Search
Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Shaving...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-14-22 | 12:23 AM
  #76  
Gruppetto Bob
Titanium Club Membership
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
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.
__________________
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻‍♂️
Not a CAT


rsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 01-14-22 | 08:08 AM
  #77  
gthomson's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
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.
gthomson is offline  
Reply
Old 01-14-22 | 08:35 AM
  #78  
Bald Paul's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 2,483
From: Upstate SC
Originally Posted by DiabloScott
I had stitches in my shin once (non-cycling related) - the HM's had to pull out the flaps of curled up flesh to shave the hair off the skin before they could even start with the needle and thread.
That gave me goosebumps.

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.
Bald Paul is offline  
Reply
Old 01-14-22 | 08:46 AM
  #79  
...
Titanium Club Membership
 
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 3,482
From: Whitestone and Rensselaerville, New York

Bikes: '23 Canyon Endurace, '87 Bottecchia Equipe Professional

What about furry arms?
BTinNYC is offline  
Reply
Old 01-14-22 | 08:32 PM
  #80  
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Hermes
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.
Yeah, I realized after replying that it was an old post. Sorry about that, but thanks for the explanation!
Genghis Kant is offline  
Reply
Old 01-15-22 | 06:34 PM
  #81  
Hermes's Avatar
Version 7.0
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,844
Likes: 3,858
From: SoCa

Bikes: Road, Track, TT and Gravel

Originally Posted by BTinNYC
What about furry arms?
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.
Hermes is offline  
Reply
Old 01-16-22 | 10:30 PM
  #82  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,685
Likes: 784
Originally Posted by FullGas
started shaving a few years ago...

looks good, feels good...especially when swimming.

shaving is not about being 'aero,' it's about road rash...my last trip to the ER after a crash with hairy legs was pretty unpleasant.
So if you had shaved prior to the crash the ER would have been pleasant?
downhillmaster is offline  
Reply
Old 01-16-22 | 11:34 PM
  #83  
Gruppetto Bob
Titanium Club Membership
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 11,690
From: Seattle-ish

Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo

Originally Posted by 02Giant
Look at what happened to Bruce Jenner...
OMG! You are so right. Please don’t tell the pro and semi-pro racers or they might run for governor of California.
__________________
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻‍♂️
Not a CAT


rsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 01-17-22 | 09:05 AM
  #84  
indyfabz's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 45,215
Likes: 23,380
I started shaving my legs long before this thread was started in 2016.
indyfabz is offline  
Reply
Old 01-17-22 | 09:07 AM
  #85  
indyfabz's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 45,215
Likes: 23,380
Originally Posted by rsbob
OMG! You are so right. Please don’t tell the pro and semi-pro racers or they might run for governor of California.
You are in the running for today's oldest post quote prize. Good luck!
indyfabz is offline  
Reply
Old 01-17-22 | 09:41 PM
  #86  
bbbean's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 511
From: Missouri

Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, BMC Time Machine, Univega Alpina Ultima

Originally Posted by BTinNYC
What about furry arms?
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.
__________________

Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton

bbbean is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-22 | 10:04 PM
  #87  
Hondo Gravel's Avatar
Life Feeds On Life
5 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 5,586
From: Hondo,Texas

Bikes: Canyon Grizl

I have nothing to say
Hondo Gravel is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-22 | 10:16 PM
  #88  
zandoval's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
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
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
zandoval is offline  
Reply
Old 01-19-22 | 10:35 PM
  #89  
79pmooney's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
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

Originally Posted by downhillmaster
So if you had shaved prior to the crash the ER would have been pleasant?
More pleasant. That shave by the ER nurse isn't fun. And she's more likely to take extra care if you have made her job easier. (Edit: I tell them this is why I shave.)
79pmooney is offline  
Reply
Old 01-26-22 | 08:21 AM
  #90  
...
Titanium Club Membership
 
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...

BTinNYC is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-22 | 12:46 AM
  #91  
Gruppetto Bob
Titanium Club Membership
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 11,690
From: Seattle-ish

Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo

Originally Posted by Drew Eckhardt
The adhesive on most bandages isn't very water resistant, so they almost fall off by themselves when you bathe with soap and water.
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


rsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-22 | 01:59 PM
  #92  
DiabloScott's Avatar
It's MY mountain
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,173
Likes: 4,230
From: Mt.Diablo

Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek

Originally Posted by 79pmooney
More pleasant. That shave by the ER nurse isn't fun. And she's more likely to take extra care if you have made her job easier. (Edit: I tell them this is why I shave.)
I always tell any medical people that my objective is to be their favorite patient. Then I ask them to tell me a story about their worst patient. Sometimes that gets me a little more personal care, but they usually don't want to get too specific.

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.
DiabloScott is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-22 | 02:04 PM
  #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.
Bearhawker is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-22 | 09:38 PM
  #94  
Gruppetto Bob
Titanium Club Membership
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
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


rsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 02-05-22 | 01:55 PM
  #95  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 664
From: Massachusetts
Originally Posted by DiabloScott
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.
Orthopedics is tough. It can hurt like hell, and they want you to keep ahead of the pain, but.

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
mr_bill is offline  
Reply
Old 02-07-22 | 10:05 AM
  #96  
tilsover's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 50
Likes: 80
From: Minnesota

Bikes: 2019 KHS 1000; 1990 (or so) Trek 930

Never considered shaving my legs, but if I did I wonder if my long-johns would slide on easier.
tilsover is offline  
Reply
Old 02-07-22 | 11:32 AM
  #97  
bbbean's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 511
From: Missouri

Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, BMC Time Machine, Univega Alpina Ultima

Originally Posted by tilsover
Never considered shaving my legs, but if I did I wonder if my long-johns would slide on easier.
They won't slide on any easier, but you'll be much more aware of just how soft/course/itchy/comfy they are!
__________________

Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton

bbbean is offline  
Reply
Old 02-09-22 | 08:19 PM
  #98  
Flip Flop Rider's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 561
From: South Carolina Upstate

Bikes: 2010 Fuji Absolute 3.0 1994 Trek 850

I used the clippers once and it actually felt great. May do it again
Flip Flop Rider is offline  
Reply
Old 03-07-22 | 04:32 PM
  #99  
Banned
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 390
I damaged both knees last year thanks to a neighbor letting her dog get loose and run out into the street. I needed to shave my legs to get the bandages to stick.
Calsun is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
spectastic
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing
40
03-06-18 12:02 PM
chado445510
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing
5
03-10-11 07:17 PM
xupd42bmg
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing
40
04-06-10 08:43 PM
2005trek1200
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing
19
01-12-10 12:39 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.