Shaved legs - what are the benefits?

[AndStilliRise]

Just trying to see if anyone knew of the benefits of shaving the hair from the leg's? I can not see enough to do it!

[JPJ]

Main reasons are it's easier to have them massaged and also it is supposed to allow road rash to heal more quickly.

[mybrainhurts]

And you can more easily pass yourself off as gay, if the need arises.

[anonymous-user]

Mountain bikers don't tend to, and I guess they are just as likely to go over into gravel on a trail, or hit a tree!

I wonder whether it is just because it is the thing the pro racers do that road bikers do as well. A kind of etiquette thing?

I would never shave my legs, that is one thing that would put me off road biking though, (looking at various forums on the subject) feeling that I didn't conform to the accepted code.

With Mountain Biking, no-one seems bothered.

[russy01]

Haha, I'm in the same boat. Doing about 100miles per week so fairly committed to cycling.
But just can't bring myself to shaving them....

[glasgow mega snake]

Reduces weight

[Randy Winkman]

I shaved my legs once a week for the 7 year when I used to take triathlon seriously. The benefits for a pro include making massage easier and in pro cycling, where they always seem to be falling off, there's a benefit when dressing wounds. For an amateur (as I was) that doesn't do road racing the main benefit was ...... looking like a pro. Though it is also marginally easier to shower because the dirt washes off more quickly. Even 20 years later I think that my hairy legs look a bit silly in bike shorts.

[Magic919]

Will make you faster.

[Daveyraveygravey]

One aerodynamic study said you should shave the fronts and leave the backs hairy as it created less drag as the air flowed over your legs and broke away. Or the other way round. Or something! I've never shaved my legs it's too much hassle but I have never raced.
I got a pilonidal sinus about 25 years ago, right in the middle of my arse cheeks. It was horrendous and the surgery (and the aftermath! 😯) were truly grim. Had to shave/immac my bum for months after, again not pleasant

[Razor O Rourke]

Vanity.

[mondeoman]

Makes you faster, proven several times. Not massively, about a minute over 20 miles iirc. But if you care enough, that's enough to make it worth it.

[TwistingMyMelon]

vanity and tradition at amateur non pro level

I have enough trouble shaving my face properly so don't bother although I'm not really hairy anyway

[alolympic]

mondeoman said:

Makes you faster, proven several times. Not massively, about a minute over 20 miles iirc. But if you care enough, that's enough to make it worth it.

A minute faster over 20 miles?! I'm not sure if you are being serious....

[Orchid1]

mybrainhurts said:

And you can more easily pass yourself off as gay, if the need arises.

Gay men prefer men with hairy legs.

[mybrainhurts]

Orchid1 said:

mybrainhurts said:

And you can more easily pass yourself off as gay, if the need arises.

Gay men prefer men with hairy legs.

Bugger.....

[cat with a hat]

mondeoman said:

Makes you faster, proven several times. Not massively, about a minute over 20 miles iirc. But if you care enough, that's enough to make it worth it.

Bullst.

It will be minimal.

[Fast and Spurious]

Makes my missus look less like a Gorilla.

[WindyCommon]

A few careless nicks while shaving and you can leave the bath (according to MrsW) looking "...like someone has killed a bear."

[Barchettaman]

cat with a hat said:

mondeoman said:

Makes you faster, proven several times. Not massively, about a minute over 20 miles iirc. But if you care enough, that's enough to make it worth it.

Bullst.

It will be minimal.

http://www.velonews.com/2014/09/news/news-wind-tunnel-data-shows-shaved-legs-faster_344854

Bizarrely enough it will make you faster, unless your personal windtunnel has shown differing results?

[simonpieman]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I started shaving my legs at Cape Epic, a hard core mountain bike race, because everyone else was.

Strangely, perhaps worryingly, it is quite satisfying.