Shave legs to ride around?

[Binky]

I always find it amusing when you see the wannabes with the shaved legs. I guess it's part of "the look" for those who think they are in the pro peloton.

Likes of GCNs Ollie Bridgewood(who I like and think is a decent bloke as far as I know) always cracks me up as he has the latest and greatest aero kit but with a weeks growth on his face.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Wind tunnel tests show that a beard would cost you about 1 second over a 40 km TT.
Shaving your legs would save 70 to 80 seconds over the same distance.

 

[Webbo2]

Also try plucking your eyebrows and waxing your upper lip

Mrs W insists on plucking my eyebrows and ear hair when cutting my hair and beard. Strangely when she plucks my left eyebrow it starts me sneezing.🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[Rusty Nails]

I would rather lose the extra 5 kilos I am carrying, rather than shave my legs.😁

^This.

It shows up the futility of most people who think it will make any difference to their performance. It is smoke and mirrors stuff for anyone outside the very top levels of cycling who has not improved every other aspect of their body, their bike and their clothing for their sport.

Wrt to the 70 seconds saving over 40km, I believe the tests, on six riders, by Specialized said that shaved legs saved between 40 and 80 seconds over 40 kilometers at 30 mph, but only about 5 seconds at a more realistic amateur speed of 22 mph.


View: https://youtu.be/DZnrE17Jg3I?si=IiXoFcAh2IiiYWgP

 

[MontyVeda]

Wind tunnel tests show that a beard would cost you about 1 second over a 40 km TT.
Shaving your legs would save 70 to 80 seconds over the same distance.

but were they wearing a helmet?

 

[Webbo2]

I would rather lose the extra 5 kilos I am carrying, rather than shave my legs.😁

Whilst I’m carrying a bit of excess flab thats usually held in place with my bib shots and jersey. So when I looked down that’s not something that bothers me, but my hairy legs do annoy me.
But the thought of starting shaving them again after 25 years since stopping is not something I would relish.
But given I’m retired and have all the time in the world why not.😏

 

[Homers Double]

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

I did say to MrsHD one day whilst watching the tour that Quinn Simmons would be pretty quick if he removed the squirrel from his face.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Wind tunnel tests show that a beard would cost you about 1 second over a 40 km TT.
Shaving your legs would save 70 to 80 seconds over the same distance.

And what does the real world outcomes show?

 

[numbnuts]

And what does the real world outcomes show?

You shave your legs

 

[Bristolian]

I've never shaved my legs. Actually never needed to shave them as they are naturally virtually hairless ... whereas the rest of my body looks like a Yeti (or Big Foot if you're from the wrong side of the Atlantic)

 

[Sharky]

Top TT riders seem to be wearing full length socks and shorts seem to come just above the knee, so shaving legs seems irrelevant.

 

[TheDoctor]

I had a few years of shaving, but not any more.
On an evening CTC ride about 15 years back, a friend and I were discussing the merits of shaving or Immac. This seemed a reasonable topic of conversation to us. Rather less so to everyone else

 

[Webbo2]

Mrs W once waxed mine back in the day. I wasn’t too impressed to say least. Probably pay back for when she asked me to pluck her bikini line.🫣

 

[MontyVeda]

 

[Dogtrousers]

I use Silca hot wax.