eatontkd

I've been riding, off and on, for years. I've never shaved my legs. Do any of you shave? My wife would surely have a fitful response to this. So, I'm thinking about going for it.

canklecat

I did when I was younger and occasionally raced intermediate level crits and time trials. I suppose it was helpful a few times after crashes for first aid to road rash. I doubt it made me any faster - I've never had enough leg hair to matter. And I barely notice any discomfort from pulling out hairs, whether peeling bandages off slowly or yanking quickly. One advantage to being older with chronic pain is the little stuff is hardly noticeable anymore. But shaving would probably be helpful for wooly bears and caveman types.

02Giant 

Spring is almost here...

texaspandj

Officially spring has sprung.
I did when I competed in triathlons in the mid 80's to early 90s. And now that I'm training again and plan to compete in some this year I'll do it again. I'd shave the night before my first race of the season then once a week to keep it manageable. Then the night before every race.
They say it's more aerodynamic, helps when you get road rash, shows more definition in your legs, facilitates post race massages and gives you a better feel for the water when swimming. But honestly I do it for the psychological affect. It means my training is going well and I'm ready to race You just feel faster. If I never did race I'd probably still do it because it helps identify me as a cyclist, shows off my legs, and most of all, it feels cooler. I say go for it. Can't knock it til you try it.

Tips: Use shaving cream, have at least 2 or more brand new shavers handy, start at the feet, and shave upward. I use Bic disposable with the pastel color handles. You may need more than 2 if you're really hairy. Oh and take your time especially around the ankles. You can expect an hour the first time then less than that if you shave weekly. Good luck.

MoAlpha

Did it when I was racing and used every silly rationale in the book. It was a tribal ritual, a safe bit of homoeroticism, and felt fast. Wife couldn't stand the way it felt after a few days. I now have almost no hair below the knees from being old.

leob1

No reason to.

big john

+1. Not a chance.

John_V 

At 70, I still do. My reason is that I take an oral chemo drug that causes about 98% of the hair on my legs, and other body areas, to disappear. What's left are very small, scattered patches with dark hair that often looks like dots on my legs. It looks ridiculous and I'd rather have no hair on my legs than spotty patches. However, if you don't have a reason to shave your legs, than don't. Then again, you could give it a try and see how you like it and if you don't, let it grow back and no harm was done.

volosong

I do. Not for any specific reason. It does not help my aerodynamic profile. I rarely 'crash', (only three times in my entire life, and all low-speed 'tight turns on a sand patch'). I just like the way it looks and feels. Unless the max temp of the day is in the mid-60s or lower, I wear shorts to work.

RonH

She might not like it at first but wait until you're both in bed. You can add the rest of the story yourself.

I'm 71 and still keep the leg hairs short. I don't shave anymore but I do use a trimmer every few weeks.

Wileyrat

I really don't see the point in shaving, unless I need to tape up my ankles again, and I don't compete in those types of sports anymore, so I don't see that happening.

I don't have very hairy legs anyway, so for the few nano seconds I'll save, it's not worth the effort or explanation. I also don't anticipate crashing, so that aspect is a non issue too.

Biker395 

^ lol

I don't. I already shave the noggin and that's enough for me.

I have other reasons too. Whenever my family complains about my incessant cycling, I threaten them:

"Keep it up and I'll start shaving my legs. Explain that one to your friends."

I want to keep that one in my back pocket.

FullGas

started shaving a few years ago...

looks good, feels good...especially when swimming.

shaving is not about being 'aero,' it's about road rash...my last trip to the ER after a crash with hairy legs was pretty unpleasant.

MoAlpha

I shave the noggin, too.

Wife wasn't embarrassed by this comparatively mild eccentricity and appeared to buy the excuses. She just objected to the 400-grit Emery cloth feel of five-day shadow in bed. These days, however, she's worried about my wild eyebrows and keeps licking her finger and pasting them down. Daughter might have been slightly embarrassed if I'd done it when she was an adolescent, but probably not, given her delight in painting my toenails.

Hell, I swam with guys who shaved all visible parts for speed--talk about tribal rituals. That one's been debunked, too.

Road rash is unpleasant with or without hair, in my experience.

OldTryGuy

I crashed in Central Park during a race MANY years ago. First time I went down hard and the road rash/hair/blood clean up made for a very unpleasant experience after arriving back home in Teaneck. Once healed I shaved arms and legs and it felt weird but one thing for sure is that non hairy arms/legs makes for very easy and less painful cleaning after doing down. Never shaved for any of my triathlons and I should have for the first REV3 70.3 in Venice. Came to the round-about by Manasota Beach and according to my Garmin went from 25.3mph to 0 pretty fast when I lost the rear at the 15 mile mark. Big time bleeding from that point on until after the 13.1 at which point I was escorted to the medical tent for a half hour of medical attention to be cleaned up--OUCH!!!!!--and monitoring.

D1andonlyDman

Not my legs, no.

eatontkd

That may work for me!

DMC707

Legs and forearms. Started doing it 30 years ago and cant stop now. If i go 2 weeks without the itching and ingrown hairs become unbearable

forearms is due to the wide swath of skin i pulled off the first time i let my speed drp below 15 mph on a 45 degree velodrome and slid down all the way to the bottom

its just part of life now - only complaint is its time consuming as i am a big guy --- a regular shower takes 5 minutes- a bath where shaving is involved takes me at minimum 30

Ravenwing

Oh lord, no. Its about the only hair I have left!

mprelaw

Oh boy, a shaving thread. These deliver almost as well as Lance threads in the 41.

Can we do a saddle bag or waving thread next? Can we, can we? Pretty please.

MoAlpha

I only wave at cats who shave.

leob1

Keep it up and I'll starts a chain lube thread!

79pmooney

I'll stop shaving when I know I've done my last crash.

Ben

peterws

Dont shave! Use Veet for Men. .

Another customer, the Cantakerous Tiger wrote: "I like the clean shaven look down in my gentleman's log cabin, so for the past few years I've used a shaver. However the hair keeps growing back... so I decided to get to the root of the problem and purchased this product.

"Probably the first thing you will notice after using this product is the pain. Although as a man I lack the required experience, I'm going to estimate that using this product is at least eleven times more painful than childbirth.

"Imagine sticking a rusty razor blade into your favourite eye, before tying your hands behind your back. Then imagine that you use the entrenched razor blade to slice open a raw onion. All the while being butt naked.

"This product is slightly more painful than that."

But still worth a three star rating.

Wildwood 

Yes, but not in winter months.
Shaving + Nair keeps it smooth.

As @MoAlpha stated = a mild eccentricity.