Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

What motivates you to shave your legs for cycling?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

What motivates you to shave your legs for cycling?

Old 12-15-10, 11:41 AM
  #1  
brianbeech
Typical Scum
Thread Starter
 
brianbeech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Floyds Knobs, IN
Posts: 326

Bikes: 2010 CAAD 9-5 | 2009 Giant Anthem X2

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
What motivates you to shave your legs for cycling?

I'm guessing it's to cut down on wind resistance, but wouldn't you have had to look like Bigfoot before shaving to notice any difference?

And...do only racers do this or do some purely recreational riders do this? And if recreational, why? Just a way to justify shaving?

I'm really curious, not trolling.
brianbeech is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:43 AM
  #2  
Velo Gator
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 14,723

Bikes: Cervélo S2

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times in 11 Posts
Easier to clean road rash on hairless body parts.
Velo Gator is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:43 AM
  #3  
Al Criner
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NorCal
Posts: 546

Bikes: 2009 Surly Cross Check Frankenbike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Try the search function, this has been discussed at length.
Al Criner is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:45 AM
  #4  
TMonk
Not actually Tmonk
 
TMonk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 12,586

Bikes: road, track, mtb

Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1512 Post(s)
Liked 1,829 Times in 1,005 Posts
Leg hair has little to no effect on drag.

Shaving for amateurs is just a convention. Sort of a right of passage if you will. For me, it's a sign that I take this sport seriously.


I haven't shaved my legs in about 1 year when I developed tendonitis and was off the bike for a few months. I've just been JRA and riding hard during group rides this year, but now that I am "training" again and starting to ride lots I'm considering shaving again.

It was funny lining up for the 6 or 7 races I did this year as the only hairy legged rider. I felt self-conscious for having hairy legs. Lol.
TMonk is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:45 AM
  #5  
wens
Senior Member
 
wens's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 3,215
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
In no particular order:
Vanity
Tradition
Easier to get embro on/off
Peer pressure
Easier to clean up road rash
Get more defined tan lines
wens is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:49 AM
  #6  
TMonk
Not actually Tmonk
 
TMonk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 12,586

Bikes: road, track, mtb

Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1512 Post(s)
Liked 1,829 Times in 1,005 Posts
^
|
|

This
TMonk is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:50 AM
  #7  
Brian Ratliff
Senior Member
 
Brian Ratliff's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Near Portland, OR
Posts: 10,122

Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
First, tradition. Also, cleaner. You'd be surprised what your leg hair can collect on a five hour ride, especially in bad weather. Next, it makes it easier to rub embrocation on your legs, which is particularly helpful in cold, wet weather even if you are wearing leg warmers. Lastly, vanity. Leg hair sticking out of knee or leg warmers and that ring of flattened hair sticking out from under your shorts is just weird looking. Smooth, well formed legs are like good lines on a sports car. If you care about those things.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Brian Ratliff is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:54 AM
  #8  
Daytrip
Medicinal Cyclist
 
Daytrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Mohawk Valley/Adks, NYS
Posts: 2,807

Bikes: 2003 Klein Q Carbon Race; 2009 Giant OCR-1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My wife likes my legs. Says I should shave them. 'Nuff said.
Daytrip is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:54 AM
  #9  
brianbeech
Typical Scum
Thread Starter
 
brianbeech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Floyds Knobs, IN
Posts: 326

Bikes: 2010 CAAD 9-5 | 2009 Giant Anthem X2

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks all, very insightful!
brianbeech is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:55 AM
  #10  
coasting 
Still can't climb
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
amazing.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer

No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:57 AM
  #11  
jrobe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,496
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 30 Times in 19 Posts
There is no way in h___ I am shaving my legs. That is absurd.
jrobe is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:59 AM
  #12  
tagaproject6
Senior Member
 
tagaproject6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,552

Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times in 144 Posts
Originally Posted by jrobe
There is no way in h___ I am shaving my legs. That is absurd.
K' then...good for you.
tagaproject6 is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 11:59 AM
  #13  
hurley.girl
Nerd
 
hurley.girl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bordentown NJ
Posts: 1,033

Bikes: Cervelo R3 SL, Cervelo P2

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jrobe
There is no way in h___ I am shaving my legs. That is absurd.
Denial is the first stage.
hurley.girl is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:00 PM
  #14  
Psimet2001 
I eat carbide.
 
Psimet2001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,620

Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer

Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1322 Post(s)
Liked 1,296 Times in 555 Posts
To belong.

There are benefits, but they are all debatable. In the end it is to belong, and it's because it is what is done.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels

Psimet2001 is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:01 PM
  #15  
Grumpy McTrumpy
gmt
 
Grumpy McTrumpy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 12,509
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
hell
Grumpy McTrumpy is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:02 PM
  #16  
Spring Water
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 583
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Psimet2001
To belong.

There are benefits, but they are all debatable. In the end it is to belong, and it's because it is what is done.
There is nothing debatable about the road rash part. I've got lots of experience.
Spring Water is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:02 PM
  #17  
calamarichris
Horse Categorie
 
calamarichris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 6,205

Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 235 Post(s)
Liked 68 Times in 41 Posts
I no longer have the desire to race, but after you've become accustomed to it, having hair feels less clean.
Hairy legs use up a lot more sunscreen.
Hairy legs hold a lot more bugs, road grit, and other riders' snot.
Post workout massage (even self-massage) makes a big difference in your recovery. Hairy legs thwart a good massage.
Using a depilator builds character.
Hairless legs don't automatically make one any less straight.

calamarichris is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:02 PM
  #18  
Spring Water
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 583
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Grumpy McTrumpy
hell
Ass?
Spring Water is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:03 PM
  #19  
Grumpy McTrumpy
gmt
 
Grumpy McTrumpy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 12,509
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
because it takes too long to shave the entire body.
Grumpy McTrumpy is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:04 PM
  #20  
Grumpy McTrumpy
gmt
 
Grumpy McTrumpy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 12,509
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I've had people ask me why I sit in the front row when listening at orchestra concerts.

"because they won't let me sit in the middle of the stage"
Grumpy McTrumpy is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:06 PM
  #21  
wens
Senior Member
 
wens's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 3,215
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jrobe
There is no way in h___ I am shaving my legs. That is absurd.
Are you expecting us to object to your unshaven legs? Do what you like, that's between you and your SO.
wens is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:07 PM
  #22  
learnmedia
Go, Dog. Go!
 
learnmedia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 709

Bikes: '09 Fuji Team; '11 PedalForce QS3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by calamarichris
Hairy legs hold a lot more bugs, road grit, and other riders' snot.
This.
learnmedia is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:10 PM
  #23  
caloso
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,100 Times in 1,414 Posts
To show off the Hincapie syndrome I'm developing.
caloso is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:12 PM
  #24  
K. Olsen
Senior Member
 
K. Olsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 190
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I hate body hair but I don't want to take the time to shave my body nor do I want to deal with the itch 3 days later
If I had the money I would have it laser removed though.
K. Olsen is offline  
Old 12-15-10, 12:17 PM
  #25  
alexvpaq
Senior Member
 
alexvpaq's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Qc,Canada
Posts: 995

Bikes: A trek

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
when I crashed last year and I had to go to the hospital I understood how much trouble I had saved.
+
It's kinda cool and funny when you wear jeans after shaving
+
I do not like body hair.
alexvpaq is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.