From the many debates about shaving, it seems to me that there is very little "performance/safety" reason to shave the legs.

I started about a year ago for pure vanity and I love it. I am straight (but active in lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender advocacy). I think my calves are beautiful. My wife doesn't particularly care whether they are smooth or hairy, but I like them smooth so I keep doing it. I know its pure self-indulgence, but hey, there's nothing wrong with that from time to time.

BTW-I have not gone on a long tour since starting shaving so I don't know if I would insist on shaving during a tour. If so, probably only once a week or so.

I have shaved my legs when mountain biking. It makes it super easy to find ticks and get all the dirt off quickly in the shower. The mud use to stick to my hairs. If I start MTBing again I will defiently shave my legs again, it saves me so much hassle.

While getting some medium-nasty road rash sustained in a criterium cleaned up, I once asked the medical tech if shaved legs made the process any easier. He had done a pretty good business that day, so I believed him when he said no, and I did not start shaving.

The only really good reasons I have seen for leg shaving are 1) it definitely makes the massages that high-level racers get on a regular basis easier, and 2) getting sew-up glue on hairy legs is really unpleasant.

EMT's often have trouble attaching defibrilator patches to a victoms skin because of the hair. What we would do is attach a sticky patch to the place we need it, rip it off (taking the hair with it) then attatch another one. Shaving just takes to much time. :)
Would you like a bunch of ground in hair and stuff in your wound? Sure a minor irritation but still.....
Steven

Okay... I prefer that clean look as well. :D

I thought hair would reduce the airflow over your skin. No?