Technically I don't shave completely clean, but I do take my Oster clippers and use them on the very shortest setting...takes about 5 minutes per leg tops and I don't have to worry about razor burn...

I watched Breaking Away as a kid and went and "shaved" my legs - but I didn't have any hair on them yet. I never stopped

Even if I wait a bit I don't grow too much hair. No hair on most of my body either, just sort of natural. Ditto face. It takes me a week to grow most guys' "5 o'clock shadow".

I shave because it makes me feel "serious". Just like wearing cycling gear - specific jersey or shorts or socks.

Sure there are some advantages - it's much easier to wipe down the gunk that gets on your legs (black soot in NYC for example). Easier to put on heat rub - can't imagine putting on the thick vaseline-like Atomic Balm on anything with hair. Easier to wipe the AB off, requires rubbing alcohol, a towel or two, and a few hours to cool your legs down. Easier to message sore legs. And you look more cut when you're cut (on the other hand, when you're not cut, you look blobby).

I also shave as preparation for crashing. I shave over all my scars - makes it pretty easy to figure out how high up to go. My elbows don't have hair so I don't have to shave those scars. I've crashed numerous times and have boxes of Tegaderm, probably 10 ACE bandages, and rolls and rolls of tape. Never hurts to be prepared and when you do have hair in a wound it really sucks - how do you think I learned how high to shave?

All this is comparing my shaved leg to my relatively hair free unshaved leg. Can't imagine dealing with "hairy" legs.

My gfs over the years and my now wife also like it, except when my legs are smoother than theirs.

cdr

Pics - I don't think you want to see the "befores".

Great thread! I have considered dry cleaning my coat of hair, never tried shaving it, I have a demilitarized area on my neck where face shaving stops. Stoker only complains when I infrequently grow a beard for a mountain trip.

I prefer to sheer. I use clippers because I don't like the look of fur, but no hair on the legs is just to much (not enough?) for me. I only have to use the clippers about 3 times a year.

This thread is disturbing. I may need therapy to recover. :-) However, like passing a big wreck I'm strangely unable to look away.

Ditto.

I leave mine hairy. It doesn't look as sleek in bike shorts, but I don't like how bare legs feel.

Well - my curiosity got the best of me. Last Saturday, I got out the clippers (think Sasquatch) & then shaved off the rest of the hair in the shower. At first, it felt great. I could put lotion on my legs & not have all of it absorbed by the hair.

Sunday, it started to grow out & REALLY began to get irritated. I could barely sleep Sunday night. My legs felt like cactus or two pocupines trying to get close. My worst fears were realized. Now, by Wednesday, it's just starting to get to be tolerable. I was thinking I could go a week between shaves but come next Saturday, I won't want to start the whole process again.

I felt like I was wearing a pair of steel wool boxer shorts. Maybe most women don't have such coarse hair but I don't know how they tolerate it.

If you haven't tried it and are at all curious, learn from my mistake and don't let vanity rule over comfort.

Been shaving for the last 5 years. My wife and the other cycling ladies prefer it to the hairy look. When I first started shaving I had some issues with razor burn. I no longer have those issues. The Gillette Mach 3 seems to be THE RAZOR to use. I used a disposable bic recently and the experience and quality of the shave for both my legs and face was sad. Welcome to the tribe.

I shaved from mid-calf down to make taping my ankles less painful. Looks pretty damb silly.

Cheers!