Ex-rower

If you are like me and have extremely hairly legs, the improved cooling alone makes it worth it.

FXjohn

Yes it is...guys are more much more hairy and have beards, surely you knew that.

Diggy18

Right, there is a very good reason women don't shave their beards. And it has nothing to do with generation and society.

nick burns

I have never understood the debate. If it makes you feel faster, easier to clean wounds, look better, etc. then do it. If not, then don't. No big deal. Who cares what others think?

noisebeam

Your kidding right?

noisebeam

I get the sense after being on these forums for several months now that as a group online cyclists generally care far more about what others think about them than the average person does. Check out all the threads on 'colorful' jerseys, brand of bike, helmets, if to wear socks, getting passed by a slower person, etc.)

Al

FXjohn

I agree, do it, or don't do it...ya don't have to explain to us.

DXchulo

I like the half-shaved legs idea. Alternatively, you could shave some nice looking stripes into your legs. That, or maybe shave above your sock line and have a sort of "hair sock" going on. That might be neat. Or just shave every part not covered by the shorts and then ride in your "hair shorts." You could even shave a nike logo on them or something.

hi565

what instrument did you play, im a drummer also a marcher.

my58vw

I played snare drum, trombone and pit percussion, was drum major one year too

I am not saying yes or no or do I care what others think... I wanted to have an idea on how long it takes to come back when I do it if I decide to not keep it up all the time...

Oh ya and I hate the way my legs look in bike shorts now, all hairy... of course much less than typical.

Do all guys have beards?! And some guys are less hairy than some women...

timmhaan

i fear that you have a specific image in your head as you wrote that. somehow i don't think nike would pay much for that endorsement. give it a shot though.

noisebeam

If I don't wear a helmet should I shave my head so that I can heal head road rash wounds easier?

Al

noisebeam

'Hair Sock' I love it. Or a single harry racing strip down side of legs.

So what are the places on ones body where one is most likely to get road rash on (and hence should shave)? Outside of legs, upper arm, your shoulder blade. (no need to shave the the spine area?)

Al

Diggy18

You know, now that you mention it . . .hmmm. Maybe, huh?

The feeling I had floating around in my head was more that cyclists are defensive, but I guess maybe that is tantamount to caring what someone else thinks of you. Or maybe it's just the vocal minority giving this impression.

ChuckM

Any of you other old guys remember when secondary sexual characteristics used to be considered attractive by the girls? Sean Connery's chest hair used to turn 'em on! Nowadays if a kid goes outside looking like a man (muscles and body hair), you can just hear the valley girl accents (remember when THAT used to be a joke?) going, "Eeeewwww!"

DXchulo

Yeah.....what's up with those guys who shave their legs but have really hairy arms? Can't you get road rash on your arms, too?

Why shave your legs and not your arms? Anyone?

Diggy18

If you ever ride without a shirt you'd better shave your chest and back, too.

Ride naked and you gotta shave your butt and your !

noisebeam

What about my palms when I ride gloveless?

PaulBravey

I never swallowed that whole excuse about shaving your legs being good for roadrash. If that was the case everyone would shave their arms too.

That said, waxing is far better than shaving and lasts for a month with no maintenance.

mntbikedude

During my great grandfathers day, it was considered manly to grow a very long beard..... the founding fathers thought white wigs the height of manliness. None of its is true it is what current trends say is true.... I don't shave my legs .... I just don't think you should judge someone else that does.

my58vw

I have very little hair on my arms, more than that on my legs... of course I am more likely to get road rash on my legs than my arms from sliding... most of my injuries are on my legs anyway...

DXchulo

Just more time pondering shaving....

I don't currently shave my legs and I'm going to start racing in the Spring. I've been debating about whether to shave my legs or not. I know if I do I'll fit in and seem cool and everything, but I've been thinking about it, and I think there are actually some advantages to not shaving:

People will think that I must be a bad cyclist if I can't shave. They will make the mistake of underestimating my power, and I'll have a mental edge. Nobody will want to draft me...they think that idiot with the hairy legs will start a crash. Once I get ahead people will either stay far back off of me or push hard to get ahead of me. Once they're ahead I can draft them. If they push way too hard to get away from me they'll run out of gas in the end. They'll be so preoccupied with my legs that their concentration won't be on the race.

You know...it might also give me a bit of a "toughness" factor. I'll be the Ron Artest of collegiate cycling....the guy who is so weird it's scary. I'll be that guy you don't want to be in a sprint against because you just never know what he'll do.

In crits some leg/arm stuble could be an advantage because you could use it as a weapon.

ChAnMaN

im a marching band drummer also, this year was my second year on tenors.......go band! (notice the avatar)

as far as shaving goes, im practicly hairless allready. People ask me if i shave my legs already so i dont see the need to risk embarrassment at my highschool and shave, besides i dont think im going to shave my legs untill i feel im a good enough rider. I pretty much got my assed kicked at my first race and unless i can do better this next season i think shaving would just make me a wannabe.

my58vw

Well the deed has been done...

It took only 25 minutes for me, no problem. First reaction... smooth, stelth... wow I have so many bruses on my legs... ahhh...

My parents... no problem, I do not care...

Thanks to all for your support...

And I do not see myself as a wannabe, I am out there and doing my best...

Here is a photo... what a difference...

Racaryu

eeeesh!

Looks like someone took a baseball bat to your legs!

Neh, my legs are all bruised up also. Comes with the sport I guess. As well as tennis elbow, eeish.