Shaving legs for the first time
10-01-11, 11:35 PM
#51
Portland Fred
Since I am a not-very-fast female, this is the only thread in which I can post it: HTFU 
Of course, I don't shave my face, which I am sure is a more sensitive area to shave. For your legs, though...I shave in the shower, with soap and a cheapo razor. Year round. Yes, there is occasional razor burn, and yes, shaving cream is nice. It always makes me smile that many of you are fast, strong riders who will ride really tough hills or distances, but shaving your legs is a big deal.
Of course, I don't shave my face, which I am sure is a more sensitive area to shave. For your legs, though...I shave in the shower, with soap and a cheapo razor. Year round. Yes, there is occasional razor burn, and yes, shaving cream is nice. It always makes me smile that many of you are fast, strong riders who will ride really tough hills or distances, but shaving your legs is a big deal.I've shaved my legs daily for years because they get prickly if I skip a day. I normally use a cheapo twin blade, but I'll use anything handy. You absolutely don't need any elaborate ritual, lotions, and whatnot unless you don't do it often enough. Anyone who is competent can do the job in literally two minutes.
BTW, for women who wonder if shaving faces or legs is harder, faces are harder. But it's still no big deal.
Plus it's just more comfortable and you dry faster.
10-02-11, 06:42 AM
#52
Senior Member
Word. But a lot of these guys who accept grinding all their skin off on the pavement or even serious injuries as normal act like little girls at the possibility of being nipped by a dog 1/4 of their size.
I've shaved my legs daily for years because they get prickly if I skip a day. I normally use a cheapo twin blade, but I'll use anything handy. You absolutely don't need any elaborate ritual, lotions, and whatnot unless you don't do it often enough. Anyone who is competent can do the job in literally two minutes.
BTW, for women who wonder if shaving faces or legs is harder, faces are harder. But it's still no big deal.
Plus it's just more comfortable and you dry faster.
I've shaved my legs daily for years because they get prickly if I skip a day. I normally use a cheapo twin blade, but I'll use anything handy. You absolutely don't need any elaborate ritual, lotions, and whatnot unless you don't do it often enough. Anyone who is competent can do the job in literally two minutes.
BTW, for women who wonder if shaving faces or legs is harder, faces are harder. But it's still no big deal.
Plus it's just more comfortable and you dry faster.
10-02-11, 09:40 PM
#54
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Now that I don't shave, I use about 3 times as much sunscreen because it keeps soaking into my leg hair. I will say I'm less likely to burn without sunscreen since I have plenty of natural "shade" now
When I crashed before I shaved, the wound got infected (green pus) because the hairs kept getting in the way and they prevented the wound from closing. It also took minutes of scrubbing to get the dirt out. With smooth skin, no infection and healed up very quickly... every time. Scrubbing took seconds.
In 19 years of cycling, I have yet to see any reports debunking those claims, but personal experience is all the proof I need. Still, if you have a link to these multiple debunkings, I'd be happy to give them a look.
When I crashed before I shaved, the wound got infected (green pus) because the hairs kept getting in the way and they prevented the wound from closing. It also took minutes of scrubbing to get the dirt out. With smooth skin, no infection and healed up very quickly... every time. Scrubbing took seconds.
In 19 years of cycling, I have yet to see any reports debunking those claims, but personal experience is all the proof I need. Still, if you have a link to these multiple debunkings, I'd be happy to give them a look.
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10-02-11, 09:50 PM
#55
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Now that I don't shave, I use about 3 times as much sunscreen because it keeps soaking into my leg hair. I will say I'm less likely to burn without sunscreen since I have plenty of natural "shade" now
When I crashed before I shaved, the wound got infected (green pus) because the hairs kept getting in the way and they prevented the wound from closing. It also took minutes of scrubbing to get the dirt out. With smooth skin, no infection and healed up very quickly... every time. Scrubbing took seconds.
In 19 years of cycling, I have yet to see any reports debunking those claims, but personal experience is all the proof I need. Still, if you have a link to these multiple debunkings, I'd be happy to give them a look.
When I crashed before I shaved, the wound got infected (green pus) because the hairs kept getting in the way and they prevented the wound from closing. It also took minutes of scrubbing to get the dirt out. With smooth skin, no infection and healed up very quickly... every time. Scrubbing took seconds.
In 19 years of cycling, I have yet to see any reports debunking those claims, but personal experience is all the proof I need. Still, if you have a link to these multiple debunkings, I'd be happy to give them a look.
10-02-11, 10:04 PM
#56
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As for you landing on your arms more than your legs, you might not be falling correctly and might want to evaluate that before you break a collarbone. Note, only you can determine this. If you're not reaching out with your hands when you fall, you're doing it right even if you happen to land on your arms.
I'd still like to see the debunking evidence, though.
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10-03-11, 03:16 PM
#57
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10-03-11, 03:26 PM
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I guess there aren't any "requirements" per say
but honestly? if you're worrying about aerodynamic drag caused by hair on your legs, then you should already be pretty fast as it is, you should be at the point where something like leg hair really matters enough to affect your times...if you're not at that point yet, then I won't say that it's a waste of time, I'll just say there are other things you can focus on to improve your performance.
but honestly? if you're worrying about aerodynamic drag caused by hair on your legs, then you should already be pretty fast as it is, you should be at the point where something like leg hair really matters enough to affect your times...if you're not at that point yet, then I won't say that it's a waste of time, I'll just say there are other things you can focus on to improve your performance.
10-03-11, 03:28 PM
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Plain soap works just fine. I don't shave my legs, but a good lather of plain soap works just fine on the face. Essentially, all shaving cream is is foamy soap with some extra stuff in it. Haven't bought shaving cream in about 4 years.
10-03-11, 03:30 PM
#60
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I guess my question wasn't 'what are the benefits of shaving your legs as a cyclist'. My view on the act of shaving your legs is that it is a right of passage into the sport. So, my question is what must you achieve/possess that gives you the right to shave your legs?
10-03-11, 03:39 PM
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You want to be a cyclist, the only thing you have to do is ride your freaking bike. Shaving your legs doesn't make you one thing or the other. Are you really that concerned about how your legs look? Man-up dude. Reminds me of when I had a motorcycle...about 50% of the Harley market is made up of guys who ride maybe three times a month, but like to think of themselves as bad-ass "bikers" and wear black leather.
10-03-11, 04:28 PM
#62
Portland Fred
You're way overthinking this. It's not like the roadie equivalent of a teardrop tattoo.
10-03-11, 04:51 PM
#63
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If your worried about your friends and family teasing you relentlessly with homophobic type remarks you first need new friends/family that are not so narrow minded/in the closet about there true feeling, or however you want to say that a person who is actually bothered by someones personal choice that in no way effects their daily lives. I call those people judgmental idiots who have no life of their own.
10-03-11, 07:10 PM
#64
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10-03-11, 08:54 PM
#66
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Yep. And yet that is probably the reason half of these guys do it.
It's still the same answer. A razor. There are fast riders with hairy legs and slow riders with shaved legs. You decide which crowd to be in, and I promise you that there will be people who tease you for making that decision. I actually had a lady pass me up a climb and say "if you shaved your legs, you'd be climbing faster" to which I replied "only because my wife would stop sleeping with me, giving me more time to ride".
It's still the same answer. A razor. There are fast riders with hairy legs and slow riders with shaved legs. You decide which crowd to be in, and I promise you that there will be people who tease you for making that decision. I actually had a lady pass me up a climb and say "if you shaved your legs, you'd be climbing faster" to which I replied "only because my wife would stop sleeping with me, giving me more time to ride".
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10-03-11, 09:22 PM
#67
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I do it because I like the way it looks. I prefer using a cheapo hair conditioner instead of shaving cream and any female-designed razor with a pivoting head.
10-03-11, 11:48 PM
#70
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dear everyone participating in this thread,
please don't shave your legs. your hardass father will thank you.
thanks.
please don't shave your legs. your hardass father will thank you.
thanks.
10-04-11, 06:08 AM
#72
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Wow there - have you been peeping in my window?
10-04-11, 07:13 AM
#74
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My daughter (18) hijacked my Gilette Fusion 5 blader because she says the wimmins razors aren't as good. Got me a deal on eBay a few years back on an 84 pack of blades for $80. Kids - first college, then my razor blades.
10-04-11, 07:38 AM
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