oamsfl

I am thinking about shaving my legs ,but I keep asking myself why am I going to do this, only reason I see so far is other cyclist do it.......is this just a cosmetic thing??

KirkeIsWaiting

it makes you FEEL pretty, too.
nuf sed.

skydive69

Read the endless threads on the subject by doing a search.

TheKillerPenguin

I just did it yesterday. Curiousity got me to do it. It feels really cool, my girlfriend says she can see my muscles better (and that she feels like a lesbian ). The road rash thing is a myth, it won't make it worse, but it will make cleaning whatever road rash you do get a bit more difficult.

Shave it for looks and to satisfy curiosity. If you don't like it, you can always let it grow back.

skydive69

It sure in the hell makes it easier to apply sunscreen before a ride, and lotion after a ride. Why do you think the road rash thing is a myth when quite to the contrary it is oppositely stated by a rather famous physician/author/cyclist?

TheKillerPenguin

If it contributed to road rash, then in the contact patch there would be no hair present, as it would have been ripped off when it contacted the road. Since I've gotten road rash before and saw there was still hair where the contact patch was, it seems illogical to me that it could contribute to road rash. It does make cleaning it a lot more difficult and painful that it has to be though.

my58vw

And massage feels better too...

C_Heath

Ive been dabbling with it myself, I even started a little bit from my inner ankle to about half way up my calf where the chain sometime hits and greases my leg on a sit climb.

Only thing stopping me at the moment..

#1 Im not in "Cycling shape" (5'10" 195)

#2 I dont want people to think Im a poseur as Im not fast yet (been ridin 9 months)

Ive lost 25 pound in 9 months but I still dont feel like I should though Id like too.

However, Ill agree, that place I shaved looks really really kool, got some mad veins that run allover that I didnt see before I shaved it.

Should I wait or get the razor out tonight? lol

PS, I have very fine, thin hair on my legs, It probably wouldnt even get noticed.

skydive69

It certainly doesn't contribute to road rash, but as you said it does make it more difficult to deal with. More importantly, it is more prone to be infected accourding to Dr. Arnie Baker, champion cyclist, and prolific cycling author.

Roody

Does this mean that you are posing as a non-poseur?

TheKillerPenguin

Does the increased infection have to do physically with the hair being present (collecting dirt on it and things like that), or with people being wusses and not wanting to hurt themselves pulling the hair when they clean it?

jsharr

you'll look better in hose?

C_Heath

No, I just dont want people to think, hmmmmm, look at the guy averaging 15 miles per hour on his entry level bike but hes legs are shaved lol.

A poser is a person (to me) that rolls up with his new Madone 5.9, Full all out Campy or DA 10, and doesnt ride because of a "back problem" or his bike is making a "noise" or he has to meet someone about something and cant ride" but would rather hang out and wait for the group then go have a few beers. Then you see him the next afternoon and he says "man, I had a killer 70 miler this morning" I say "really?" hes like yea, I say " you ride alone" hes like "yea, couldnt find anyone to ride with". Bike still new with the tits on the tires and chain is glistening. Thats my idea as a poser. Flame away!


Im not that fast and I am not slim and trim as the "cyclist" so I sure dont want someone to think Im posin lol

I just wanna ride

WOrd

my58vw

Man that must make me a poser then... I show up at the end of the groups 50 mile ride wearing my full team kit. They asked if I rode today... I say oh just a quick spin around the block.

I just rode a 45 minute crit...

ed073

So you look cool.

skydive69

Here is an exerpt from one article:

Healing

Ah, road rash. Every cyclist will eventually experience this "joy" of cycling after a nasty fall. The presence of hair on the legs makes cleaning the wound more difficult. It can also increase the chances of infection.

And another:

Shaving your legs

Those new to the sport may be wondering why most cyclists shave their legs.

Cyclists at elite level shave their legs to assist with regular massage, particularly in long multi stage races. Shaved legs are easier to treat and generally heal quicker from grazes sustained in falls.

The most common reason for shaving legs with the majority of racing cyclists is uniformity. Shaved legs are the trademark of a cyclist serious about their sport.

As you read various literature dealing with cyclists shaving their legs, the increased possibility from infection due to road rash, and the ease of dealing with said rash is a common thread. It has to be obvious that massaging shaved legs is a bit easier. I self massage my legs after hard rides, and find it much easier to do sans hair. Finally, there is no denying it is a coming of age thing - I personally don't know a serious cyclist with hairy legs, so it is the lemming factor.

pgoat

I liked the shaved look and feel very much but for us hairier guys who are lazy about shaving half their bodies twice a day to keep the rash away it's a no-go. I could never keep it up more than a week or so.

What I would recommend for the slovenly gorillas out there is a decent electric clipper, with no guard or maybe the #1 (shortest) guard. You get the basic effect and can see actual cycling muscles (always nice) without the misery of initial stubble.

just my 2 cents.............

Pedal Wench

Wax it, boys, wax. Go for weeks without having to deal with it.

alison_in_oh

My sweetie has considered waxing, but he is afraid that the hair would grow back thinner and softer, and he expects that someday when he is racing less he will want his coarse manly gorilla legs back in full form.

atombob

Back when I was racing, I did it for both the above mentioned reasons. Then I kept it up because it got me laid... a lot. lol. It's a lot of work though; once you start you have a project 3 times a week minimum. Be warned, your wife/girlfriend will hate you if you come to bed with porcupine legs.

KirkeIsWaiting

All of this leg shaving talk is starting to affect me.
I found myself standing in line at the plumbing supply, looking at mens legs in front of me and wondering what they would look like if they were shaven.
At lunch I mentioned it to the my UPS guy... he's game.
So my mission...to make it a smoother, silkier world...one leg at a time!

khackney

It could grant you membership in the OCP club.

skydive69

I find that I can keep mine well maintained with just once a week sessions with the razor. I must admit, the girls do like it which rather surprised me. When I didn't shave, one of the faster girl riders in the club used to give me a hard time. She asked me how I would like it if girls didn't shave their legs. When I replied that I wouldn't (being a leg man), she said, "most of us feel the same way about men's legs." She is a total babe, so I listened carefully!!

RidingMatthew

I have been riding since April and feel like I am doing good, but not sure at what point I should shave either. I have not lost much weight. I am still 5'9" and 203lbs. I have trimmed the hairs on my legs. (people ask if I shave them already)

When is the appropriate time to shave them?
Also since it is almost October is it pointless until spring?

ottsville

If you have to ask, you are not ready grasshopper.

And trimming? WTF?