Bit of advice of shaving legs....? (16 y/o)

A bit out of the price range of a 16yo but don't overlook IPL.

What I think is that because you're young enough to still be at school, wait for the next charity event to arise and then put yourself forward for a waxing this means that you get nice hairless legs and you help charity, everyone's a winner

Personally, if I were male, I'd do it for the benefit of my poor physio at least. (If you're going to be serious enough about it, you'll more than likely need a massage or therapy session every now and again)

with your "shave to the eyebrows" jest (clearly not reading my post properly? ) I'm now wondering- do the particularly vain wax their chest and back to match their legs? Or does the waistband of your swimming trunks mark a transition from smooth to hairy?

@Al_S You don't want wookie shorts mate. Shave up to wherever they will be seen - just stop at the eyebrows.

@Joeinpoole and other sceptics - it isn't simply a matter of conformity. To me, as a regular club and racing cyclist (and I'm 47) it does say something about the person you are riding with.

When I go out with a club group there are inevitably people I don't know. Now you may have a different view but when I'm riding six inches from someone's wheel, or someone is rubbing elbows, I like them to have some idea what they're doing.

It isn't infallible but one makes immediate judgements about people on these rides, simply in the interests of preservation. Decent, well-maintained bike, well-chosen kit and shaved legs tell me that you are likely to be serious about riding and more to the point that you probably know what you're doing when riding in a bunch.

I'm not saying that hairy-legged people in baggy shorts and cheap bikes (or hairy-legged people in head to toe Assos on stupidly expensive bikes for that matter) are incapable of meeting those standards, but I will give them a bit more room and take a little longer to come to a decision.

I'm 54 and I have found it perfectly possible to ride a bike all my life, even one with drop-handle bars, without ever shaving my legs.

If you are *paid* to ride a bike then it *might* be important to shave your legs. However, for everyone else, it is just "let's pretend I'm a pro" pseudo-nonsense. Same with those silly helmets that they wear to prove they are 'serious' riders.

Sorry that you feel the pressure to 'conform' at such a young age. My advice would be to enjoy your masculinity through the natural development of your body. You don't *have* to have girly-looking legs to fully appreciate everything that cycling can offer.

so, I was vaguely considering shaving (but didn't) this evening. There's been discussion of where to stop at the top end, so to speak- but at the far end of the legs? I mean, I've pretty much got hobbit feet, with hair all the way along the top of them and on my toes. If I only shaved down to just below the cuffs of my (strictly mid length, none of this Wiggins style knee socks or worse, "invisible" length ones) then when I'm on the beach, at a swimming pool or just wearing flip flops I'd look bloody odd. So shave EVERYTHING?

My wife is very much looking forward to waxing my legs. She clearly knows something I don't!

Hilarious! So if shaving your legs is helpful for the medical attention or cleaning up after a crash, how come you dont need to shave the arms and back as well...or those beards or indeed sideburns? Just wondering.

Is this a good time to post this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK/ref=cm_cr_pr_btm_link...

Posted this on the wrong thread to start with, copied here...

I'm a man in my 40's and first thought about this last year - I put the call out on facebook to my female friends: they all said "WAX!" but that only tells part of the story. I think until your hairs have got thinner and fewer due to repeat removal home waxing with strips is only ever going to be unbelievably painful and ineffective. Maybe if you can afford a professional job then it's the best way.

Shaving takes a while and it's hard to do the bits around the back of your leg etc.

If I were you I'd go for Veet "first time", follow the instructions properly and make sure it goes nowhere near your nethers.

watch out for that tricky bit at the back of your ankles. And don't go over and over, you'll end up shredding your legs.

Yeah, hair removal cream or wax might be easier to start off, then shave afterwards. With the height issue I go to the top of my outer thigh, and have a line going round the hard to reach places and avoiding the sandpaper-your-balls effect. I only go higher so if I crash and land on my hip (it happened so I'm glad I did) I don't have some bits easy to clean and other bits harder.

Also, whilst you may get some minor mocking for it, I will say that some people (read young ladies) like it. My girlfriend tells me off if I haven't done it for a few days. Also, no one has mentioned the great feeling that comes with fresh shaved legs and fresh laundered bedding...

I wonder if there is anyone here that is under 18 or has recently been under 18 that has been refused the sale of disposable razors at a shop? We have a smart young sensible guy here looking for advise, and we have an obligation to make sure the advise is pretty correct, but more importantly not to add in any fear factor....its just simple manners

Anyway the Act says

Offensive Weapons Act 1996 it is an offence to sell a razor blade to someone under 18, but it also says...this legislation does not apply to folding pocket knives if the cutting edge of the blade is less than 3 inches or 7.62cm. Nor does it apply to replacement cartridges for safety razors, where less than 2mm of the blade is exposed.

So, if you are under 18 you are fine, and to test this, I went through the self service at the supermarket and didnt get the horrible "please wait for assistance" message

That being said, I think the Veet cream is the better option anyway

Re stubble growing faster; Just a myth.
If that were the case, men who shave daily would be shaving every few minutes.
The reality is that a cut hair has a square end, whereas an uncut one tapers.
Thus the hair "looks" thicker when it gets a bit of growth, but it's rate of growth is exactly the same.

I use an electric beard trimmer (because I already have one for my beard) and only need to do it occasionally (3-4 times?) during the summer.
Safe, no nicks, and quick.

Why? A personal experience is that I don't feel the wind on my legs once shaved, and its just more pleasant that way.

1) Just above the line of the shorts. I once made the mistake described by NotFastEnough above - won't be doing that again. I don't have a soigneur to massage away the day's tiredness, so I don't see the point of going higher.

2) A _sharp_ razor. Even if you've not nicked yourself, you'll really feel the stinging of salt from sweat if you use a coarse blade.

4) I found moving the razor back and forth, rather than long glides, helped keep the blades from clogging up. Once the bulk of hair was out of the way, then that wasn't necessary.

Don't shave for the first time the day before an event.

Long trousers feel really weird afterwards too.

Have at it!

Ok, I did start when I was 16, and kept it up for a little while. I will also start this post by excusing myself in advance for perhaps being a little crude. That said:

I did it because I was under an accredited coach that insisted on it from all of his riders. Also, roubaix tights are miles comfier without dragging hairs 'against the grain' and causing them to poke through for the 'furry lycra' look. Not to mention the mess that hair will make if you crash and pick up some road rash.

Unless you have rather more prowess than I did at 16, you have yet to undress in front of a young lady. Believe me, the reaction you'll get to shaved legs will mean that you will only do this for someone you REALLY like, and trust. This may be an upside or a downside, depending on your view.

Don't shave all the way up your legs, because when it starts to grow back on the inner thighs, (there's no easy way to say this) - the stubble is like sandpaper on your balls for a couple of days.

If buying razor blades is a problem, just buy some veet cream and get in the shower with it.

For what it's worth, I no longer bother.

Dan, your really going to have to bite the bullet and have your mum get them for you. Nowhere will sell you a razor as your under 18. Crazy world that we live in now days. In fact some retailers won't even flog you a butter knife without checking your age. Apart from that some sound advice here. As Jimmy says. Maybe hold of a few years as your peers can be really cruel once they get wind of what your up to. And whatever you do. Do not loiter outside a chemist accosting 'responsible' adults to by you a Mach 3

Why shave? Its conformity and nothing more.

Once you have accepted that and decided to take the plunge, its all good.

However, be warned that in 20 years you'll probably still be shaving the legs, but will likely be less interested in riding a bike... in fact, cycling remains a pastime simply to be able to continue shaving!

Be warned.

Oh, and finally, thinking back to my youth, I'd hang on a couple of years before cropping the legs, teenage peers can be so cruel!

Quote:

1) How far up the legs do you go? -- about a couple of inches above the "tan line" (where your shorts normally start) is fine, there's really no need to go all the way to the top! I don't understand why so many guys go all the way?? Even most women don't!

except you get the odd hair pocking through, not a good look...

Oh, don't use a straight razor, well do if you are bored and fancy a challenge, you get a great finish and an adrenaline surge when you realise you are finished and still have a leg