Question about Leg Shaving
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#177
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Then don't get offended about it. Sometimes is it fun to have a lively debate. This debate has been going on forever and really shouldn't be taken seriously. Honestly it would probably be better if the mods closed shave vs no shave threads immediately. They always turn out the same.
So now you think you can tell me what should or shouldn't offend me? Don't get offended by my getting offended even if it's largely on a "stupid, unnecessarily kind of mean joke" esthetics basis.
.
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Incorrect. You can:
1) increase your output (which means get in better shape)
2) decrease your resistances (which means decrease your body mass)
3) do both (that is ideal)
This is all very well established, as is the need for chain lube. (you got me on that one, never trust your LBS)
1) increase your output (which means get in better shape)
2) decrease your resistances (which means decrease your body mass)
3) do both (that is ideal)
This is all very well established, as is the need for chain lube. (you got me on that one, never trust your LBS)
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Incorrect - it's one method of decreasing resistance, particularly when climbing, but when you're not climbing, wind resistance is far more significant. In addition, rolling resistance is always there and there are drivetrain optimizations to be had, as well.
You recently started a thread asking, "what have I missed?" A lot, evidently.
You recently started a thread asking, "what have I missed?" A lot, evidently.
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90% of the resistance is air.
Effects of weight are trivial compared to aerodynamics
Effects of weight are trivial compared to aerodynamics
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If anyone is insulted they have incredibly thin skin. My point, if I have to break it down Barney-style, is that I think it's pointless to obsess over every gram of bike weight and aerodynamic effects of leg hair thinking those things are going to actually improve your abilities. You would be better off dropping 5lbs of body weight than spending a fortune on gear. Personally, I'm a bit of a weight-weenie about my bike...not because I think it makes me go faster, but because as an enthusiast I like to tinker with my stuff. But some people do think that dropping 50g of bike weight or getting aero bars or CF cages will actually make them go faster and then post all kinds of pseudo-scientific wind-tunnel experiments prove it. What it all boils down to is if you want to go faster, you have to get in better shape (and getting in shape typically results in lower bodyweight). Leg hair has nothing to do with it unless everything else is maxed out. Congrats on the weight loss! That is an amazing accomplishment.
Are you under the impression that if you keep making exactly the same tired point in more and more words, we'll forget it was a cheap shot "fat guy" joke? It wasn't a deep point to start with, and it just isn't a very good one that's going to get better with more extraneous verbiage. BTW, you're also wrong, a rider is probably going to get a bit more of a speed boost by some pretty modest aero improvements than they will from losing 5 pounds.
You do understand that preferences are not really derived by logic, right? Does it occur to you that your "like to tinker" won't just disappear because you put on 5 pounds? What makes you think the guy with an extra few pounds is any more or less realistic about what can be accomplished with gear and shaving than you are?
Hey, I didn't put you out on this limb, but you keep insisting on sawing at it with the "it's not me, it's other people's fault for getting offended" nonsense. It doesn't help that you seem to be implying that your profound wisdom is going over our heads when it's apparent you really aren't all that knowledgable on the subject.
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- Easier application of sunscreen.
- Easier and more comfortable post-ride massages.
- Less flesh tearing when sliding across the ground
- Easier wound cleaning after sliding across the ground.
- Better adhesion of bandages.
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency.
- No gnat catching.
Non-practical reasons:
- Shows off your well-toned leg muscles (in other words...chicks dig it).
- More comfortable for your partner when snuggling in bed (in other words...chicks dig it).
- Sends a signal to serious cyclists that you are also a serious cyclist.
- Sends a signal to shirtless guys on hybrids that you want to race.
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Last edited by Eric F; 07-16-21 at 02:35 PM. Reason: Why-Fi said so.
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Practical reasons:
- Easier application of sunscreen.
- Easier and more comfortable post-ride massages.
- Less flesh tearing when sliding across the ground
- Easier wound cleaning after sliding across the ground.
- Better adhesion of bandages.
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency.
- Easier application of sunscreen.
- Easier and more comfortable post-ride massages.
- Less flesh tearing when sliding across the ground
- Easier wound cleaning after sliding across the ground.
- Better adhesion of bandages.
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency.
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Practical reasons:
- Easier application of sunscreen.
- Easier and more comfortable post-ride massages.
- Less flesh tearing when sliding across the ground
- Easier wound cleaning after sliding across the ground.
- Better adhesion of bandages.
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency.
- No gnat catching.
Non-practical reasons:
- Shows off your well-toned leg muscles (in other words...chicks dig it).
- More comfortable for your partner when snuggling in bed (in other words...chicks dig it).
- Sends a signal to serious cyclists that you are also a serious cyclist.
- Sends a signal to shirtless guys on hybrids that you want to race.
- Easier application of sunscreen.
- Easier and more comfortable post-ride massages.
- Less flesh tearing when sliding across the ground
- Easier wound cleaning after sliding across the ground.
- Better adhesion of bandages.
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency.
- No gnat catching.
Non-practical reasons:
- Shows off your well-toned leg muscles (in other words...chicks dig it).
- More comfortable for your partner when snuggling in bed (in other words...chicks dig it).
- Sends a signal to serious cyclists that you are also a serious cyclist.
- Sends a signal to shirtless guys on hybrids that you want to race.
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In summer I clipper-off the carpet that's on my torso, upper pubic region (not too short, stubble irritates!) and underarms so that
a) I am substantially cooler, and
b) cleaning and drying myself after riding to work is much faster and more efficient.
Don't do anything to my legs.
a) I am substantially cooler, and
b) cleaning and drying myself after riding to work is much faster and more efficient.
Don't do anything to my legs.
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Obvious troll is obvious.
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Practical reasons:
- Easier application of sunscreen.
- Easier and more comfortable post-ride massages.
- Less flesh tearing when sliding across the ground
- Easier wound cleaning after sliding across the ground.
- Better adhesion of bandages.
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency.
- No gnat catching.
Non-practical reasons:
- Shows off your well-toned leg muscles (in other words...chicks dig it).
- More comfortable for your partner when snuggling in bed (in other words...chicks dig it).
- Sends a signal to serious cyclists that you are also a serious cyclist.
- Sends a signal to shirtless guys on hybrids that you want to race.
- Easier application of sunscreen.
- Easier and more comfortable post-ride massages.
- Less flesh tearing when sliding across the ground
- Easier wound cleaning after sliding across the ground.
- Better adhesion of bandages.
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency.
- No gnat catching.
Non-practical reasons:
- Shows off your well-toned leg muscles (in other words...chicks dig it).
- More comfortable for your partner when snuggling in bed (in other words...chicks dig it).
- Sends a signal to serious cyclists that you are also a serious cyclist.
- Sends a signal to shirtless guys on hybrids that you want to race.
I might even try it before my next race. But that’s a lot of work, in my experience.
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I understand that the pro racers crash a lot. They ride for reasons and in situations which sane riders would avoid. ..... I tend to not crash. I call it "Riding a bike," as opposed to "Falling off a bike," which is not my chosen sport.
Also, nurses don't have to pick hairs out of the wound ... they have to pick Everything out of the wound. This includes sand and gravel, which tend to embed in the flesh, whereas the hairs mostly come off with water (or betadine or whatever the staff uses.) The gravel is what's hard to get out, in my experience.
And "road rash" isn't hairs being ripped off, it is Skin being ripped off. I want to see scientific data proving that wounds are larger on unshaven flesh--and that hairs are being individually pulled out of the skin and tearing the skin with it. Every time I have ever crashed (and back in my crazy days that was way too often) I never had hairs pulled out .... the pavement just abraded away the skin, hairs and all. What, do some people ride where gravel has tiny hands which grab the individual hairs?
As for faster healing and less scar tissue ... explain that please. The damaged flesh is gone, whether or not it was hairy. The are where there si no flesh will heal over, and sometimes for m scar tissue---regardless of how hairy the flesh which is no longer there might have been. Do the new skin cells somehow learn whether the old skin cells were shaven or not, and regrow accordingly?
.....
Also .... if the skin is ripped off, why would they skin need to be shaved? It has already been shaved by the pavement. The tape would go on the Unripped skin .... and a little alcohol will help dissolve the glue on the tape (apply that carefully, of course.) And if the skin is raw And the nurse is shaving it, she is just a sadist.
But again .... if you make a choice and feel a need to defend it ... go ahead. I personally think personal decisions are personal. Your mileage is sure to vary.
Also, nurses don't have to pick hairs out of the wound ... they have to pick Everything out of the wound. This includes sand and gravel, which tend to embed in the flesh, whereas the hairs mostly come off with water (or betadine or whatever the staff uses.) The gravel is what's hard to get out, in my experience.
And "road rash" isn't hairs being ripped off, it is Skin being ripped off. I want to see scientific data proving that wounds are larger on unshaven flesh--and that hairs are being individually pulled out of the skin and tearing the skin with it. Every time I have ever crashed (and back in my crazy days that was way too often) I never had hairs pulled out .... the pavement just abraded away the skin, hairs and all. What, do some people ride where gravel has tiny hands which grab the individual hairs?
As for faster healing and less scar tissue ... explain that please. The damaged flesh is gone, whether or not it was hairy. The are where there si no flesh will heal over, and sometimes for m scar tissue---regardless of how hairy the flesh which is no longer there might have been. Do the new skin cells somehow learn whether the old skin cells were shaven or not, and regrow accordingly?
.....
Also .... if the skin is ripped off, why would they skin need to be shaved? It has already been shaved by the pavement. The tape would go on the Unripped skin .... and a little alcohol will help dissolve the glue on the tape (apply that carefully, of course.) And if the skin is raw And the nurse is shaving it, she is just a sadist.
But again .... if you make a choice and feel a need to defend it ... go ahead. I personally think personal decisions are personal. Your mileage is sure to vary.
All of what I posted in the post yours is clearly an answer to is based on my experience, not theory or something I read. (Post #159, page 7) For 15 years surrounding and including my racing days, I did not own a car or use public transportation regularly. If I had to be there, I rode. All year. In all weather and light conditions. After my head injury, riding the bike was my link to sanity. I did a lot of crazy rides. Some of that time I shaved. Crashes happened in both states. I got reminded of the wisdom I posted above many times.
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if the skin is ripped off, why would they skin need to be shaved? It has already been shaved by the pavement. The tape would go on the Unripped skin .... and a little alcohol will help dissolve the glue on the tape (apply that carefully, of course.) And if the skin is raw And the nurse is shaving it, she is just a sadist.
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I think you mean that as a general statement that IS true. Very few people are so lean that 5lbs would be unhealthy. MOST people can stand to lose a bit of weight, including me...especially if they are trying to maximize their cycling abilities.
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I've decided that everyone who is arguing back and forth about leg hair and road rash is assuming that every man has leg hair like they do. I've never shaved my legs, but I have so little leg hair that I can't imagine it making the slightest difference either for aerodynamics or road rash. Now one of you ape hair guys, whole different story.
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Oh, ffs, drop the weight thing already. There's not a single person on this thread that thinks you know what you're talking about. This thread had absolutely nothing to do with weight, and you gratuitously dragged it into the subject just to make a fat guy joke.
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Losing 5 lbs would be unhealthy for me.