Shaving...
#76
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 11,690
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
Since I have body hair like a chimp, I use a Wahl clipper with the smallest guard and manscape my legs and arms. So I keep those areas about 1/4” and it makes applying sunscreen a snap.
Shaved my legs during my competitive days in my 30s but using clippers is so much easier and faster.
Shaved my legs during my competitive days in my 30s but using clippers is so much easier and faster.
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“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
Not a CAT
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
#77
Senior Member

Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,292
Likes: 541
From: Great White North
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock, 1973 Raleigh Sport, Nishiki Probe
I always thought it was an old wives tale when people would say, if you start shaving a part of your body it would grow back twice as fast and twice as thick. Well, they were right so I don't shave any part of my body I don't have to other than my dome because most of the hair has already fallen out.
That being said, I'm sure I look like sasquatch on a bike when I'm out there in the summer. Oh well, I'm not riding to to look pleasing to other people.
That being said, I'm sure I look like sasquatch on a bike when I'm out there in the summer. Oh well, I'm not riding to to look pleasing to other people.
#78
The road rash after my crash (hit by a car) was much easier to care for with shaved legs.
Besides, shaving makes it easier to see the fine details in my tattoos.
#80
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Welcome to bike forums Genghis Kant . This is an 6 year old thread and many of the posters may not be still members. We suggest that you start a new thread on subject matters that interest you versus post to an old zombie thread.
To answer your question, Specialized did tests in their wind tunnel and found that shaving legs made a significant different in power saved. If you want to watch the video search Specialized Wintunnel shaved.
Here is an excerpt from Velonews…The tests showed that shaving the test subject’s legs reduced drag by about seven percent, saving 15 watts at the same speed. In theory, that translates to a 79-second advantage over a 40-kilometer time trial.
Riders work one or two seasons of training to improve the 40K time trial by 79 seconds. 79 seconds is a significant improvement.
To answer your question, Specialized did tests in their wind tunnel and found that shaving legs made a significant different in power saved. If you want to watch the video search Specialized Wintunnel shaved.
Here is an excerpt from Velonews…The tests showed that shaving the test subject’s legs reduced drag by about seven percent, saving 15 watts at the same speed. In theory, that translates to a 79-second advantage over a 40-kilometer time trial.
Riders work one or two seasons of training to improve the 40K time trial by 79 seconds. 79 seconds is a significant improvement.
#81
Version 7.0


Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,844
Likes: 3,858
From: SoCa
Bikes: Road, Track, TT and Gravel
No impact on CdA. Specialized tested hairy arms versus shaved arms and beards versus shaved faces. Specialized found that it was the motion of the leg hair as one pedals that caused the increased CdA. In fact, Specialized tried different hair patterns.
#82
Senior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,685
Likes: 784
So if you had shaved prior to the crash the ER would have been pleasant?
#83
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 11,690
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
#85
#86
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 511
From: Missouri
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, BMC Time Machine, Univega Alpina Ultima
What about 'em? Same rules apply. Some shave 'em, some don't. Those who shave them get a benefit. Those who don't, don't. C'est la guerre.
Maybe we could discuss eyebrow trimming next.
Maybe we could discuss eyebrow trimming next.
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Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton

#88
Senior Member


Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,608
Likes: 2,475
From: Bastrop Texas
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Why shave... A butane lighter thins out the hairs quite nicely...
Lets keep this thread going... Ha
Lets keep this thread going... Ha
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No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#89
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14,164
Likes: 5,292
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
#90
...

Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 3,482
From: Whitestone and Rensselaerville, New York
Bikes: '23 Canyon Endurace, '87 Bottecchia Equipe Professional
For years, my barely fuzzed family has been making fun of my hirsute growth. I recently discussed "real" road bikers shaving and they pretended horror and started mocking the Old Man.
As any mocked dad will know, absolutely know, that come warm weather...
As any mocked dad will know, absolutely know, that come warm weather...
#91
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 11,690
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
bandages are for cuts but for severe weeping road rash people use 4 by 4s or larger held by white medical tape which is an absolute bugger to pull off with hairy legs. That stuff does not fall off.
__________________
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
Not a CAT
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
#92
It's MY mountain

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,173
Likes: 4,230
From: Mt.Diablo
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
The knee doctor told me her worst patients were drug abusers because they had no tolerance for pain at all, and the pain meds don't work.
#93
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 311
Likes: 128
From: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Bikes: '23 Devinci Hatchet Carbon Apex1 '19 Norco Bigfoot 6.1 ,'12 Motobecane Turino (killed by dog crash), '12 Trek 3700 Disc
LOL - I once had a leg in traction with some seriously sticky tape - 1 strip down each side of the leg from hip to ankle.
When they pulled it off, those strips were the smoothest my legs have ever been.
I'll risk more tape before I ever bothered to shave. That applies universally head to toe.
When they pulled it off, those strips were the smoothest my legs have ever been.
I'll risk more tape before I ever bothered to shave. That applies universally head to toe.
#94
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 11,690
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
Don’t shave, use electric trimmers. Much faster, no annoying stubble or ingrown hairs and you can have as much or little hair on your gams as you want. I used to shave in my 30s but and electric hair trimmer is the bomb. I use a Wahl for my noggin and legs and arms. My wife doesn’t miss my monkey hair.
__________________
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
Not a CAT
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
#95
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 664
From: Massachusetts
So, at risk of getting this old thread banished to Pills and Ills....
After my Achilles tendon surgery, I *HAD* to take narcotics to "keep ahead of the pain." I took the minimum number of pills before I brought the remainder to the local police station for disposal.
For my robotic assisted prostatectomy, I was not to shave anything, period. Please, listen to your doctors. It's not always a "favor."
(That said, somewhat surprised to wake up shaved where they shaved.)
After my surgery, I was hooked up to a patient controlled morphine drip, with instructions to again, "keep ahead of the pain." (I ended up using zero doses for the day I was a patient.)
Late that night, my roommate returned from complications from leg amputation surgery, and all night long loudly demanded morphine. The nurses let them know that the "pain team" was on the way. On the way. On the way.
The next morning the pain team expressed their concern about how to treat their pain given their prior abuse history.
That completely sucked, because I have no doubt that they were in pain. Rock, hard place.
Anyhow, I'm lucky that my Sasquatch factor is floating point underflow. I have always had more hair on my toes than I do on my legs.
(I also lost my armpit hair to hormone therapy. Which led to the interesting conversation with a nurse, "Well at least you don't have to shave anymore. Oh." But I got to keep my head hair and beard, so yeah!)
So, no, I don't shave my forearms.
-mr. bill
#97
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 511
From: Missouri
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, BMC Time Machine, Univega Alpina Ultima
They won't slide on any easier, but you'll be much more aware of just how soft/course/itchy/comfy they are!
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Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton

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