Question about Leg Shaving
#76
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IIRC, once RChung measured the drag of his partially unzipped jersey, he made a point of no longer partially unzipping his jersey.
Just kidding. I have a lot of respect for the maths/science skills or Mr. Chung. But pretty obviously, the people who Do win stages and stage races .... aren't quite so concerned about aero all the time.
I think it is sort of funny that some riders really do seem to act like they are racing, seriously competing, for some imaginary glory .... but I still support that mindset. It works for them, it enriches their experiences .... if RChung cares about the .00002 watt he loses for every tooth his zipper drops below his adam's apple .... cool. If some guys shave or don't or shave weird patterns or rider's names into their body hair ...... or ride in jeans and flip-flops .... or don't ride .....
It's only Bike Forums ..... or as the Indigo Girls remind me from time to time, "it's only life after all ..... "
But I bet they shave their legs, and I have never seen them unzip their jerseys .... hmmmm ......
#77
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Personally, I sometimes tour and don't always have shower access. Bare legs are easier to clean. I also take blood thinners. Going bare can lessen injuries in case of a fall and makes bandaging easier a lot more pleasant. As to the latter, then I had my heart surgery they shaved everything below my neck except for my arms. When I woke up after the surgery I discovered that most of the tubes and wires coming out of me were taped to my arms. One built of feedback I gave was that they should let patients know what's going to happen and give them the opportunity to let the shavers finish the job. That all seems weird to you?
Plus, like @WhyFi, my legs look damn good when bare.
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#78
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I am not hairy in general but shave my legs here and there. I like the way it feels and looks when I ride.
I think it's weird that people think what others like to do is weird.
I think it's weird that people think what others like to do is weird.
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#80
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Just finished my coffee and re-read your post.
To clarify, I do completely shave my legs. It just takes a while for my hair to grow back enough to bother to re-shave.
Last edited by KJ43; 07-15-21 at 10:07 AM. Reason: misread
#81
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It only takes a few visits to a cardiologist to realize that you no longer desire hair on your chest.
Legs? do you really care what my legs look like?
Legs? do you really care what my legs look like?
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#82
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Seriously...Same for me. I don't shave in the winter. These days, after the initial spring shearing I can get away with a quick once-over once a week. Usually do that Thursday or Friday morning while showering. Takes next to no time.
#83
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To you guys that shave... how high to you go? And do you "manscape?".
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They used to have them on the USAC website. Looks like now they just have the bodysuit: https://shop.usacycling.org/men-s-as...hrono-usa.html
#85
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- Proactive preparation for cleaning the rash after a crash, especially prior to riding mtb, where there's a lot more to clean out
- Easier to put on, and adjust leg warmers without hairs getting pulled, and the warmers seem to stay in place on bare skin better than hair
- Mounting Electrical Muscle Stimulator (EMS) electrodes above and below the knee for quad therapy
- Easier to apply sunscreen
I've never had a single ingrown hair, thankfully, since I shave 100% of the leg, from ankle to groin, and then some. When nude, I don't want to look like I'm wearing fur shorts. I also shave my sit spots to reduce the hair pull irritation down there. TMI?
Last edited by Riveting; 07-15-21 at 10:21 AM.
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#86
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Read some of the responses in this thread. There are reasons other than aerodynamic advantage, real or not, that people shave.
Personally, I sometimes tour and don't always have shower access. Bare legs are easier to clean. I also take blood thinners. Going bare can lessen injuries in case of a fall and makes bandaging easier a lot more pleasant. As to the latter, then I had my heart surgery they shaved everything below my neck except for my arms. When I woke up after the surgery I discovered that most of the tubes and wires coming out of me were taped to my arms. One built of feedback I gave was that they should let patients know what's going to happen and give them the opportunity to let the shavers finish the job. That all seems weird to you?
Plus, like @WhyFi, my legs look damn good when bare.
Personally, I sometimes tour and don't always have shower access. Bare legs are easier to clean. I also take blood thinners. Going bare can lessen injuries in case of a fall and makes bandaging easier a lot more pleasant. As to the latter, then I had my heart surgery they shaved everything below my neck except for my arms. When I woke up after the surgery I discovered that most of the tubes and wires coming out of me were taped to my arms. One built of feedback I gave was that they should let patients know what's going to happen and give them the opportunity to let the shavers finish the job. That all seems weird to you?
Plus, like @WhyFi, my legs look damn good when bare.
To tell the truth, I never gave much thought to this, but now I think the weird part is that men are expected to have to justify doing it.
#87
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#88
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I think that 'Y'all' is singular. The plural is "all y'all". YMMV
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I really enjoy not shaving in the winter, but I also really enjoy that first shave in the spring.
#91
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Who needs a clean chain, it isn't noticeable. Who needs fast tires, it isn't noticeable. Who need tight clothing, it isn't noticeable. Who needs aero wheels, it isn't noticeable. Frame. Helmet. And, shaved legs. Are they all marginal gains? Collectively, no. Individually, some would be difficult to measure but not impossible.
Enjoy your ride, I am waiting for the heat to go out
Enjoy your ride, I am waiting for the heat to go out
#92
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I've heard of two reasons why pro's shave their legs and neither reason is because it makes them more aerodynamic. (There maybe some evidence that hairy legs actually increase aerodynamics; the hair my hold a boundary layer of air. Think of dimpled golf balls. Also several riders in this year's Tour are sporting beards. If hair really affected aero, those guys would probably shave. And there's Pocacar's hair sticking out of his helmet all over the place)
The first is to help with road rash and scabs. A second reason I've heard is to make it easier for the masseuse that travels with pro teams to give them their after ride rub down. Since few of us mortals have a masseuse on retainer, I think that excuse for shaving goes away.
The first is to help with road rash and scabs. A second reason I've heard is to make it easier for the masseuse that travels with pro teams to give them their after ride rub down. Since few of us mortals have a masseuse on retainer, I think that excuse for shaving goes away.
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#93
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Would you believe my calculations?
This is really simple math. Like 8th grade. Honestly
Here is a calculator to play around with....
https://www.gribble.org/cycling/power_v_speed.html
This is really simple math. Like 8th grade. Honestly
Here is a calculator to play around with....
https://www.gribble.org/cycling/power_v_speed.html
That's beside the point, the real issue is the reduction in drag figures for the item in question, for example one kind of skin suit vs. tight-fitting clothing. The formula you linked, like all formulas, is clearly vulnerable to gi/go. Manufacturers and marketers have every incentive in the world to make it look like the stuff they're selling has a noticeable effect, so if you use their equipment and methods for measuring the effects of anything including shaving, they may have built-in assumptions that grossly overstate the number being multiplied. You think it's just simple math to verify the .02 reduction figure you used for shaving? I saw that figure given as a result of a wind tunnel experiment done by Specialized, is that where you got it? Obviously, the closer that number is to zero, the less the differential in time at various speeds, so if Specialized's methods err on the high side, that's going to cook things in ways your "simple math" won't detect..
#94
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Y'all has the same etymological origins as youse and yinz, all of which have essentially the same usage: a non-gendered pronoun, used in the singular or plural.
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When I was on blood thinners (Eliquis) for about 6 months due to clots in both lungs (side effect of Stage 4 Lung Cancer), small cuts seems to bleed forever, so I was scared to ride and fall and get unknown internal bleeding, so my riding was dramatically reduce at that time.
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When I was on blood thinners (Eliquis) for about 6 months due to clots in both lungs (side effect of Stage 4 Lung Cancer), small cuts seems to bleed forever, so I was scared to ride and fall and get unknown internal bleeding, so my riding was dramatically reduce at that time.
#98
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I always shave before going to anyone that might do an EKG or similar test on me. Shears that you use for haircuts are more than close enough. I use those height combs on them that leave about a 1/4 inch. That seems to not pull as bad if it's that or shorter.
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