Did I shave my legs for bicycling?

[turbo6bar]

I am back in the saddle after a weak 2008 season. I've been wearing bib knickers and been happy, but now that I'm in shorts, a quick glance down reveals woolly mammoth legs (damn German blood). I am not usually one to follow the crowd. I shaved my legs in the past. Now, I'm wavering. I know I carry at least 2 mph more speed with shaved legs, but I don't want to be a conformist. I ride a 22+ lb Torelli steel bike with quill stem and 32 spoke wheels, so I am obviously not looking for style points.

What you riders doing? I can hold out for another month to get my tan blinged out, and then out comes the hair trimmer and shaver.

To those who aren't riders, keep the comments out of the sewer, or I will break out my gross spandex pics.
jurgen

[911Rob]

2 mph more speed with shaved legs?
Really?

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

2 mph more speed with shaved legs?
Really?

Maybe 'cause gay guys are trying to chase him down?

[85eurocarrera]

Not for me. I am a Mt Biker mainly, hit the road for training. I like hammering by roadies in my baggy Mt bike shorts and camelback while on my vintage road bike. I have buddies that do it, but I think its silly. Just put some tights on.

[Heel n Toe]

Just shave the fronts of your legs... leave the backs. Leg mullet.

[TheMentat]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

2 mph more speed with shaved legs?
Really?

Why do you think guys in porn shave their nutz?

In all seriousness, I HIGHLY doubt shaving makes THAT much of a difference. However, with the kilobucks that cyclists tend to spend on minuscule increments of performance, its pretty inconsistent to not shave their legs.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Just shave the fronts of your legs... leave the backs. Leg mullet.

Hey, that's the ticket! Then use some punk rocker hair wax to form airfoils with shin bone leading edges!

[Steve Viegas]

I thought shaving your legs was specifically to aid in healing when you crash. Having hair in your wounds is nasty.

[masraum]

Are you going to be racing? If not, then I wouldn't think it matters. Yeah, you get another 2mph to get to the same drag, but if it's to be in shape, then you should be good either way, right? Hell, I don't even like to shave from the neck up.

[TheMentat]

Originally Posted by Steve Viegas

I thought shaving your legs was specifically to aid in healing when you crash. Having hair in your wounds is nasty.

Thats what I was told...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by DARISC

Maybe 'cause gay guys are trying to chase him down?

That would certainly make ME ride faster.

[Embraer]

i used to shave mine...it was easier to pick gravel out of the wounds and put bandaids on, if they were shaven

[m21sniper]

Shave dude, chicks freakin' go wild when they get their paws on you and realize you're shaved everywhere....

[911Rob]

I'm having a hard time picturing REDBEARD with shaved legs..... his evil new beard and shaved legs flying down the road on his bike, all spandexed up; ha! There's a thought, YUK

[legion]

It's quite fascinating, I assure you.

[cgarr]

If you had the starched uniforms we have to wear you don't have to worry about shaving.

[911Rob]

One of the only *bicycle* riders I personally know.... this buddy was a fireman in Calgary, he just rode his bike from Calgary to my place (its a 5 hour drive through the Rocky Mtns), spent the night and was heading on down to Vancouver..... on his bike. The way he's dressed he coulda saved about 10MPH?

Pictured here with me wife:

[dd74]

It's a cultural thing. In group rides, seasoned cyclists supposedly trust ones who have shaved legs to ride with them over those who don't. It suggests you have a better idea of how to ride in a peloton than one with hair who might have just come off the street and join the group.

There also is the crash factor to consider and how less hair means less loss of flesh and later, less tearing when the bandages need changing.

Shaving: I've done it, and thinking of doing it now. Some chicks dig it, others will think you're queer. So what, who cares.

2 mph faster? Highly doubtful. A 22-pound Torelli is quite a load that I don't believe shaved legs will make much of a difference on. It didn't on my 22-pound Colnago back in the day when I shaved.

Though you do see better muscle definition.

[nostatic]

There are two reasons to shave your legs (non-style related):

dealing with road rash and other crash injuries (as stated above)

easier to massage (post ride/race recovery)

The speed thing is bunk. A top level racer might see a fraction of a mph aero advantage. As for chicks digging it, I've know ones who did and others who didn't. I used to shave when I was racing road and mtn for the above mentioned reasons. I've picked many a rock/dirt out of wounds and scrubbed with betadine as well followed by bandages. All much easier without leg hair.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

2 mph more speed with shaved legs?
Really?

That's what I thought, hard to believe.

as far as shaving your legs? not that there's anything wrong with that ......