miss kenton

I have noticed, here in pictures on the forum and on the road in the area in which I live, that there is a predominence of cyclists that sport a white beard. So often, in fact, that I have begun pointing it out to others. I know that not all of you do, but it seems a majority do; something I don't see in the general population. Is there some sort of secret brotherhood or does it make you more aerodynamic? What's the deal with the white beard? (not that there's anything wrong with that). I'm just curious.

maddmaxx 

Do you have any idea how many times a 50+ male member of this forum has had to shave his face? It's time for a break.




Now the white part..............well, that just happened.

miss kenton

Good point, though I could say the same about a 50+woman taking a break from shaving her legs. Try and get that image out of your head. Bleech

Retro Grouch 

Interesting point.

Right after I broke my elbows I couldn't shave myself so I decided to take the opportunity to let my beard grow out and see how I'd look.

Early on I noticed that I have a couple of bald spots in my mustache so that had to go. Without the mustache I looked like an Amish elder so it was either shave off some more beard or buy some suspenders and a straw hat.

I'm down to a bushy white goatee. So far all of ladies in my life have said they like it. The men haven't said anything but then, who cares.

Like I said, it is rather white.

Metric Man

I used to know a woman with sideburns longer than mine...I decided to stay clean shaven.

tntyz

Because most of them can't grow a brown one anymore !

BTW, I never could grow a beard and have plans to start now.

RoMad

I absolutely hate to shave. But one thing I like less is how I look when I don't. Sometimes I will skip a day or two on a weekend or vacation but I just don't like all of that white on me. My hair is still plentiful and most of it is still brown so the white just doesn't match on me. My wife, who I think has excellent taste in men, says I look better clean shaven so who am I to argue with that.

The Weak Link

A goatee does a pretty decent job of hiding a double chin.

It's white because I choose not to dye it.

I think that's it.

miss kenton

[QUOTE=Retro Grouch;9663293]Interesting point.

Right after I broke my elbows I couldn't shave myself so I decided to take the opportunity to let my beard grow out and see how I'd look.

Early on I noticed that I have a couple of bald spots in my mustache so that had to go. Without the mustache I looked like an Amish elder so it was either shave off some more beard or buy some suspenders and a straw hat.

I'm down to a bushy white goatee. So far all of ladies in my life have said they like it. The men haven't said anything but then, who cares.

FUNNY!

stapfam

Reason I have a white beard is age. Reason I have a beard is that I broke my razor in 67.

Real reason is that I was in the forces and had to shave 3 times a day or get put on jankers for not shaving. First thing I did after leaving the Marines was stop shaving.

DnvrFox

A few years back, there was some sort of a 50+ poll on the subject.

As I recall, you are correct. A lot of 50+'rs have beards according to the poll - but not I.

DnvrFox

Here is the previous poll:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ighlight=beard

BikeWNC

Never had a beard but I have been known to sport a 4 or 5 day scruff on a regular basis.

CACycling

I've had a beard since I was 22 years old. It's only become a white beard recently.

t4mv

Considering road cycling in general and road racing in particular are traditionally clean-shaven, I would have to say the 50+s are just getting sick and tired of shaving, as some have mentioned. I'm pretty mangey looking if I don't shave beyond several days so I think I'll keep shaving until I don't care if I look mangey or not.

As an aside, maybe we're a forum full of Christmas Santas-in-training?

cranky old dude

The beard, I take full credit for it and I have since April of '83.

I credit 38 years of shift work and the five kids for the white.

Digital Gee

Simple: White beards or goatees go great with white bikes!

Donegal

About 3 years ago, I got serious about my Spring training. Two months on the trainer, Riding Base for an additional month. Long Slow Distance Rides to build my engine (LSD). Spin Classes, Group Rides, Lots of high end work. All ended up beating my immune system up enough that I got a cough. I ignored it, it turned into bronchitis. I went to the doctor for drugs, kept training hard, trying to lose weight. Next thing I knew............................. I went to the doctor, pneumonia. He gave me two choices, two weeks in the hospital or two weeks at home in bed. I chose the latter. Grew the first beard of my life, my wife loves it. So do most other women I ask.

P.S. I am not too proud to dye my beard blonde, and will continue to do so until I'm 99.

Terex

I agree with Link. Also, lots of guys who are losing their hair shave their heads and grow goatees.

When I started to get some sagging in my chin a few years ago, I elected to try plastic surgery. I bought a plastic bike and had it surgically attached to my rear end. Seems to have worked, so far.

10 Wheels

I am retired. Ride much, Just to lazy to shave.
But, who cares, I still get hugs.

Tom Bombadil

No beard, although it would be mostly white if I chose to grow one.

Not having one at 50+ is doubly odd considering that I ride a recumbent.

miss kenton

Excellent responses, Gentlemen. I am a student and I am making a mental note of this thread. What with the bar graphs, then and now photos, testimonials, and precise hair length reports, I know I have collected enough data here to write a decent research report on cycling and men's beards. When I can figure out the class I need it for, I'm going to jump right on it.

wuzzer

The money saved on shaving equipment paid for the bike.

Tom Bombadil

So, Miss Kenton, how much time do you spend observing 50+ male cyclists?

JanMM

You don't see any white facial hair on the face in my avatar, do you???