Shave legs to ride around?

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I don't do a razor job, but I might have a go with my hair clippers once or twice a summer on my arms and legs.

 

[Big John]

When I raced I shaved them simply because all the other riders did. In the end you just get used to doing it. Don't do it now since I packed in racing.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Shaving my legs to help my cycling is a bit too much for me, but I might start cutting my nose and ear hairs, and possibly go for tattooed eyebrows if that helps.

 

[Drago]

They shave their legs because they enjoy the sensual feel.

 

[Webbo2]

They shave their legs because they enjoy the sensual feel.

You are not far off the mark. Super silky legs are the way to go.🤣🤣🤣💪

 

[Sharky]

I thought cyclists shaved their legs so it was easier to apply plasters if they had an accident and grazed them?

Wasn't also to make leg massages a bit easier?

 

[a.twiddler]

Absolutely not. Hairy legs are more aero due to boundary layer effects

That was my view for many years, having been of an aeronautical bent in my younger days. Not that it made much difference to my snail like pace even back when I had some aspirations to speed.

Fortunately I was never interested in actual racing. At least back then I had some hairs to consider doing something with. As I've got older they've gradually disappeared.

 

[Wheelspinner]

Was told in the day that for road racing, the benefit of shaved legs was primarily to minimise dehydration fluid loss. The whole natural point of hair is warmth in cold, but helps cooling in heat. It provides much more surface area for sweat to evaporate from In the available airflow. The claim was that riding in essentially a 35-50 kmh breeze all day meant you still got the cooling airflow needed without sweating as much.

Also, it looked better. 🙂🦵

 

[FrankCrank]

Well, being follically challenged, I'm already super fast - shaving legs would just be overkill.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

They shave their legs because they enjoy the sensual feel.

“Because I’m worth it, L’Oreal for men”

 

[Ming the Merciless]

whole natural point of hair is warmth in cold, but helps cooling in heat.

The claim was that riding in essentially a 35-50 kmh breeze all day meant you still got the cooling airflow needed without sweating as much.

Surely then, if you have shaved your legs, you have less cooling effect, and will need to sweat more to compensate?

 

[Pblakeney]

I do enjoy the topic of being aero for shaved legs when the person has a full on beard. 😂

 

[Drago]

It seems then that there is no real reason to shave legs, but having done so the cyclists of the past then dreamed up a load of nonsense to justify their actions.

 

[Venod]

Never shaved my legs, but have done the chest several times to avoid the carpet coming out the top of the shirt, the whole hair thing changes as you age, my mate has just had to shave his arms, he was developing gorrila type growth, my arms and legs don't grow as much nowadays but my ears and nose have gone into overdrive.

 

[esoxlucius]

Over the years I've heard lots of reasons why cyclists shave their legs but the only standout sort of sensible answer in my eye is the gravel rash one.

Not that it has ever happened to me but I can imagine that the pain of treating a gravel and tarmac infested, often quite large open and extremely sensitive wound by a nurse, would be less painful, and easier for the nurse, than having a load of congealed hair aggravating the situation too.

I'm puzzled by those who think it makes you look better. We're dressed in lycra with a stupid looking plastic lid on!

I look daft, what else can I do to make me look more appealing on my bike. Oh, I know, shave my legs so I look like a pubescent boy!!