Shaved legs

Some people say its so that wounds from crashes are easier to clean up, others say its so that massages dont hurt so much (pulling hair etc)...to be honest this may be true of the pro riders but I think cat riders do it to look the part...i would consider doing it to look the part but nobody needs to see my legs looking like that.

Ask Jo http://road.cc/content/news/2546-blogvecchiojo-gets-his-legs-out-some-pr...

My name is DaSy and I'm a leg shaver...

I do it 'cos it looks nice, my legs look more defined which intimidates the opposition, but most importantly I get a much better tan on my legs without hair. This makes me at least look like I should be frighteningly quick on a bike....

all of the above, and you can get into some humourously involved discussions with girls about shaving regimes, techniques and product, and you can piss off your girlfriend when your legs are better than hers.

I found myself getting all indignant about the latest ladies razor on the telly the other day, as it had 5 blades and I maintain that 3 is best, as it doesn't clog so easily with the coarser leg hairs. My wife just sighed and gave me a look of despair?

And yes, I do love it when I have just shaved and she hasn't.

Also love that weird feeling when you first put on your jeans or get into bed after freshly shaving your legs, kind of electric shock feeling....errr....or is that just me?

Lycra shorts look s@it with hairy legs.

In your opinion. I've never shaved or felt the need to shave

has any one tried an epilator?

Yes, it hurt so I stopped

I thought as much.

When I say 'tried' my girlfriend attacked me with it so I could 'feel what it was like' and have a demonstration of why women have a higher pain threshold etc etc.

I married her… well she threatened to get the epilator out again.

I'm with matrs. Seeing hairs poking through Lycra just looks gross!

Maybe you're looking too closely

I'v found the best way is to use an electric shaver first to get rid of the long hairs and then finish it off with a wet shave, and then use a wet shave every two weeks or so.

Surely it doesnt look better to shave your legs if you have pasty, pale legs like mine! The hairs add some colour!

That's the point Jon, once you shave them you'll be amazed at how good a tan you get.

All the years I spent MTBing, I never shaved and never got a tan, despite doing as many miles, and probably more hours out on the bike than my road riding nowadays.

Since shaving my legs, I have a crazily good tan up to my shorts line, and two great half moons on the backs of my hands!

Yesterdays ride in the Beacons has actually made my legs go pretty dark now, this summer is going to be amusing, as I never sunbathe, so my body always remains very white, just tanned legs, arms and backs of my hands...ummmm...fetching!

We'll just make sure you use plenty of sunscreen. I have to see a dermatologist once a year and I'm not the only cyclist on his books. Most, not me btw, are there with sun related problems (all roadies too).

Your starter for 10, where is the most common place for cyclists to get skin cancer?

Eastbourne?

I'll re-phrase that for the pedantic: which is the most common part of the body for cyclists to develop a melanoma on?

Although I admit, that as Eastbourne is the sunniest place in the UK cyclists around there should be particularly careful

Judging by my knees, I'd have to say...errrr....knees?

It's the back of your calves - often higher up. If you think about it on a road bike they are the bits of your leg that are pointing up at the sun but also often the bits that you are least likely to put much sunscreen on.

Hmmm, I once got my legs and arms waxed to raise extra money for a sponsored bike ride - £500 went to the charity and I won the prize for the best legs!
It was a weird feeling after that, cos you lose a lot of sensation due to lack of hair movement. You dont feel the wind so much.
Beware of hair removing cream, especially if you get it in the wrong place!!

yeah thats a point, where is the 'line' to stop shaving?!

Just above the shorts line is standard, but I do shave further up the front, back and outside of my thighs too.

Just leave the insides of your thighs well alone, stuble there is not a good thing...

these are the dilemmas im facing...my girlfriend thinks im mad for even listening to you guys who do this!

My wife was mortified when I first started shaving my legs...

She now ranks cyclists in order of serious-ness by shaved legs first, tan second and finally lack of nodding head.

I've trained her well...

i could draw the line on my legs with Magic Marker and take a picture if you wanted

I feel I have taken this conversation to a place nobody wants to go....I apologise!

if you 'race' i can understand shaving as it seems to be the done thing..but if you dont is it just vanity? i only ask because i often consider it...(i dont race btw)

That's pretty much my feelings on the subject. I don't race and I'm not interested in doing the done thing, I'm interested in riding my bike, end of. I certainly resent the inference that because I don't shave my legs I'm somehow a lesser rider.

what about that beard though, that must slow you down!

Nope, it's a fairing - so I'm probably not UCI legal.

Anyway I have been know to ride a recumbent occasionally and it's important to look the part - quite the done thing in fact B)

Does racing triathlons count as a race to 'proper' cyclists?

more to the point, as triathletes don't usually wear cycling-shorts when do they know where to take it easy with the Bic? do they keep going past the Speedos and stop at the nipples, or is the natural nap of body-hair handy for aquadynamics?

i remembered i've had some thoughts about shaving before.

Ive never worn speedos for a triathlon, normally its a pair of 2xu type shorts and a sleeveless vest...or an all in one.

In general, prolific body hair just doesn't look right on an athlete, it looks a bit neolithic.

Those stone age fellas were pretty fit though