If I get back into cycling, does it mean I have to shave my legs?

[Alpe d'Huez]

Okay, you guys are bickering too much, but I have to admit that is one funny graphic there!

 

[53 x 11]

yeah, it is but the only problem is once you have it you want to use it all the time. And I'll stop my end of the bickering and let Mr Pro Tour get back to Lances knicks. Damn it! I just cant stop.

 

[180mmCrank]

+1

The graphic is kinda funny The bickering is a little annoying!

 

[elapid]

LOL. That's funny and needs to be repeated often in the Clinic Forum.

 

[53 x 11]

LOL. That's funny and needs to be repeated often in the Clinic Forum.

Its now how I'm replying to all Pro Tour posts. Feel free to drag it out on The Arbiter.

 

[TrudyTas]

This is the funniest thread I've read yet - thanks to whoever it was that pointed to it from the Clinic .

It's great to know that guys have conversations sometimes on the same topics as girls do when they get together

Most of you talk about shaving - waxing (as mentioned by one poster), or using a mechanical depilitator lasts longer (because it pulls the hairs out by the roots) and you don't get the scratchiness when it grows back ... but its more painful ...

I reckon any man who wants his girl to shave/wax their legs should be prepared to do it themselves After all, it's considered sexy on women ...

 

[flyor64]

This is the funniest thread I've read yet - thanks to whoever it was that pointed to it from the Clinic .

It's great to know that guys have conversations sometimes on the same topics as girls do when they get together

Most of you talk about shaving - waxing (as mentioned by one poster), or using a mechanical depilitator lasts longer (because it pulls the hairs out by the roots) and you don't get the scratchiness when it grows back ... but its more painful ...

I reckon any man who wants his girl to shave/wax their legs should be prepared to do it themselves After all, it's considered sexy on women ...

It's amazing how far one's wife will go if asked nicely there are, after all, "areas" that are difficult to get to....

 

[runninboy]

This is the funniest thread I've read yet - thanks to whoever it was that pointed to it from the Clinic .

It's great to know that guys have conversations sometimes on the same topics as girls do when they get together

Most of you talk about shaving - waxing (as mentioned by one poster), or using a mechanical depilitator lasts longer (because it pulls the hairs out by the roots) and you don't get the scratchiness when it grows back ... but its more painful ...

I reckon any man who wants his girl to shave/wax their legs should be prepared to do it themselves After all, it's considered sexy on women ...

I thought this was a post from an old gf for a second. She used my shaved legs to get what she wanted shaving a bit higher. She thought it was great not to have to deal with hair and she also fantasized that she was in bed with a porn star,
women...

 

[nightfend]

If you are chubby, then don't shave. You'll just look foolish. Same with wearing pro bike kits when you are fat.

If you are thin and a strong rider, then shave 'em!

 

[Boeing]

I was 6 months off the bike due to health and injury. December to July. I tried the first few months to keep shaving the legs but in the end I just let it grow out. First time I have had hair on my legs in more than 10 years. I am riding now and all I can say is that it is uncomfortable to ride for long periods of time with this fur . Itchey, hard to put the sun cream on. havent taken a fall yet thank god...

I am a little fearful because 10 years ago when I took all this off the first time I had to rub one out just after. I dont want that to happen again

 

[tifosa]

Hair removal is purely ritualistic behavior and part of the cycling aesthetic. Cycling with shaved legs isn't the same as swimming with a shaved body--even if one does compete in triathlons. Which begs the question: Why be mediocre in three sports when you could be great at one?

 

[Boeing]

the reasons to shave have nothing to do with vibe and how you look.

massage oil, sun screen are easy to apply and massage with out hair

take one fall one your bike with hairy legs and your road rash will be twice as bad and difficult to clean compared to shaved skin.

 

[53 x 11]

I am a little fearful because 10 years ago when I took all this off the first time I had to rub one out just after.

 

[scribe]

Hair removal is purely ritualistic behavior and part of the cycling aesthetic. Cycling with shaved legs isn't the same as swimming with a shaved body--even if one does compete in triathlons. Which begs the question: Why be mediocre in three sports when you could be great at one?

Mediocrity is my specialty.

 

[cawright1375]

Any tips for preventing razor bumps on the back of the legs? I've tried using women's razors, 3 bladed men's razors, asked a good female friend for tips a few years back and recently questioned the wife. But nothing I seem to do prevents the razor bumps from forming.

And having had some nasty road rash last year, I was so glad that I shaved my legs. The nurse was able to scrub the dirt all out and the changing of the bandages was better than it would have been had I had hair on my legs.

 

[Deagol]

take one fall one your bike with hairy legs and your road rash will be twice as bad and difficult to clean compared to shaved skin.

depends on who around here you ask

..... The fact of the matter is that having hairy legs gives you a bit of protection in a crash, and makes your legs less likely to get cut or scraped as bad in some road rash situations......

 

[usedtobefast]

depends on who around here you ask

i know that the crashed hair can get embedded in the wound and lead to more
infections. you do not want that. also makes massage and the like way easier. gotta shave. the chicks dig it.
they did studies(1980's), and hairy legs are not aero either

 

[ProTour]

the reasons to shave have nothing to do with vibe and how you look.

You just keep telling yourself that, and you'll keep believing it.

massage oil, sun screen are easy to apply and massage with out hair

Does it really make a big difference here? And besides, you don't even need to put sunscreen on if you have a good amount of hair on your legs.

take one fall one your bike with hairy legs and your road rash will be twice as bad and difficult to clean compared to shaved skin.

You have nothing to back this up with, and you will never find anything to back this myth up with. Pure mythology. Cyclists don't want to be portrayed as feminine, so they make up some bs about how they are preparing for the knarly crashes on asphalt that happen all the time. Why do you lie to yourself and others like this? It's like religion or something; completely irrational.

Call me whatever names you want and tease, no worries. Just don't contest the facts I present, because you know you cannot, shaver-boys.

It's like saying a cat wouldn't get scraped up nearly as badly if you shaved all its hair off and drug it behind a car, versus dragging it behind a car with all its hair hair(please don't try this). Brilliant logic you guys buy into, isn't it?

 

[ProTour]

Its now how I'm replying to all Pro Tour posts.

Because all you seem to be capable of is meaningless personal insults, and you know you cannot contest any of the facts I present. And you're likely angry cause I've exposed one of the most embarrassing myths about cyclists who shave their legs.

Somebody explain the physics behind how not having hair on your legs will give you more protection in a crash than if you were to have hair on your legs. Nobody has done that yet. You all just dogmatically buy into this nonsense about how shaving your legs helps you somehow in crashes. Bottom line: It doesn't!

 

[53 x 11]

Because all you seem to be capable of is meaningless personal insults, and you know you cannot contest any of the facts I present. And you're likely angry cause I've exposed one of the most embarrassing myths about cyclists who shave their legs.

Somebody explain the physics behind how not having hair on your legs will give you more protection in a crash than if you were to have hair on your legs. Nobody has done that yet. You all just dogmatically buy into this nonsense about how shaving your legs helps you somehow in crashes. Bottom line: It doesn't!

Oh, your back, I thought you would be off riding your Frankenbike up some really steep hills and contemplating how God sometimes must wish he was as omnipotent as Lance or contemplating the torture of animals. Since your here I would like to point out that my insults are far from meaningless, they serve to express my opinions on your posts in this forum. As such they are quite meaningful to me and a few other users.

You are right I dont really believe this nonsense, at least not when I've got my aluminium foil hat on. The view detailed below is madness, very unscientific. All cyclists who have ever had this experienced this or something similar are simply mistaken and should pick up a copy of physics for dummies.

The truth is that I only shave one of my legs. This way when I'm in bed I can rub my legs together and it feels like I’m with a real woman.........ohhhh yeah......facts baby.......

And having had some nasty road rash last year, I was so glad that I shaved my legs. The nurse was able to scrub the dirt all out and the changing of the bandages was better than it would have been had I had hair on my legs.

 

[elapid]

Call me whatever names you want and tease, no worries. Just don't contest the facts I present, because you know you cannot, shaver-boys.

Where are your facts? Don't accuse others if you cannot come to the table with the same evidence that you are asking of them.

 

[tifosa]

Any tips for preventing razor bumps on the back of the legs?

Those bumps are likely pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The remedy: Never use a dull blade. Always use shaving creme. Shave in the direction of hair growth--not against it. When done shaving, rub a lotion containing glycolic acid on the affected area; or you could dab on a bit of astringent containing salicylic acid (Tend Skin is one I would recommend - smells horrible, and stings like a beast - but it works).

And be consistent!

 

[lean mean &green]

the reasons to shave have nothing to do with vibe and how you look.

massage oil, sun screen are easy to apply and massage with out hair

take one fall one your bike with hairy legs and your road rash will be twice as bad and difficult to clean compared to shaved skin.

yes and no,

i think that the aesthetic plays a small part, the practical reasons you mentioned also play a part.

each of these explanations are weak on there own, but taken together they offer strong motivation. for some it is more of one than the other but added together make the decision to shave logical and obvious.

the problem is that when someone asks you why cyclists shave their legs, you need one good explanation, a sound bite, but it doesn't really exist. like i've said it is proper etiquette (ie there are many reasons and i don't give a crap if a non-cyclist struggles to make sense of it)

 

[cromagnon]

I've had massages and it's hard to relax when your leg hairs ocasionally "twirl" together 4 or 5 during the massage and a bunch of them are gradually wrenched out.

Reading the etiquette b@ll@cks on this thread makes me think I made the right decision to ride timetrials. Grown men worried about fitting in, like a bunch of teenage girls. *vomits*

 

[Race Radio]

And besides, you don't even need to put sunscreen on if you have a good amount of hair on your legs.

Who are you, Ron Kiefel?