I took it as tongue firmly planted in cheek...

Aaron :)

I used to think I needed an electric razor to shave properly, since I couldn't quite get the hairs under my nose with my Mach 3. Then my local Costco stopped selling Mach 3 blades, and so I was forced to get a Fusion. At first I was annoyed--"Is it really necessary to have FIVE blades?" I thought--but it didn't take me long to fall in love with the thing. The blade on the back can trim sideburns and touch up hard-to-reach places, and the battery-powered vibration makes me feel like I'm using an electric razor. And if you're worried about weight, my Fusion is only 47 grams, including the plastic holder and the battery.

Now that I've solved the razor problem, I'm wondering what to do about shaving cream. I don't want to take a huge canister of shaving gel, but I'm not sure what else I can use. The range of shaving products available here in non-hirsute Taiwan leaves a lot to be desired.

Plain water? If not that any soap or shampoo works fine.

That's a safety razor, not a straight razor. A straight razor is the kind you flip open and strop on a belt. They are not usually super cheap.

You could always take the stem off a normal disposable razor and just use the razor part. Store it in a napkin inside a zip-lock bag. Have a soft soap bar with you and use the soap on your face where you shave. Then just go into any public restroom and shave. That's how I do every time I'm living on my bike for longer than a week. And this way, you barely add any space or weight to your bags.

I don't shave on a tour. If things really get wild I'll find a barber who does haircuts and shaves.

As far as looking like a bum goes I don't think shaving or not shaving is a big factor in that. How you dress and how clean you are will be more important factors.

I've never heard the words shaving and on tour at the same time. They don't mix.

Leave the razor, pre-shave, after-shave, hairdryer, etc and stuff like that a thome.

I think that a young guy can get away with a travelers beard if they have an outgoing and friendly demeanor.

I try to stay more groomed on the road than I do at home.(I live alone in the woods, and as an artist am allowed to look rough) On the road I try to hack it off every time I can. A few days growth looks ok on me, but I really look mean and crazy with a beard, so can notice people being more open with me shaved. A cop gave me directions in a very small town one afternoon, and when I ran into him that evening with a fresh shave he commented that I looked less worrysome.

Any sort of soap will work, and any sink, but I really try to clean up the area I used as a representitave of bike touring...

I like shaving every day and have used all the blades by Gillette, Track II, Atra, Sensor, Mach3 and Fusion. I even used the disposables by Gillette and like those too! Shaving does not have to be expensive. A 12 pack of Good News disposables should last you a YEAR and it's only $10 bucks! The GoodNews is the disposable version of the Track II which is a great blade.

Here's how I make them last a whole year. I'll use one disposable a whole month and no it will not do a great job. However, it will still be about 95% effective and any rough spots can be taken care of by a fresh blade. By only using the fresh blade on the rough spots, you preserve it for more than a month. Doing this is much more effective with the Mach 3.

Do you mean, remove the handle from the razor itself ? I am not sure I can hold the blade cartridge square to my face without the handle. For a second there, I thought you meant imbed the blade part in the bar of soap and shave like that ! LOL

I shave while on tour, using my normal gilette sensor excell system stuff plus wiliams shaving oil for lubrication.

I've got no preference for people being clean-shaven or not, just that they look like they take care of themselves.
that is: if shaving: do that every few days.
if not: trim your beard etc. every week(?)

but that's just me.

I've found the Bic disposables to be the worst by far. The company should have stuck to making biro pens.

My Gillette disposables last a good while, too. And I am not afraid to look in the women's section for disposable razors... they're often as good if not better quality (they have to be!) and cheaper then the men's equivalents.

Nothing wrong with a beard. If anything, I thought beards were all the fashion, now. If I were to be judged by a person just for having a beard, then I'd be likely just as wary of them as they me. It takes all sorts to make a world, and that's what makes it great.

Shaving oil comes in 20ml bottles that can last for months (depending on the brand). Not sure how easy it is to get hold of in Taiwan.

I used Sea to Summit shaving cream in a bottle. Apparently they ship to Asia and their website lists a distributor in Taiwan. It's OK stuff, not as good as normal cream but better than plain soap. The bottle lasts months.

Not shaving is only an option for those who tour without girlfriends or wives. For me, the advantages of shaving vastly outweigh the small amount of extra gear.

:roflmao2:

You gotta shave your neck man! At least I needed to on many adventures. The rest was just fine.

Wear it with pride, my friend. Wear it with pride.

I don't shave any more. I stopped in October 1974. The barber who cuts my hair also trims my beard... Occasionally I went /go wonky. Several years ago when my wife (of 32+ years) and I separated I shaved my beard off. She never saw me without a beard. 1st time in 32 years...

I have done that (shaving that is) a couple of times since - BUT it is sporadic...

Shaving wastes time... and resources AND promotes male vanity and Gillette profits. NNTR :)

This is coming from somebody who can't grow a full beard, but I like being clean-shaven. I also like having my hair be really short, and I'll buzz almost all of it off before a long trip if there's no reason not to. Less hair=less hassle.

I'd much rather bring along a razor and a few blades and shave whenever I get a chance than not, but it just comes down to personal preference.

Do keep in mind though that to a lot of people, a beard (let alone a shaggy beard which is what will happen if you don't trim/groom it) makes you look like a hobo, or lazy and sloppy, or intimidating, or a lot of other bad things. Yes, maybe it's on them for being prejudiced, but if you want to have positive interactions with people, every little bit helps especially at the first impression.

Thanks for the tip! I found the distributor today and bought some Wilderness Wash as well as the shaving cream. I'll try it tomorrow and see how it feels.

I don't have a girlfriend or wife to tour with, but I totally agree that the advantages of shaving outweigh the extra weight. If I let my beard run amok, it makes me look closer to 40 than 30, and a slovenly 40 at that. It itches, too.

I have a beard.. goatee or whatever it is called in English these days.. I keep the sides shaven. I use a straight edge razor and soap.

It is easy as pie and I can do it without a mirror if I have to. I can do it with cold water too...

I personally do not like electric razors.....


You can always stop in a barber shop and get a trim if you do not want to shave yourself on tour.


robi

ps. oh, and straight raozrs are dirt cheap at flee markets and garage sales... I paid 10 bucks for mine....

I use a straight razor to trim up anything necessary and a stainless steel manual nose-hair trimmer. "When he sneezes he looks like a party favor. - Major League". I love stopping in a small town with a real barber for a shave with hot towels now and then. What I want to know is how do people with long hair handle extended camping?