The best reason for shaving legs is that full length tights or themal underwear pull the ankle and calf hair and after a full day of friction, the skin gets very tender. But clippers work well, as long as the hair is short - then no problem

I love all the "real men" comments.... since when is there a definition of a real man? everyone feels differently about things. If a real man is one who drives a truck, eats raw steak, watches football religiously, and is NOT allowed to shave his legs, then I am perfectly comfortable not being a "real man"

Oh my god you admitted it! You can edit that post you know, are you sure you want people hearing that?

OK here are a couple of theories:

In France massages are considered a normal part of training and bike racers will get one every day, and it's much easier to do on hairless legs.

I have a little theory of my own though: You know how people tend to stand with their bike close to them and sometimes they get those "chain tracks" on their legs? Well, that's because the chain's rubbed on their legs, well, imagine leg hair getting caught up in that without your knowing then you push the bike forward to jump on and ride etc., only it goes with a fair number of leg hairs - OUCH!

Jeezzzz! Why don't you just take a blow torch to it? Singe them buggers off for good.

Next thing ya know, guys would be asking about shaving their nether regions too.

If ya wanna do it, just do it, but don't go around asking opinions about it. If ya like to sit in the tub and extra half hour everyday playing with soap bubbles, ya legs, and a razor, just do it. Don't advertise it.

As if we have to such time in a day, so much time in a life that we would go adding on another chore to our day.

Cycling is pain, pure pain, loads and loads of it.

I read an interview the Chewbacca shaves his back side to keep the dingleberries down. Seems pretty reasonable and valid to me.

The single biggest reason to shave legs: Chicks Dig It!

Seems to make an othewise odd looking specamin (small top, big legs) attrative to women.

My experience only. YMMV.

-Z

Check out www.comfilon.com these are pantyhose made for men. I wear em under my bike shorts.

Those male pantyhose have to be the most rediculous thing I've ever seen. Wear'em if you want, but I think that's complete BS about them improving your life etc, etc... Seems like standard marketing BS. If you want to shave your legs, go right ahead. I am a very hairless male, so girls sometimes ask me if I shave my legs, but I don't.

OK, I haven't read all 5 pages of posts, so if someone already posted this, apologies.

I have to believe the women out there are laughing their butts off at your wimpiness. I mean, look at what they do for us... THEY WAX THEMSELVES!! And not just legs, but their sensitive parts, too!! Now, just in case you don't quite understand the concept, they spread hot wax over the hair they want to remove, place a cloth on top of that and let it cool so the wax can solidify. Then they RIP IT OFF, PULLING THE HAIR WITH IT!

And you're whining about pulling off a few bandages?

Just how much of a man can one be if a band-aid hurts that much??

Really guys! Imagine if the racers waxed. What would your excuse be then? In fact, I wonder if that's really what they do. Hey - let's start that rumor. I'm sure they don't want to shave every day. If they ARE doing this for the benefit of their masseuse, I'm sure they DO wax - stubble would really hurt the masseur's hands. If you want pain - wax your underarms too. That's it's own special type of pain.

Girls just think it's funny!

THANK YOU!!!! I know at least one woman who is rolling her eyes at these big shot manly bicycling men afraid of a little band-aid.
If it were socially acceptable for me to have dark hair on my legs, I would welcome the chance to camouflouge the chain grease and not have to rub my skin raw after every ride.

Similar story here. I knew a cyclist who shaved for a race. It was weeks before his dog would hump his leg again.

It isn't the hair around the wound that's the problem, it's the hair in the wound. A funny thing happens when you crash, your skin gets scraped away but the hair dosn't. You end up with a nice open wound with lots of hair still growing out of it. It isn't pretty.

Hey... I posted this thread 8 months or so ago... I have been shaving my legs for about 6 months... isn't it time to let the thread die.

I have learned I shave my legs for the following reasons...

1. Peer pressure
2. Rite of Passage to racing
3. Road rash protection
4. Show off the muscles I have earned
5. Many girls love it...

Enough said... maybe this thread should ba a sticky...

why not shave your arms too?
Seriously aren't your arms as likely,
or more likely to get serious road rash,
moreso than your legs. It's human nature to
attempt to break a fall with your arms, not your legs,
therefore shaving arms is a better precaution.
That being said, I say SHAVE IT ALL OFF!
Nacho/

Why would real men shave?

Years back GF was looking at my bike mags and … asked why don’t I shave…and yea…said some the stuff you have read here…Then she said “ I think it sexy and I want to shave yours and then do it…”….Okay…like…she needed to say that twice.

If you have never shaved your legs…you will never know that massage is sooooo much better without hair… and other things…so to say. I have found more women like the way hairless legs feel better and hairy… maybe I just hang with biker chicks.

Even Arnold shaved…LOL

Cheers,
Dusk

Not as many as you'd think!! Should I blame the M&M's company for making a dark chocolate peanut M&M? I suppose I could have walked right by the 5 lb bag. Nevertheless it made it into my shopping cart. (It's not like I ate the whole bag...not yet anyway...give me a week or so!)

my mom saw my legs after i shaved and was like "you shaved ur legs? u don't need to. it's sexy for men to have hairy legs."

wax.
wax and your good for weeks.
wax. it's not that painful.
wax. and while you're at it....

It's just so fun and time well spent reading!!!!

Congrats on the muscles.

You guys (gals) are too funny

Truer words, etc.

I'll bet you get flamed though ..........

what about shaving your ass? i have (as im sure a lot of guys have) hairy rear ends.... would this not hurt after a long day of riding, the hair being pushed a direction it is not used to, like when you wear tall socks and your not used to it?! i mean serously!? that hurts for a while after you take the sock off!