not the same color as theirs or you drive a junky car or you have a mustache like Hitler......that's what humans do.

Is this even an issue? Shaving is, and should be, a thing that you do for one reason, and one reason only:
1. You feel like shaving.

When I'm on tour, I generally feel like riding my bike, reading my book, looking for snakes, camping, eating, and not shaving.

I don't shave. Why would we shave? It's part of our identity as men. It is not annoying either. I do trim my mustache though -- but I go to a barber shop and they do it for 3 TND ($2 USD). Here is me after 6 months of cycling in Spain and the Middle East. I blend right in. Well, I was mistaken for a terrorist by Tunisian police so that didn't help there. But hey, whatever! It's part of the story of life.

http://i.imgur.com/idfaK.jpg

And don't forget, you're saving weight by not bringing all of the unnecessary shaving kits. Now you can race up that mountain a couple of seconds quicker. ;)

Impressive beard and I think your right. I'm a man and there's no reason I need to hide that!:)
Great picture BTW

Thanks, sprintfree. :) Credit goes to my amazing photographer friend, Luna -- a person that I met through another cyclist in Spain. :)

You're a man, don't hide it. ;)

And don't forget, you're saving weight by not bringing all of the unnecessary shaving kits. Now you can race up that mountain a couple of seconds quicker.

It is a wash. You have increased your wind resistance:)

Wet shaver here...I use my grandfather's Rolls Razor (http://www.shaveworld.org/home/images/RollsPage2.html), definitely not for weight weenies. :D

I typically shave every 2-3 days while on tour. I have had a beard in the past and prefer clean shaven.

Aaron :)

I use a Gillette safety razor (e.g it uses those disposable "suicide"* one layer razor blades). Blades cost nothing, weigh nothing, take no space. All you need is a small mirror and a shower. Alternatively, use a bucket of water. I've seen this particular brand of razor a lot of places (anywhere from Turkey to China).


*don't take this as being in bad taste - I haven't been able to accurately convey what blade I'm talking about until I trot out that image. People just don't know what a safety razor is anymore.

You heard it here first! The world is full of beardists!

Wet shaver here...I use my grandfather's Rolls Razor (http://www.shaveworld.org/home/images/RollsPage2.html), definitely not for weight weenies. :D

I typically shave every 2-3 days while on tour. I have had a beard in the past and prefer clean shaven.

Aaron :)

Likewise.

I don't even use a mirror at home to shave -- I just do it in the shower and use ordinary soap and a sharp disposable razor. I know my face pretty well and where to trim to... at age 56, it just gets to be like that.

I'll shave the same way whenever we get to a campsite with bathroom facilities. My biggest issue on a long tour is hair -- for our upcoming one, I am considering a buzz cut just as we leave and likely have another, possibly even shave, half to two-thirds of the way through the tour.

Because I tend to grow beards and shave them off almost on whim, I was able to accidentally time the picture in my passport with a close-cut beard. It probably helps getting through immigration to have a bet each way.

I generally shave when I get into a town (wet shave using the gear in my kick box). This can be up to a couple of weeks between shaves. I don't bother shaving on the road as such.

Andrew

I won't be...and haven't since Nov. 2011.
"Ask me About my beard"
http://www.askmeaboutmybeard.com

A Brazilian is the only answer for the serious tourist.

Haven't shaved since my ETS, September 15, 1969. RA19844672, Sir.

I'm 44yo and I can't shave, it sets my skin on fire. I tried, wet, dry, electric, no matter, my skin turns red and hurts badly. I even saw doctors about this and I have extremely irritable skin, so I can only buzz it close to skin with an electric shaver. I can't grow a beard either. First, it looks ridiculous, I have very thin facial hair and my facial hair is a mix of all colors too, so I'd have to dye it or something. Second, I can't get past the week or so of the itchy period, drives me nuts, can't work, can't sleep, feel like rubbing my face against walls. Then there is the heat and humidity, so no beard for me. I'd probably take a small AA powered buzzer, it weights maybe 1/2 lbs. On the upside: I use the same trimmer on my face and head, makes it easy.

I use a Gillette safety razor (e.g it uses those disposable "suicide"* one layer razor blades). Blades cost nothing, weigh nothing, take no space. All you need is a small mirror and a shower. Alternatively, use a bucket of water. I've seen this particular brand of razor a lot of places (anywhere from Turkey to China).

Using cheap disposable blades makes it that much more difficult to shave in the field. At home you might use a Gillette Fusion razor, but these are metal, and too heavy to cart.

The answer for the best quality is to pick up the Lady's version of the Fusion, the Gillette Venus razor, which is plastic, and accepts Fusion blades. The handle can be pruned to about 1", and it is still easy to hold with thumb and two fingers. The weight is in a few grams. At home quality in the field.

http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/182602/300.JPG

I only shaved once on my cross country tour, and that was only because I would be visiting my grandparents. I never once had any problems and was usually less hairy than other touring cyclists I ran into.

Your grandparents only love the shaved version of you? Pity.

A Brazilian is the only answer for the serious tourist.

Somehow, I don't think you are speaking from personal experience on this.