I know there are probably a lot of posts about shaving out there, but I haven't been able to find any like this so far, so I'll pose this question to everyone to see what sort of answers I can find.

When did shaving the legs begin and what started it? Now that it's basically a tradition among recreational and especially competitive cyclists, how did that all come about? I know there are benefits to shaving such as easier cleanup from road rash and an aerodynamic benefit for time trialists. In one cycling group, I heard them say how in races you should watch out for the guys who have dirty bikes or who don't shave thier legs - they say that these guys don't care much because they don't take care of their bike or their body I guess. I personally shave, but just wondered how it all began.

Thanks!

I used to shave but don't anymore . What a PIA! It did not make me any faster (only in my brain). Cleaning up roadrash was not any easier (although tape sure does stick to hair). Muscle definition was one of the pros to shaving. As far as making it easier to massage the legs after a ride, who massages their own legs after a ride? I'll probably shave again in the future. Got a sample of "Nair for Men" at a ride one time...anyone have any experience with this?

wonder if I can use nair for men on my balls before my vasectomy?

aahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I actually have experience with Nair for Men. I think it's a load of crap and I have no idea how women get all those hair removal products to actually work. Maybe they have a different hair structure or something where those hair removal products act differently on their body. haha. I don't know. All I know is that when I rub on that "nair for men" all I get is a greasy leg with the same amount of hair on it that i had minutes ago.

Do cyclists that shave their legs wear more color coordinated outfits?

My start was a case of extreme boredom mixed with mild curiosity. It is easy for me to coordinate as nearly every thing I own is dark blue, grey, or black. Nair works, but you need to leave it on until it feels like you are losing skin.

Guys, some people already view cyclists as fairy types, what with the tight spandex and color coordinated outfits and cute little socks. Do you REALLY have to add to that by SHAVING you LEGS for goodness sakes?! I mean, could you possibly be any more effeminiate?!

Wow, did this get off the topic!
There are a ton of people who view cyclists as fairy types, but put any one of those people on a bike with almost anyone in this forum and we'll show them what cycling is all about! They'll be kicking themselves for thinking that we're fairy types for days and days to come.

The one post about muscular definition was one pro to shaving that I saw and heard about, but would that alone cause it to become this tradition that we have today among cyclists? I wonder what it was that made it become the thing to do...

I found an interesting answer to my own question on freewheel.com and thought I'd post it:

"Cyclists tend to shave their legs (think of Breaking Away), though debate rages in cycling magazines, online, and at meets as to the real reason. Some contend that hairless legs facilitate healing after a wipeout-- dirt is more prone to sticking inside a scratch on a hairy leg than a hairless one. But realistically, the urge to shave stems mostly from sex appeal: As in bodybuilding, a "smooth" leg is alleged to highlight well-developed muscles more alluringly than, uh, a "lumpy" leg. With colorful, shiny, skin-tight clothes, a tricked-out bike, a helmet, and alien-bug-like shades, shaving adds to the sexy-cyborg air of the serious cyclist."

Joe Clark, Lycanthrophobia"

what do you think about the sex-appeal of shaving? maybe they were going for the sex appeal back in the 20s or before?

i shave cuz i like the way it looks and i just plain don't like body hair, period...but it's nice to have the cycling "reasons" to back it up...effeminate? whatever...shaving my legs doesn't make me effeminate any more so than laying out in the sun makes me a lizard... i'm comfortable as who i am and don't need society to tell me what's ok to do with MY my hair, skin, etc... i could give a rat's fuzzy arse what people think...

Rock on Mark! I completely agree!

btw, i found this on the history of shaving: " It isn't known just when men and women took an interest in removing hair from their bodies, but we do know it has gone on since the cave man days. There were several reasons for this early procedure. One was to minimize the breeding grounds (on his or her person) for lice, fleas and small rodents.."

how do all you non-shaving cyclists keep the small rodents from breeding in your lycra? i know that since i started shaving i have had ZERO problems with small rodents.

it's hygiene, man. it's important. get with the program.

WOW!!! T.M.I. Mark! Sounds like you had some real issues there before you started shaving.

I shave because I like how it looks and it seemed like the thing to do. Why would you want to cover up all that hard work. Effeminate? Hahaha!!! Nope, more vain then anything. Besides, IMHO, hairy legs poking out of my bib shorts looks funny to me.

Do whatever you want its your bod.

There's irony somewhere in that.

Ahnold--who rails against girlie mahns--as a bodybuilder must have shaved (or had it done).
Many top athletes shave (e.g., swimmers and divers) and wear form-fitting skimpy outfits, but obviously as they all do it, they can't all be girlie mahns.

Whatever works best and you are most comfortable with. I figure that if I don't find it attractive, then I'm probably not the person you intend to appeal to.

OK, just out of curiosity, since it seems like aesthetics is a big reason for shaving, would you still shave even if you weren't a cyclists? I mean, it sounds to me like the shaving isn't even connected to cycling.

And I admit to knowing nothing and having little to no interest in bike racing (I don't disparage it, I'm just not into it), but do most of the pros really shave?

Thet got rodents in their hair - how hairy was early man??

Btw, I shave my arm pits because it feels fresher and means under arm sprays work better .

Since we're into a broad discussion of shaving and it's late November, who (of those living where the temperatures are turning colder) is still shaving, besides me?

I'm still shaving...just shaved down yesterday. I find that if I don't keep up with it, then I get the annoying razor burn when I finally shave weeks later. Even though it's cold, I stay with it through the winter...once a week.

I think ALL of the pros shave. It's just the thing to do from the sounds of it.

I'm shaving like once a week. I'm not racing, and not wearing shorts, I'm just trying to keep the hair short enough so that it wont hurt when I shave it again. It looks really stubbly right now...but no one really sees it.

I also shave once or twice a week and hit every where with a set of trimmers about once a month.

Even back in my rowing days I shaved my legs. Reason; temperature control. I've got naturally very hairly legs, as in SPF 30 without sunscreen. Remove the hair and I'm much cooler and can work harder as a result.

Shaving is pure narcissism. End of story.

lycra has some other "disadvantages" like where the bands hit the skin. They after prolonged days in they tend to cause you to lost your hair from rubbing in the areas. And it also seems that the shorts are more confortable in certain areas with no hair... hmmm...

Of course it just looks awsome...

There's less chafing under bike shorts if you cut your balls off.