Look good to feel good.
As I write this, Rule #33 is being hammered on over in The Rules. This is a hell of a Rule, demanding legs be kept shaven at all times. I believe for most Velominati “at all times” is a tough ask. No one is saying you have to shave the guns everyday, unless you have Peter van Petegem’s five o’clock shadow twenty minutes after your morning’s shave.
If you have never done it for whatever reason, you owe it to yourself to try it once. It doesn’t reflect on your sexuality and it’s only hair, it’ll grow back. It will grow back unless you wax your legs and that might be a bit too much of an introduction. Me, I’ve never waxed anything but skis.
I think most cyclists who have never shaved their legs want to experience it but fear the awkward explanations. And it only becomes more awkward if you try to over-explain it. Plain and simple it looks awesome. It looks great like new handlebar tape looks great. And like new handlebar tape, everything keeps looking awesome with some basic maintenance. Forget the long-winded, hand-waving explanations. Most curious people are afraid to ask anyway because it’s politically insensitive to impugn your potential cross-dressing interests. They don’t want to take that chance. Cyclists put in untold hours on the road and nothing is more demoralizing than seeing sweaty, hairy legs down there.
I don’t race. I try to adhere to Rule #33 purely on aesthetic grounds. If I look better on the bike, I will feel better on the bike. Shaved legs do feel better and look better so give it a try. Does that make me a poser? I really don’t care if someone thinks that.
One thing I would love to find out is when do retired professionals stop shaving? I’m sure it’s a chore they fantasize about not keeping up with but really, if they still ride do they still shave? Robert Millar, please advise.
The weird thing is I live in a climate where shorts are most always worn so I see a lot of legs but the weird thing is more guys shave their legs than there are Cyclists out there. The is a subset of men who are naturally hairless or who are shaving their legs despite showing no other outward signs of throwing a leg over a top tube with regularity. I’m afraid to find out more.
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@hudson
There's my excuse. 15 watts is like 45 seconds off a 10m TT.
As a cyclist torn between the road and the woods, it's a #4 trimmer for me. Can't decide if it's the perfect compromise or the useless 'Swiss Army Knife/hybrid bike' version of leg hair management.
I'm compliant 12 months a year. Every 5-6 days in the winter, every 3-4 days in the summer. I don't think the psychological aspect of shaving can ever be discounted. Just as with a dirty bike, to ride in the summer with visible stubble puts you off from the start. Gleaming, smooth guns are worth extra wattage all day. And don't forget if it rains, how amazingly awesome wet smooth guns look. And if you need emphasis on that last point, imagine, wet, bedraggled hairy guns.
Ok, show of hands... Who has to shave their lower back 'saddle' area? That is the portion of the back where your jersey pockets would be. I've got a patch of really fine kind of woolly hair there that sweats like a bitch in warm weather. Just wondering if anyone else has the same problem.
@DavyMuur
May as well shave from the base of your neck all the way down. Then shave your neck.
@DavyMuur
Errrr . . . no. And I have more hair on my back than I care for. But for me, it's face, legs, neck in that order.
Seriously, so this is the area under the upper part of your shorts? Are you using bibs? Regular "old school" shorts? Most of my shorts are the old school typ[e but I take the Merckxian way and use braces/suspenders (call them what you will.) No issues at all.
@wiscot
Hehe, I know it sounds weird, doesn't it. I'm not a particularly hairy person. I use old school shorts too, it's above the line of the shorts, like I said, where the jersey pockets are.
Freaks!
Shaved legs. 'Nuff said.
I wonder, do we judge our fellow cyclists by their (not) shaven legs? Does it adds to the first impression we get? Can we see passed is? Should we see passed it?