I watched Breaking Away as a kid and went and "shaved" my legs - but I didn't have any hair on them yet. I never stopped

Even if I wait a bit I don't grow too much hair. No hair on most of my body either, just sort of natural. Ditto face. It takes me a week to grow most guys' "5 o'clock shadow".

I shave because it makes me feel "serious". Just like wearing cycling gear - specific jersey or shorts or socks.

Sure there are some advantages - it's much easier to wipe down the gunk that gets on your legs (black soot in NYC for example). Easier to put on heat rub - can't imagine putting on the thick vaseline-like Atomic Balm on anything with hair. Easier to wipe the AB off, requires rubbing alcohol, a towel or two, and a few hours to cool your legs down. Easier to message sore legs. And you look more cut when you're cut (on the other hand, when you're not cut, you look blobby).

I also shave as preparation for crashing. I shave over all my scars - makes it pretty easy to figure out how high up to go. My elbows don't have hair so I don't have to shave those scars. I've crashed numerous times and have boxes of Tegaderm, probably 10 ACE bandages, and rolls and rolls of tape. Never hurts to be prepared and when you do have hair in a wound it really sucks - how do you think I learned how high to shave?

All this is comparing my shaved leg to my relatively hair free unshaved leg. Can't imagine dealing with "hairy" legs.

My gfs over the years and my now wife also like it, except when my legs are smoother than theirs.

cdr