I guessing that you "guys" that shave your legs must shave your arms too. In a crash, one gets road rash on arms also so it would stand to reason that the arms get shaved ... yes?

No I dont shave nor will I ever, if I need some speed I will shave off some pounds, not against women shavers!

The society is full of stereotypes and prejudices. Why a woman must shave her legs?

It is painful, it may lead to infections and rashes. But still it is supposed to be beautiful.

Let's imagine one takes a cute female cat and shaves this cat. Will it be more beautiful?

If you do not like it do not do it. As Emerson said: "Insist on yourself."

I am sure there will be people who will consider you attractive with natural look of your legs.

Besides this way you will be better protected against the UV-rays, which can be very harmful to one's health. All these UV-lotions take out only percentage of an UV dose, but human hairs provide the real shadows.

I thought cyclists shave legs to decrease air resistance. The same as swimmers do. For example, I noticed that in lycra shorts I ride faster than in usual shorts, which hold me back as a parachute.

Does shaving reduce air drag noticeably? For swimmers it does, however water is more resistant than air.

When I was a competetive swimmer we were told to shave because (a) it was as good a feeling as swimmimg naked therefor it gave a real psychological boost for the really important event.
Likewise shaved legs make you feel good.
I'm not convinced that eirher sport would actually benefit aerodynamically shaved or not.

Real reason is the crash thing. believe me haveing dressings changed and wounds cleaned over hairyness aint no fun (Not that's fun if you're shaved - it's just less painful!

Ellie, I know I'm a guy and thus not really qualified to mention this but...

If shaving your legs is such a chore and causes ingrowing hairs, why not either use a depilatory cream like Immac or have your legs waxed :confused: ?

Both are far longer lasting and don't cause painful ingrowing hairs... Genuinely curious....

Chemicals on the skin? Hmm...

Don't see the benefit for anyone that isn't really racing for a living. If weight is as an issue, then lower percentage of fat, before leg hair.

<ordinary guy perspective>Women don't really have to shave legs. I think legs are ok as long as they look good and feel smooth. Shaving is actually not that good in the feeling part. As for a cat, it's *cute*. Legs are *sexy*. Cute-sexy. Feel the difference. Maybe furry legs can be considered cute, but I don't feel like it. I'm just not the kind of guy. </ordinary guy perspective>

Are not legs prickly after shave?

Yes, a few days later. Just like a guys face.

No Ellie... don't shave for fear of rejection. Some of us old Hungarian boys like hair on woman...

I don't know about prickly, mine are always velvety-soft

shaving legs for guys is like buying a new bike. it will only serve to make you ride more in hopes of justifying the bike (or for this thread the shaving)

besides, anyone who thinks that guys are NOT vain.....

Dunno who told you that, Astra, but in my case at least it just ain't true! In fact, prior to waxing I never had any trouble at all. I've tried most common methods of hair removal at one time or another, believe me!

And it's not so much fear of rejection - I don't find it attractive, let alone whoever else is out there looking at my legs!

Ellie

shaved legs do several things;
1. makes it much easier to massage, thus giving you a better massage. The massage is painful enough, you don't need tugging and pulling at hairs too.
2. simply easier to keep clean. I'm not a yeti so I don't have this problem but my friend (with really hairy legs) picks up bugs and alot of muck on MTB rides.
3. in an accident, road rash DOES heal faster and less chance of infection
4. Scrubbing out road rash (one of the most painful experiences on earth) is less painful and more beneficial
5. keeping bandages on is difficult with hairy legs
6. ripping bandages off is HELL with hairy legs.
7. if it helps you metally for a race to be 'clean' than that's a good thing.
8. defined legs psyche out the competition!

anyway, thats why I do it. If you need hair on your legs to help define your masculinity than you have some issues that can't be fixed here. Maybe you are afraid that you are really gay and need to strictly define your view of "being a man". I think most men comfortable with who they are don't really care one way or the other what someone does with their legs.

As for women, well I gotta admit I like the smooth legs but I remember seeing Ellie's pic in her profile a while ago (feet in the grass) and hairy legs rank right up there with a hangnail. With her, it aint gonna matter!

Ok, so now I'm blushing...

Ellie

RacerX said

"3. in an accident, road rash DOES heal faster and less chance of infection
4. Scrubbing out road rash (one of the most painful experiences on earth) is less painful and more beneficial"

Please be sure and write IMHO next to statements like that, unless you have good evidence that what you are saying is fact.

As long as you keep your wound clean, the presence or absence of hair should not significantly change your chance for infection - after all, scalp wounds don't have a higher rate of infection than any other type of wound.

While we are on the subject of wound care, pressure irrigation is the best way to cut down on chances of infection (saline is best, tap water will do), GENTLE scrubbing in order to remove gravel and such is also beneficial. But be careful not to further abrade healthy skin with overly vigorous rubbing.

Peace
BK

I do not mind anyone shaving his/her legs.

However there are some issues with shaving in general, which cause some reservations on my side.

These reservations have nothing to do with such insignificant topics as sex-orientation or masculinity issues.

While shaving the micro-cuts are inevitable.

The epidemiological control authorities banned any razors and shaving from the barber shops in the city where I live.

This ban is not perfect, as any ban for that matter, but at least it attracts attention to the fact that viruses can spread via micro-cuts. And there are really nasty viruses like hepatitis and aids.

Certainly, the leg shaving happens at home mostly. However due to a confusion the same razor could be used by different people. A guest for instance.

It can happen when a face is shaved too. However it seems to me that on a larger surface there are more chances of micro-cuts.

Secondly, the hairs were not given for nothing on legs. As we know by now the UV radiation could be very harmful. UV-lotions do not protect against UV completely, even worse, they give a false sense of security.

Come to think about it, even the hairs on the face can be beneficial, especially in modern cities, where there is a lot of toxic dust in the air. The wet hairs (from breath) is the perfect filter for the inhaled air.

Again, I do not mind anyone shaving, it was just my 5 kopecks.

... since I don't plan on crashing a whole lot, I have no excuse other than the "Look at me! I'm a cool cyclist!" thing...

therefore... no el-shavo for me!

Grrr... yeah baby, yeah!

Every two months or so, my wife begins to nag me about getting my beard trimmed. She doesn't like it when it curls and touches the front of my shirt. Nor does she really appreciate all the grey spots which show up as it lengthens.

personally, I only begin to think about a beard trim when it begins to seriously interfere with the closures on my cycling helmet

It would be unthinkable for me to entertain the types of conversation that would ensue between my wife and I were I to commense removing body hair