Leg shaving....

[ColinJ]

I nearly always wear compression sleeves these days because my gammy left leg swells up if I don't and it looks odd not wearing the matching one on the right***...

(I'm taking a little rest after climbing a steep hill! )

@Sea of vapours (in pink) suggested that I only wear the one that I need to, which would emphasise the fact that it was due to necessity rather than being a cycling fashion statement. The trouble with that is that I would have to explain to everybody I talked to WHY that was the case, and I can't be bothered to!

I don't spend much time looking at my legs but did this morning after reading this thread. It turns out that even more of the leg hair has disappeared than I thought. I have to look pretty hard to find it now...

Spoiler: WARNING - oldish man's bare leg content - ha ha!

 

[Slick]

How often do you have to fall off your bike to consider shaving your legs as a mitigation exercise?

 

[nickyboy]

Pros shave their legs (presumably cos they seem to fall off a lot and maybe it helps with the massages?)
Anyone who cycles around daydreaming they're a pro should shave their legs. Everyone else forget about it
I have hairy legs and I've never even considered shaving them cos I'm no pro dreamer

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Far easier to clean a wound on a shaved leg, or remove a dressing.

This could be another cyclechat investigates.

Do cyclists with shaved legs crash more often?

 

[Smokin Joe]

This joins the list of threads that turn into ridiculous slanging matches for no reason.

Clipless or not?
Drops or flats?
Brifters or downtube?
Metal or carbon?
Discs or caliper?
Are electronic gears worth it?

Why can't people just ride what they want, for whatever reason they want and just don't worry a toss if someone else does it differently?

 

[Mr Whyte]

I got my hybrid to go out and enjoy riding, why would I want to shave my legs. Not for me as it`s my face and chin get a shave and that`s it.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Why can't people just ride what they want, for whatever reason they want and just don't worry a toss if someone else does it differently?

Mostly IMO as those topics tend to end up with someone who does, thinks or owns the opposite almost forcing justification from the poster, then arguing against it.

 

[Julia9054]

Start with one leg first for a week to see if you like it then either do the other leg or not after you have decided.

Won’t that make one side of you faster than the other? You’ll just end up cycling in circles

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Contrary to misguided belief, hairy legs are actually faster. It’s now been tested!

 

[Globalti]

What I forgot to say in my post about pros who shave was that it's better for that post-race massage.

 

[Slick]

What I forgot to say in my post about pros who shave was that it's better for that post-race massage.

Why is that?

 

[Brandane]

How often do you have to fall off your bike to consider shaving your legs as a mitigation exercise?

I was thinking I must be doing something wrong, because I can't recall having a plaster put on my leg since I was about 8 years old. Using that particular logic, maybe it's time I started shaving the backs of my hands and fingers.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Why is that?

Less friction and hair to be pulled out, my sport therapist is a fan when Im getting rubbed down

 

[Slick]

Less friction and hair to be pulled out, my sport therapist is a fan when Im getting rubbed down

Long story but I've been advised to find a therapist to massage my legs regularly and I have had a few massages up to now without any hassle.

 

[nickyboy]

Far easier to clean a wound on a shaved leg, or remove a dressing.

This is always the argument for shaving legs. It's the same argument for wearing gloves. But in 8 years I've ridden about 30,000 miles and I've fallen off hard enough to cut my legs/hands only a couple of times. So I don't shave my legs and I don't wear gloves

What's with all these folk falling off all the time?