Dear Bokkie

Confusion reigns

I think my post was unclear. I was simply trying to illustrate that, for the same wound, the presence of fuzz probably INCREASES the chance for infection over the absence of fuzz. But what you point out is very true. The actual reduction in potential for infection that shaving brings is minuscule in the grand scheme of things. A rider vs pavement injury is reliably contaminated. After the ER does its best to cleanse the wound, suture and dress it, maybe then the +/- hair argument gains some power. But I'm with you, in the realm of bike injuries the presence or absence of leg hair probably determines very little.

Now Lotek suggests that shaven legs slide across pavement more easily than unshaven legs. I don't see why that would intuitively be the case. I don't know how you could prove such a thing (volunteers?). However, it is definitely the case that a naked wound is easier to clean than a hairy one. So we are left with only this practical benefit of shaving legs with respect to bike wounds: Shaving makes clean-up easier.

Oh, and it makes you look fly.

BK