Shaving on Tour
05-08-12 | 02:29 AM
#26
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From: England
I wet shave with a disposable twin blade and some shaving oil. It is a very compact kit that weighs nothing. I usually shave in the shower but if my campsite doesnt have one, I usually save a small amount of hit water for a shave.
I guess ever guy has to go through a beardy period just to see what its like.
I guess ever guy has to go through a beardy period just to see what its like.
05-08-12 | 07:02 AM
#27
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Joined: Apr 2010
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I think I will just grow it out until it gets to hot or annoying. I have a really small pair of scissors Ill bring to keep it somewhat groomed. Great picture of you and your brother in Peru, both of you look really happy both before and after the beard! Im also sure I will not have the proper clothing to sneak into a VIP club so I'm not to concerned about that.
I figure this might be my only opportunity to grow a beard for awhile so I'm going to take it.
I figure this might be my only opportunity to grow a beard for awhile so I'm going to take it.
05-08-12 | 08:48 AM
#28
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From: Thailand..........currently Nakhon Ricefield, moving to the beach soon.
Bikes: inferior steel....alas....noodly aluminium assploded
you're the dude riding for 'charity,' right? you plan to represent the charity looking like a bum?
05-08-12 | 10:51 AM
#30
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From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
I recently discovered that the blades on my electric razor have become very dull and that the replacement blade costs almost as much as what I payed for the shaver. I'm not a fan of razors because I almost always cut myself or irritate my face. I'm leaving for a cross country tour in a week and i have decided that I'll just let my facial hair grow out for the two-three months the ride takes. I don't really see any bad things about having a beard while on the tour but I could be wrong? I mean Forrest Gump didn't shave when he ran across the country and he didn't seem to have a problem. I'm about to turn 19 and have been shaving four or five times a week for about six years now, I've gone for 4 days now and its only a matter of time before I have a bountiful crop of facial hair.
What are your thoughts of shaving while on tour? I'm looking forward to the weight savings of not having to bring my electric razor and constantly having to look for an outlet to charge it. I'm riding with two others and we plan to camp whenever we can. Hopefully I don't look to much like a bum.
What are your thoughts of shaving while on tour? I'm looking forward to the weight savings of not having to bring my electric razor and constantly having to look for an outlet to charge it. I'm riding with two others and we plan to camp whenever we can. Hopefully I don't look to much like a bum.
You have to get a bit used to using razors and you have to be patient and go slow.
People with beards often shave too. Though, it's easier to get away with not shaving (for a few days) with a beard.
fuzz you bring up something that concerns me:
Do beards really change social interactions between people that much? A big reason I'm going on his tour is to meet new people and I dont want a beard to prohibit that. Another thing is that I'm hoping to be invited to camp out in people's yards if invited. Do you think not shaving will lead to less invites? I sure don't want to be scaring anyone off because of my beard, I'd consider myself to be a very friendly and nice person. Wont people understand that I'm on a bicycle tour and might not have the ability to stay clean shaven?
Do beards really change social interactions between people that much? A big reason I'm going on his tour is to meet new people and I dont want a beard to prohibit that. Another thing is that I'm hoping to be invited to camp out in people's yards if invited. Do you think not shaving will lead to less invites? I sure don't want to be scaring anyone off because of my beard, I'd consider myself to be a very friendly and nice person. Wont people understand that I'm on a bicycle tour and might not have the ability to stay clean shaven?
Last edited by njkayaker; 05-08-12 at 10:54 AM.
05-08-12 | 11:18 AM
#31
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Joined: Apr 2010
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you're the dude riding for 'charity,' right? you plan to represent the charity looking like a bum?
However I am donating some of the money I collect from Sponsors to a charity which I feel does a good job at promoting positive experiences and safety between motorist and cyclist.
Last edited by sprintfree; 05-08-12 at 11:23 AM.
05-08-12 | 12:01 PM
#32
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
Santa and Jesus are not well groomed,lots of people like them.......
People do judge you if you have a beard,just like people judge you if you wear "gangsta" clothes or your skin is not the same color as theirs or you drive a junky car or you have a mustache like Hitler......that's what humans do.
People do judge you if you have a beard,just like people judge you if you wear "gangsta" clothes or your skin is not the same color as theirs or you drive a junky car or you have a mustache like Hitler......that's what humans do.
Last edited by Booger1; 05-08-12 at 12:07 PM.
05-08-12 | 12:17 PM
#33
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Joined: Oct 2011
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Is this even an issue? Shaving is, and should be, a thing that you do for one reason, and one reason only:
1. You feel like shaving.
When I'm on tour, I generally feel like riding my bike, reading my book, looking for snakes, camping, eating, and not shaving.
1. You feel like shaving.
When I'm on tour, I generally feel like riding my bike, reading my book, looking for snakes, camping, eating, and not shaving.
05-08-12 | 01:21 PM
#34
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I don't shave. Why would we shave? It's part of our identity as men. It is not annoying either. I do trim my mustache though -- but I go to a barber shop and they do it for 3 TND ($2 USD). Here is me after 6 months of cycling in Spain and the Middle East. I blend right in. Well, I was mistaken for a terrorist by Tunisian police so that didn't help there. But hey, whatever! It's part of the story of life.
And don't forget, you're saving weight by not bringing all of the unnecessary shaving kits. Now you can race up that mountain a couple of seconds quicker.
And don't forget, you're saving weight by not bringing all of the unnecessary shaving kits. Now you can race up that mountain a couple of seconds quicker.
Last edited by yiffzer; 05-08-12 at 01:48 PM.
05-08-12 | 08:12 PM
#37
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Oregon
And don't forget, you're saving weight by not bringing all of the unnecessary shaving kits. Now you can race up that mountain a couple of seconds quicker.
05-09-12 | 04:56 AM
#38
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From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Wet shaver here...I use my grandfather's Rolls Razor, definitely not for weight weenies. 
I typically shave every 2-3 days while on tour. I have had a beard in the past and prefer clean shaven.
Aaron
I typically shave every 2-3 days while on tour. I have had a beard in the past and prefer clean shaven.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
05-09-12 | 05:38 AM
#39
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From: Melbourne
Bikes: Tout Terrain Rohloff/Gates Metropolitan; Felt Footprint; Bianchi JAB 29.1
I use a Gillette safety razor (e.g it uses those disposable "suicide"* one layer razor blades). Blades cost nothing, weigh nothing, take no space. All you need is a small mirror and a shower. Alternatively, use a bucket of water. I've seen this particular brand of razor a lot of places (anywhere from Turkey to China).
*don't take this as being in bad taste - I haven't been able to accurately convey what blade I'm talking about until I trot out that image. People just don't know what a safety razor is anymore.
*don't take this as being in bad taste - I haven't been able to accurately convey what blade I'm talking about until I trot out that image. People just don't know what a safety razor is anymore.
05-09-12 | 06:21 AM
#41
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Wet shaver here...I use my grandfather's Rolls Razor, definitely not for weight weenies.
I typically shave every 2-3 days while on tour. I have had a beard in the past and prefer clean shaven.
Aaron
I typically shave every 2-3 days while on tour. I have had a beard in the past and prefer clean shaven.
Aaron
I don't even use a mirror at home to shave -- I just do it in the shower and use ordinary soap and a sharp disposable razor. I know my face pretty well and where to trim to... at age 56, it just gets to be like that.
I'll shave the same way whenever we get to a campsite with bathroom facilities. My biggest issue on a long tour is hair -- for our upcoming one, I am considering a buzz cut just as we leave and likely have another, possibly even shave, half to two-thirds of the way through the tour.
Because I tend to grow beards and shave them off almost on whim, I was able to accidentally time the picture in my passport with a close-cut beard. It probably helps getting through immigration to have a bet each way.
05-13-12 | 10:50 PM
#42
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From: Walyalup, Australia
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Salsa Mukluk, Riese & Muller Supercharger GT Rohloff (Forthcoming)
I generally shave when I get into a town (wet shave using the gear in my kick box). This can be up to a couple of weeks between shaves. I don't bother shaving on the road as such.
Andrew
Andrew
05-16-12 | 03:10 PM
#43
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05-16-12 | 04:23 PM
#46
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,165
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From: Queens, New York
I'm 44yo and I can't shave, it sets my skin on fire. I tried, wet, dry, electric, no matter, my skin turns red and hurts badly. I even saw doctors about this and I have extremely irritable skin, so I can only buzz it close to skin with an electric shaver. I can't grow a beard either. First, it looks ridiculous, I have very thin facial hair and my facial hair is a mix of all colors too, so I'd have to dye it or something. Second, I can't get past the week or so of the itchy period, drives me nuts, can't work, can't sleep, feel like rubbing my face against walls. Then there is the heat and humidity, so no beard for me. I'd probably take a small AA powered buzzer, it weights maybe 1/2 lbs. On the upside: I use the same trimmer on my face and head, makes it easy.
05-16-12 | 05:46 PM
#47
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Northern California
Bikes: BMC Pro Machine SLC01, Specialized Globe, Burley Rock 'N Roll tandem, Calfee Dragonfly tandem.
I use a Gillette safety razor (e.g it uses those disposable "suicide"* one layer razor blades). Blades cost nothing, weigh nothing, take no space. All you need is a small mirror and a shower. Alternatively, use a bucket of water. I've seen this particular brand of razor a lot of places (anywhere from Turkey to China).
The answer for the best quality is to pick up the Lady's version of the Fusion, the Gillette Venus razor, which is plastic, and accepts Fusion blades. The handle can be pruned to about 1", and it is still easy to hold with thumb and two fingers. The weight is in a few grams. At home quality in the field.
05-16-12 | 06:39 PM
#48
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Oregon
I only shaved once on my cross country tour, and that was only because I would be visiting my grandparents. I never once had any problems and was usually less hairy than other touring cyclists I ran into.