bbbean 

Tis true. The older you get the less there is to tend.

rsbob 

As short as I go these days. Not shaved, ‘manscaped’.

David Hans

Every little bit helps in the era of wind tunnel testing, skinsuits, and aerodynamic rims when it comes to reducing air resistance. According to studies, freshly shaved, slick legs move much more quickly than their naturally hairy counterparts.

Bogey Speedwell

What the leg shavers are missing is the chance to get analytical and make aero adjustments while riding to gain speed. I frequently read and make micro adjustments by seeing what the flowing hair on my legs is doing. For example if I see the inner calf hair circling while on a corner pulling a switchback, I simply flex my calf muscle and gain 2-3 MPH on the climb. Thinking of vintage aero wind tunnel testing.

it’s science people.

indyfabz

Shaved legs riding something like this don't make no dang bit of difference when it comes to air resistance.

tomato coupe

Beyond a certain age, everyone needs regular manscaping. It's sad when "having a bad hair day" refers to your eyebrows or ear hair.

Koyote

I resent resemble that comment.

Reflector Guy

This, exactly. Our family's DNA doomed us all to nearly-hairless legs forever.

I was always worried people thought I actually WAS shaving my legs!

79pmooney

But faster would be to leave a strip of stubble along the shinbone to trip the air coming in as laminar flow to turbulent. Yes turbulent flow has more drag but it also wraps further around obstacles before detaching. The width of the stagnant bubble between the right and left hand flows dictates the size of the low pressure zone behind which is a much bigger drag than the difference between laminar and turbulent flow.

Laminar, turbulent, Reynolds numbers. I lived for that stuff in a former life. Still have the well worn bible authored by Abbott and Von Doenhoff.

Edit: the hairless guys can stick narrow strips of stair tread tape on their shins and get the same effect. Like the sand model makers apply to the first half inch of a ship model for tank testing.

Eric F 

Imagine how fast that dog would be, though!!

indyfabz

He was a sweet "house dog" that belonged to one of the employees at Gem Mountain in Philipsburg, MT. I had just spent some time panning for sapphires in a $10 bucket of dirt. It was fun. Found a total of nearly 17 cts. but none was large enough to do anything with. I kept them as souvenirs. I was supposed to go back there in 2020, but COVID-related travel headaches stopped that.

Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine | Montana's Oldest Sapphire Mine (gemmountainmt.com)

Unfortunately, that day went down hill after that photo was taken. I made the mostly unpaved climb up to Skalkaho Pass at nearly 7,300'. As I was getting ready for the descent, a storm moved into the upper elevations. Very cold rain with some thunder and lightning. I hadn't brought adequate rain/cold weather gear. I was freezing on the way down. My hands felt like blocks of ice. I pedaled very hard when I could to generate body heat. Fortunately, the descent was not technical, so I didn't have to try to brake much, if at all. When I finally got down into town I was moderately hypothermic. So much so that I was experiencing some confusion and having a little trouble making decisions. I was supposed to go another 18 flat miles to a campground but ended up getting a motel room and soaking in a hot bath before going out for a steak.

bbbean 

Let me correct that for you: "The reduction in aero resistance isn't worth the effort to me."

indyfabz

Except that I shave, even while on tour. But it's about the look and the feel.

livedarklions

I tried to buy some shin fairing but was told the store wasn't interested in Irish politics.

indyfabz

😫
*groan*

zhoushenglin

Agree...

rsbob 

Shave because it is Rule #33. “If, for some reason, your legs are to be left hairy, make sure you can dish out plenty of hurt to shaved riders”.

There you go. People (male/female/other) who don’t shave are the real animals out to shame the shaved. Now you know.

Miele Man

I used to shave my legs and arms because doing that made it a lot easier/faster to apply more sunblock on long rides.

Cheers

rsbob 

Have to agree. I have monkey arms and legs and trimming them short makes sunscreen application, as well as showering, a bit easier.


So why do non cyclist women shave their legs? They don’t need to be more aero… Seems ridiculous to me. Now arm pits are a whole other thing…. Literally