I don't shave 'religiously', I'm too lazy. But I TRY to keep up with it in summer. I HAVE been complimented on my bare legs by a couple women, but that's not why I do it.

I prefer the feel of hairless legs; when I was a young teen, I borrowed a pair of jeans from a friend; they were the softest, most comfortable jeans I'd EVER worn, and only rarely matched since. When I shave the legs, I'm reminded of that pair of jeans.

Been known to do the arms and chest on occasion, too; some people call it "manscaping"; I call it "my body, my choice, get a life." You gonna try and demean me because I shave the errant hairs off the outside of my ears, too?

Very convincing! I like your reasoning, Eric. :)

Waaay back when I did tri's, I'd shave my legs mostly for a mental edge. It was part of the race ritual, and I loved the closer feel of the air and water on my sticks. Never thought about the woman edge, but it probably helped.

Dave

I shaved them once, but since my legs are not that hairy nobody really noticed. Not saying I would not shave them again.

I wonder what wisdom the forum women could add?

I agree with icyclist, besides the commitment, I started shaving once I was riding > 40 miles regularly, I really didn't like how much road grime and bugs would be stuck to my legs. The clincher was finding a tick clinking to a hair as it crawled up my leg.

Everyone swears up and down that I save mine. But unfortunately, my cancer meds have done a pretty permanent job of doing it for me. What little hair is on my legs is so short and fine that you really have to look close to see it. I must admit, I do like the fact that they don't collect dirt and are much cooler when riding. And for the same reason that bodybuilders shave their entire body, being hairless also brings out the muscle definition on the legs more so than legs covered with hair. With that being said, I'm not sure that I would shave my legs on my own if I had the choice.

Perhaps you missed the "why?" at the end of the original post? Seems like someone seeking information about the reasoning vs. determining who does and who doesn't.
So far it seems as if those who do shave do so for reasons of easier massage and easier wound care.... and some thoughts of partner preferences.

I guess I place emphasis on "So, do you shave?"

I've been shaving my legs for almost 40 years. :)

Since I wear sunscreen whenever I ride outside, having shaved legs makes it easier to apply and then wash off afterward. I don't use any fancy shaving stuff; just a disposable razor and soap in the shower.

As a teen at a high school back when there were dress codes, I shaved my legs regularly. Even into my 20s, long after I'd pretty much stopped wearing skirts/dresses, I continued to shave on a fairly regular basis. Now, it's when the hairs start tangling in my socks (how do you guys tolerate that anyway???).

It's the sunscreen in summer on the legs that tells me beyond all doubt when I'm overdue for a shave.

That is good to know, CbadRider. I do use my beard trimmers on my legs during the summer sunscreen . What I really wonder from the women was, do you prefer male cyclists to shave?

In some 15 years of shaving I have yet to hear a negative comment about it. Not at the gym, not from family, or from anyone else. OTOH I have had women in cars at stoplights roll down their window and tell me how great my legs look.

Another small aspect of the shaven legs, it doesn't take as long to dry them off after a shower. I also don't like the tingly feeling I get after a long ride caused by the wind exciting the hair follicles.

;) I always thought tingly feelings were a good thing... as long as they weren't running down your left arm.

I swim and often with a swim brief (aka Speedo) so I shave up to that. Now that I think about it, the first time I shaved my legs was in high school when I first qualified for the sectional swim meet and was told by the coach that all team members swimming at sectionals will shave their legs :)

I do shave my legs, for most of the reasons noted above, so no need to repeat all that.

If I go several months without shaving my legs (which get kind of Chewabaka hairy) I need to use an electric razor before using the same Mach 3 shaver I use on my face. I shave in the shower anyway, so shaving my legs really doesn't take much longer.

Rick / OCRR

When I was taking chemo, all the hair on my legs and pretty much everywhere else came off. I kind of liked the smooth leg thing and thought about shaving my legs after the hair came back. But I knew I'd be too lazy to maintain it. It only takes me a minute to do the small amount of shaving around my goatee needed after the radiation permanently took away the outer areas of my facial hair, yet I find even that little bit of shaving to be a real nuisance.

Fixed that for you.

Thanks Condorita!

Rick / OCRR

Not sure if Condorita is a fan of male cyclist shaving their legs, Star Wars.... or both:D

Like Chad Rider, I have been shaving my legs for over 40 years. I shave them everyday as part of my morning toiletries. It takes me about half a minute and I can tell you, hair conditioner works better than shaving cream for a smooth shave.

I have to chuckle at the posts stating how chicks dig men with shaved legs. For those of us who are daily shavers, leg shaving is as mundane as brushing one's teeth.

I have ridden in two large charity rides. As a result, I'd estimate I've ridden with 10,000 men. Though I very much enjoyed spending my day surrounded by lycra-clad men, I never noticed if even one of those men had shaved legs. I have never heard another women comment on the allure of a man's shaved (or hairy) legs, either.

IMHO, if any of you are shaving your legs to appeal to women, don't bother, we see hairless legs everyday--'taint no big deal. (However, you might want to give your back the once over with the ol' Gillette!):)

It may be mundane for you but it's a winning wager to think that most women have not been around many [if any] men with shaved legs. Not to mention huge muscular shaved legs. A number of times over the years women have asked if they could feel my legs. We're joking about women swooning over em but clearly it's a novelty for some. Hell, my own wife lovessss it.

PS No back hair to shave.

Been shaving them for years for all the reasons mentioned plus the Wife likes it :)

I wouldn't know. I've never had much hair below my patella, and none at all from the top of my shins to my feet. It's pretty sparse on my thighs, too.

Probably easier to deal with road rash trauma without hair being present.