TriDevil

As I descend farther and farther into cycling I keep thinking about shaving my legs. Not so much for crash repair, that would be nice as I did have some trouble with it over the summer, but I just like the look better. My legs are pretty well developed and every time I put on the shorts and the hair sticks out I think 'thats it, Im shaving'. I still havent done it, I might very shortly though. My legs are definetly on the hairy side, I remember having hairy legs for years now. Anyone else shaving just for the looks? How long did it take you when you first shaved? You use shaving cream I assume right? And how do you, uh hum, reach everywhere? Or rather where do you shave to? My leg hair sticks out all the way up the spandex so Im thinking pretty high.

KennethToronto

Shaving your legs just feels better

But it's getting cold now so I don't see a point
You might consider trimming the hair first and then using shaving cream. I usually shave in the shower.

scott L R

I am a hairy beast. Many people have said I should shave, heck some people said I should braid! I refuse to shave, other than my face.

pinky

shaving your hairy ass legs:
items needed:
sheers/electric razor (first time only)
good razor (im a mach 3 fan)
shaving cream/gel/whatever
soap

first time you shave, use the sheers to cut the hair down as short as you can so your razor actually works (I didnt realize this the first time until my second leg). I prefer to then clean my legs with cold water and soap (though you don't have to). Then put on shaving cream (not all at once though). Then shave, first with the growth of ur hair (generally down). Clean your legs if you've cut yourself, then re-lather and shave against the growth (up). Clean again and get ready for one funky ass feeling of putting pants on.

little notes:
if you get a lot of razor burn in certain spots, only shave with the growth of your hair for a bit, it tends to get better with time
dont bend over for too long, first time I tried to shave the backs of my thighs I nearly blacked out (oops)
make sure you soap ur legs at the end!!
moisturizer helps now

TriDevil

Getting cold!?!?! Here in AZ it was 98 degrees F today. Where the *&$% is fall? They are even saying we might be up over 100 degrees again next weekend. Just great. Needless to say I hardly need any 'fur' to keep warm! Thanks pinky, thats exactly what I was looking for. Didnt even think of trimming it down first.

pinky

eh, the fur doesn't make the difference...tights and leg/arm warmers on the other hand...

KennethToronto

Of course your fur isn't an insulator

but there's no point in shaving if you're only going to be wearing tights/leg warmers and not showin any leg

pinky

right, I just have the additional thing of my girlfriend/myself enjoying it

BigFloppyLlama

What about arms though? I'm considering shaving more and more but I worry I'll look lop-sided with so much hair on my head and arms.

jcivic00

go from top to bottom. just take your time, the first go round is long, but the maintenance after isn't too bad.

Kev

You do triathlon so no reason not to shave your arms and everything in between, if you did not swim I would skip the arms since then people will think you are a swimmer

LIke pinky said get the weed wacker out first need to cut down the formest before you can clear the land
I would suggest putting some lotion or specific anti-razor burn lotion on your legs afterwards. At first you will get razor burn and it will itch pretty badly first few days.

roadfix

Shave. It'll increase your average speed by 10mph!

Brahman Bull

Shave 'em! Take it from an AZ native, it never gets THAT cold in the Grand Canyon State. I do it just for looks and will never go back to my hairy Italian legs again.

jchet

After a crash many years ago I also decided to go withour hair. For me I used an electric razor with a sideburn cutter to remove the initial har. I then used a disposable razor and cream to complete the job.

Now I use an electric razor on the legs and arms for a quick touch up in the morning and evening. Once a week I stand in the shower with a disposable razor and cream for a closer shave. Several years ago I moved onto shaving my chest also so it may be an indication I am out of control. All I know is my wife and I compete for the best legs contest.

Nofx

I shaved a couple times I got WICKED Razor burn tho, look like a 15 year old zitty face all over my legs... Needless to say IT SUCKED.... any ideas on how to not get that? or is that with just the more you do it the less it will happen.

Kev

The first time you will get that Nofx, you have virgin skin there.. It took me about a week for my skin to actual return to normal. But I have to shave atleast every other day at min to keep from looking and feeling bad. So alot of times I do it daily. Try different creams, also I find the mach 3 razor does the best job and causes the least irritation, also there is creams for it also.

ImprezaDrvr

Wow, you folks need to drive a couple of hours north. It always gets THAT cold up here. I've had to bust out the arm and knee warmers for a couple of rides already. You poor bastages. Enjoy the century mark for temperature this week!

jchet

I agree with Kev, use Mach 3 razors, get a shaving gel for sensative skin, and take your time and go slow. If I hurry while using a razor I can slice myself up also despite years of practice.

Turbonium

how about using Nair for men?? wouldn't that be better than shaving?

JCM800

For those cyclists who shave their legs,all the power to you.

But not me. Frankly,I like having long hairy legs and so do most of the women I meet.

Regards.

Kev

Basicaly nair uses a chemical to burn the hair off you're body, some have problem with it causing irritating their skin so can not use it. I actualy tried it once did not work very well for me personaly.

ImprezaDrvr

Hm, back in my single days, I found the opposite to be true.

Regards.

astonv0l

My fiancee said if I shave my legs, I'll be sleeping on the couch
I dont think they look to bad, does it really make you go faster ?

Stubacca

Nope. But it makes it easier to clean gravel etc out of road rash.

IMHO, there's no performance advantage on the bike, but there are many discussions out there that talk about how it makes you look like you're in 'the club'. That is, the good cyclist club. Other cyclists will know you're serious about riding, and will generally feel more confident with you riding close to them when on a group ride. Odds are you're experienced if you'll take the addiction tha far.

ImprezaDrvr

Wow. If my fiancee had dropped a line like that, my love of riding might have trumped my love of her. Of course, mine were shaved when we met. I bet, if you shave, she'll come around. Or go around.