Shaving

[Verzino]

So the riders and teams do all they can to make things as aerodynamic as possible. Shorts, helmets, wheels, water bottles and of course shaving their arms and legs.

So why is it many still sport stubble or long hair? It seems to me if you are going to go down that route why omit this detail.

 

[Pharazon]

it's actaully not got much to do with aero...

it's more for cleaning up when they inevitibly get cuts, and other reasons

 

[just some guy]

So the riders and teams do all they can to make things as aerodynamic as possible. Shorts, helmets, wheels, water bottles and of course shaving their arms and legs.

So why is it many still sport stubble or long hair? It seems to me if you are going to go down that route why omit this detail.

Shaving does nothing of significance to aerodynamics its an urban myth - in a pool different.

The reason why they shave down is 3 fold.
1. they gets tons of hours of massage - much more comfortable and less chance of ingrown hair

2. if they crash with no hair it it heals better and more conformable

3. it make you feel clean and fast - psychological

 

[Square-pedaller]

Beard growth is related to testosterone production. There's an old study (published in Nature) by a researcher working on a remote island. He weighed the shavings from his electric razor, and found that his beard growth increased in the days just before he went to the mainland (when he would see his girlfriend).

Testosterone peaks in athletes before competitions, and then stays high in winners, but drops in losers. I noticed that Armstrong was sporting an impressive five o'clock shadow when interviewed after his Alpe d'Huez win in 2003. I wonder if Cav's beard was also aided and abetted by the effect of winning on testosterone production.

In case there's any doubt, I'm talking about the effect of natural testosterone production.

 

[Franklin]

Shaving does nothing of significance to aerodynamics its an urban myth - in a pool different.

And then you start a list with two more myths

The reason why they shave down is 3 fold.
1. they gets tons of hours of massage - much more comfortable and less chance of ingrown hair

Seems questionable considering other sporters (Football!) players don't shave, yet they are massaged a lot as well.

2. if they crash with no hair it it heals better and more conformable

I also believed this one for years. But!

It's clinically proven that it's actually the other way around. Things like staph etc. thrive in a shaven skin. The reason is that however good you shave, the skin always gets damaged.

3. it make you feel clean and fast - psychological

Bingo!

 

[just some guy]

And then you start a list with two more myths



Seems questionable considering other sporters (Football!) players don't shave, yet they are massaged a lot as well.



I also believed this one for years. But!

It's clinically proven that it's actually the other way around. Things like staph etc. thrive in a shaven skin. The reason is that however good you shave, the skin always gets damaged.



Bingo!

Every had hair caught in road rash - I would take staph anyday of the week- and a lot of people who get a lot of massage shave down - Footballers may or may not

 

[laziali]

Shaving does nothing of significance to aerodynamics its an urban myth - in a pool different.

OK, for the billionth time ...

A 1987 study conducted by Chester Kyle concluded that the aerodynamic improvement of shaving legs is roughly 0.6 percent, which could result in a savings of around 5 seconds in a 40km time trial ridden at 37kph. (Kyle, Chester R.; Zahradnik, Fred: Aerodynamic Overhaul. Streamline Your Body and Your Bike. Bicycling, Jun 1987, pp. 72 - 79)

That, my little friend, is a significant margin in a time-trial, even more so at today's 45kph+ speed.

 

[just some guy]

OK, for the billionth time ...

A 1987 study conducted by Chester Kyle concluded that the aerodynamic improvement of shaving legs is roughly 0.6 percent, which could result in a savings of around 5 seconds in a 40km time trial ridden at 37kph. (Kyle, Chester R.; Zahradnik, Fred: Aerodynamic Overhaul. Streamline Your Body and Your Bike. Bicycling, Jun 1987, pp. 72 - 79)

That, my little friend, is a significant margin in a time-trial, even more so at today's 45kph+ speed.

Funny 1 study done in 1987 and the word could - not evidence. anyone got a PDF of the file ? or any modern studies

 

[Archibald]

Every had hair caught in road rash - I would take staph anyday of the week- and a lot of people who get a lot of massage shave down - Footballers may or may not

I was once told that it was more to do with getting hair caught during the crash - the hair will pull and tear the skin more as you slide on ashphalt than what would happen without the hair. Sounded plausible...

as for footballers not shaving, it is rather finicky to shave knuckles

 

[Rouetheday]

Does anybody else remember that early scene in "A Sunday in Hell" of Roger De Vlaeminck shaving his legs with an electric razor? Seems like the way to go if you don't want to damage your skin. Also, as far as other athletes who receive massage are concerned, I watch a fair amount of EPL and Serie A games on Fox Soccer Channel, and the players' legs appear to be clean-shaven to me.

 

[JPM London]

Seems questionable considering other sporters (Football!) players don't shave, yet they are massaged a lot as well.

Football is notoriously homophobic - imagine what all the other players would say when one of them shaved their legs. Nope, comparison doesn't work...

It's clinically proven that it's actually the other way around. Things like staph etc. thrive in a shaven skin. The reason is that however good you shave, the skin always gets damaged.

Did the research behind this clinical proof look into the effects of road rash or merely the damage to skin from shaving? I'd imagine the latter.

Yes, skin is damaged from shaving - but I'd venture the guess that riding with open sores and dry scabs is more fun when you're not the apeman...

Bingo!

Exactly

 

[Jamsque]

Having crashed on both shaved and hairy legs I can absolutely confirm that hair makes road rash much, much harder to clean up and treat. Also, hairless skin makes changing plasters and bandages much easier.

 

[profff]

Having crashed on both shaved and hairy legs I can absolutely confirm that hair makes road rash much, much harder to clean up and treat. Also, hairless skin makes changing plasters and bandages much easier.

+1
it has been proven that it is not convenient to shave a patient just before surgery in terms of infection.
but that it is a completely different thing than the healing of an abrasion after a road crash.

for cleaning road rash, changing plaster it is better to be shaved
also massaging and using starting creams and oil , like many cyclist do, it is more comfortable when shaved.

if you run a race in dust or rain,being shaved leaves your skin cleaner

shaven legs are beautiful

 

[Winterfold]

Football is notoriously homophobic - imagine what all the other players would say when one of them shaved their legs. Nope, comparison doesn't work...

This is just does not follow, lots of UK pro footballers go as far as getting their chests waxed and Frank Lampard even has his underarms done. Even Wayne Rooney, that well known metrosexual gets his chest done.

They may or may not be homophobic, but they are definitely homeoerotic, (and big girl's blouses too).

Like cyclists, we like to do it because it shows the other guys how big our muscles are, it doesnt mean we want to sleep with them. Necessarily.

Also, another valid reason is that around the er mid-section, there is the issue of unkempt hair protuding through cycling shorts, this is not a good look by any standards.

And of course once most of the guys have done it, then you need to do it, or you will not be taken seriously. To get away with it you need to be 40+ and to ride like Vino meets Jens Voight for the whole race.

before
http://famewatcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/wayne-rooney-300x200.jpg
after
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SsEJYY3HW8E/TCk5eDeLlVI/AAAAAAAACSE/8AQwlEkizU0/s1600/rooney+1.jpg

 

[Anonymous]

Ditto

Had a couple of very nice leg gashes, one when shaved, one when not.

Trust me, turning up at casualty six hours after the accident and the nurse having to pull hair from the wound is not in any way fun.

The simple cleanup job and stitches of shaved legs was much easier.

Its also a damn site easier to wash chain oil off etc.

Massages etc. Anyone who has tried to put deap heat in winter, or sun cream in summer on hairy legs knows what a mess it can turn out to be.

And frankly, hairy legs in cycling shorts look totally ridiculous

 

[goggalor]

I don't think pro cyclists shave their arms btw...

 

[just some guy]

I don't think pro cyclists shave their arms btw...

Some do.....

 

[Franklin]

Did the research behind this clinical proof look into the effects of road rash or merely the damage to skin from shaving? I'd imagine the latter.

Yes, skin is damaged from shaving - but I'd venture the guess that riding with open sores and dry scabs is more fun when you're not the apeman...

The issue is that due to a damaged skin staph gets a hold. Then add a wound and you are in trouble. Also, what really does not help is hair growing through the rash... chances on folicle infections also grow.

Of course, plaster+hair is painful

All in all the proof that shaven is better against road rash is thin... one hand it's apparently more comfortable (though I didn't notice much difference, both cases sucked), on the other hand there is evidence that shaving + wounds has it's own issues.

One way or the other the best argument is that lycra+unshaven legs are ugly

*and if road rash is a main reason, why don't we all shave our arms? So road rash is a rather farfetched excuse

Ps. those who wave away staph really do not know what they are talking about.

 

[veganrob]

Shaved legs just plain feels good and sexy.

 

[Jamsque]

Shaved legs just plain feels good and sexy.

Now we are getting down to brass tacks.

 

[Captain_Obvious]

Shaved legs just plain feels good and sexy.

No shame in admitting this.

 

[hrotha]

And frankly, hairy legs in cycling shorts look totally ridiculous

I think by now this is the main issue. If tomorrow it was scientifically proven that not shaving your legs is better, cyclists would still do it because it's part of the culture.

 

[top_tenz_finish]

Does anybody else remember that early scene in "A Sunday in Hell" of Roger De Vlaeminck shaving his legs with an electric razor? Seems like the way to go if you don't want to damage your skin. Also, as far as other athletes who receive massage are concerned, I watch a fair amount of EPL and Serie A games on Fox Soccer Channel, and the players' legs appear to be clean-shaven to me.

Oh dear, as if Paul and Phil weren't bad enough already. I apologise on behalf of my country for the monstrosity that is Warren Barton.

Poor you

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

My beloved other half is convinced that Bradley Wiggins' nose is shaped like that for aerodynamic advantage

 

[Apollonius]

Cleaning mud off your legs after a muddy ride is a whole lot easier when you have smooth legs than hairy ones! It can hurt like a mother trying to get dried mud out that's matted with hair.

Obviously it's the same for cleaning wounds. It's just cleaner and more hygienic and if you're doing your thighs and more or less the rest of your body (sweat matted hair under lycra is so irritating!) then you may as well do your lower legs too.