Looking at this photo – Do I need to say more why cyclists shave their legs?
- It Looks Good.
- It looks silly if you don’t. Lycra and hairy legs is not aesthetically pleasing.
- Cyclists’ vanity
- Easier to have a massage with shaved legs.
- Easier to clean gaping wound when you fall off your bike.
- More aerodynamic.
- To be part of the pro-cyclists club. The masons have their handshake, we have the shaved legs.
BTW: Apologies if you see this photo over breakfast.
I have to admit that shaving your legs is a bit of pain. The most effective methods are painful and / or time consuming. But, as a cyclist there are quite a few good motivations to shave the legs:
Be A Real Cyclist. We may never be able to ride anywhere near as fast as the greats of cycling, but, we can buy the same equipment they use, shave our legs and at least have the feeling of being a proper cyclist. If you turn up to a race with hairy legs, it just doesn’t feel right. It’s perhaps akin to turning up to the local cricket match and playing in a white shell suit. If you shave your legs you feel like you can fit it. It doesn’t matter if you crawl around and finish near the back of the pack; at least you feel and look like a cyclist.
Of course, it’s not just vanity that makes cyclists shave their legs, there are quite a few practical considerations to justify, the 30 minute waxing session
Improved aerodynamics. A cheap way of removing unnecessary aerodynamic drag.
Easier to clean road rash. Being knocked to the ground is an occupational hazard of being a cyclist. If you have already shaved your legs it makes it much easier to clean the wound and apply dressing. A reassuring reason
Easier to massage. If you are fortunate enough to have a professional masseur to massage your legs after every training ride, you will want to have clean shaved legs to make that cream easier to massage in.
It looks Good. Most men may approach leg shaving with a certain apprehension – after all isn’t this something women do? But, once you have started shaving, it is easy to feel rather proud of the bulging biceps, no longer hidden by a mass of unsightly leg hair.
Reasons Not To Shave Your Legs
It is painful. When I use a razor blade, I usually cut myself. I’ve tried self waxing but it was too messy. The ‘best’ method is an epilator which plucks all the hairs out. Yes, it is painful as it sounds.
It’s itchy. Waxing can last for a few weeks, but, you will probably suffer from ingrown hairs making your legs itchy. You will need to spend a lot of time rubbing your legs with a loafer to remove dead skin. Before, you know it you will be spending as long in the bathroom as the females in your house…..
Embarrassment. Speaking to the young female assistant in Boots about the best way to shave your legs was a painful experience.
Where do you stop shaving? Do you stop at the shorts line, or do you keep going to the crotch? Do you have to shave the back of your legs? These questions alone are enough to think twice before entering the world of leg shaving.
A question for the readers – What are your experiences with shaving your legs? Is it worth the pain and discomfort?
Best Ways to Shave Your Legs
Over the years I’ve tried quite a few different ways to shave my legs. It’s quite time consuming and in some cases painful. This is an evaluation of the different methods I’ve tried.
1. Razor.
After having a bath or shower. Use an old fashioned razor and shave everything off. If it is your first time, it may take a long time as the razor will keep getting blocked with long hairs. It is difficult to do without cutting yourself. Also the hairs will grow back in a few days and will be a little prickly. I don’t like this method 3/10
2. Waxing.
To wax your own legs is difficult and messy. It is not easy to get the wax to the right temperature, then you have to be disciplined to quickly peel off the strips. The advantage is that regrowth takes a few weeks and the regrowth is lighter and softer. However, there can be a real problem with itchy ingrowing hairs. You will need to regularly use a loafer to remove dead skin and discourage ingrowing hair.
Good, but, best to get someone else to do it. I’ve given up on this method. And I don’t want to pay someone to do it 4/10
3. Epilator.
Similar to waxing this works by pulling hairs from the root. It means that regrowth will take longer. No chance of cutting yourself. Also the regrowth is softer. However, it is not exactly a pleasant experience – especially the first time you do it. To do the back of your legs can be painful and quite time consuming to get all the hairs out. Gets easier after your first use. 7/10 – It does get less painful after first attempt. Epilators at Amazon.co.uk
4. Cream.
Apply certain types of hair removal cream can remove hairs for several days. Not easy to use, but, some people find it relatively easy to use. e.g Ozone Hair Removal Cream at Chain Reaction Cycles
5. Self Peeling waxing strips.
These are similar to waxing except you don’t need to prepare any hot wax. You just press on the strips and then (quickly) remove them. Less messy than full waxing, but, can be difficult to get all hairs out. Also, you need discipline to keep pulling the strips of wax off your legs.
6. Electric Razor
I often end up using my electric razor for shaving legs. It is reasonably fast. The main drawback is that it doesn’t get so close to the skin and it can feel a little stubbly. But, quickest and least painful – just not such a good job. 6/10
Ingrowing Hairs
The main drawback of waxing and an epilator is that after two weeks you can get itchy legs due to ingrowing hairs (hairs failing to break through the skin). To avoid this you can try use a loafer (hard sponge) to scrape away dead skin, but this can be hardwork and not guaranteed to get all the hairs out.
I tend to wax about once every six weeks and then use a razor in between.
- Hair Removal Cream at Chain Reaction Cycles
- Hair removal at Wiggle
Whether you remove your leg hair or not – and whether you shave or use a hair removal cream you MUST read these product reviews for Veet for men on Amazon. They are hilarious and a sage warning for “proceeding too far above the short line”.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Veet-Men-Hair-Removal-Creme/dp/B000KKNQBK
There’s nothing wrong with men shaving their legs. I know lots of men who race and they all shave their legs albeit on the road or MTB. For all the reasons above, it’s a good idea and as a woman who dates a ‘shaver’ I have no issue with it at all. With or without is fine by me!
Hi. My name’s Nick, and I shave my legs. There; said it. Why? Not for vanity, not to help treat road-rash, not for aerodynamics; not for massaging ~ but because I live up on Dartmoor and mix road and off road riding and I come across a lot, and I mean A LOT of sheep and deer ticks, and these little blighters find it very difficult to crawl up my shave legs.
Nick, that’s a great reason to shave the legs!
“But, once you have started shaving, it is easy to feel rather proud of the bulging biceps, no longer hidden by a mass of unsightly leg hair.”
You have leg hair on your ARMS? Weird.
I don’t shave for a reason you mention. Where would you stop? Plus I disagree it looks better.
A real cyclist rides a bike.
Shave one’s legs – what for? To save weight?
One might as well shave those knobbly bits off the tyres. Or inflate the tyres with helium.;)
I have never entertained the idea, the thought of a man shaving his legs is beyond me. I am 50 and I’m not going to win any races I cycle for fun. However this article has made me think twice and I’m going though a debate in my mind now (Thanks for that). I might not win any races but I could fall off, therefore if I shave my legs it would be easier to clean and faster to heal. mmm what do I do?
Hhaha..I love your blog. Well to the matter at hand..I shave all my body except my head. (and nose hair :P)
I am a sprint track cyclist, every little bit of wind resistance is there to slow me down ;0) use this as an excuse lads. *btw no hair is a lot easier to clean up after a fall, (all over the burns of the body, not just the legs, back etc)
i shave my legs as i much prefer to have no hair on my legs than to have them.
Being a male, we are all punished by our genes to look the opposite to women. We are ugly and hairy.
I would shave my head but i love my head of hair, far too much.
check this out, popular topic as of late…
http://thegearjunkie.com/men-who-shave-their-legs