Here’s the reason the pros shave their legs. But why do you shave yours? Or why don’t you? Join the discussion!
You’ve probably been asked countless times before, why do cyclists shave their legs? Here’s the real reason. Before you tell us that we’re preaching to the converted, let us remind you that you probably don’t have too many good reasons to give when someone asks you why, as a male, you shave your legs. Females can stop reading now, or just stick with us for some essential cycling education.
Here’s the reason the pros shave their legs:
Many hours of riding each day needs to be followed by a massage to help the leg muscles recover. Massage helps get rid of toxins, reduces the chances of minor muscle tears developing into major muscle tears and helps alert the masseuse to any potential injuries or to determine whether or not the cyclist has recovered sufficiently from his or her last hard training session or race.
How does hair removal fit in? Well, massaging hairless legs is far easier than rubbing hairy legs (think hundreds of tiny follicle knots). And since they get a leg massage at least six times a week, it makes sense for pro cyclists to shave.
Another fairly good reason for the pros to shave is that hair carries lots of minute particles of dirt, which can infect wounds and delay their healing time. By shaving, the pros ensure their roasties heal quicker. A bonus is that plaster sticks better to skin when there is no hair… Of course this usually begs the question: why then do cyclists not shave their arms too? And what a good question it is.
And here’s why the rest of us shave our legs:
We’ve chosen a sport that’s pretty geeky if you think about it. Only cyclists think the cycling look is cool. Wearing tight, bright Lycra, helmets, shiny, stiff-soled shoes and oversized eyewear is bound to create a sense of community among those who don this attire – birds of a feather and stuff. Since the pros are the pinnacle of our community, we look up to them and mimic them in many, many ways, including removing the hair from our legs. Much like Red Indians used to apply war paint before going to battle, so we make time to remove our leg hair. Many of us make hair removal a weekly ritual, usually just before a weekend race. And often, once a cyclist feels he’s reached a certain level of ability or fitness, he takes the next big step and begins to shave his legs, confirming his commitment to his chosen sport and/or form of exercise.
Of course for the genetically fortunate, a few months of regular cycling starts to develop some pretty impressive sculpting of the leg muscles, which tend to be more noticeable when they’re hairless and tanned. The funny thing about leg hair, is that there doesn’t seem to be any good reason for its presence. Of course this played right into the hands of Gillette and Co, who make a fortune from women – and male cyclists – who remove it regularly mainly because (fill in your own reasons in the comments section below)…
Vote in our poll: Do you shave your legs?
Because you never see a piston with hair on it.
because I can
Very good article, now I know… Thanks guys:)
Well, Editors,
The reason I shave my legs is to avoid the embarrassing consequences of getting the stuff caught up in my front chain rings, causing me to pitch over the handlebars with my GT in a serpentine embrace with my inferior limbs, hugely inconveniencing the shiny triathlete who was about to demolish me and now has to extract his tri-bars from his nostrils, and roughing up my impeccably combed forearms.
Hope this helps your readers.
Nigel
Ok I’m on the floor laughing. Great comment.
now,now HL…claws in;)
my legs feel cooler and cool down sooner after a burning climb when they are shaved. I learnt in school in the old days that leg hair traps sweat which is suppose to keep you cool, but leg hair feels like a hot blanket wrapped around my legs when I’m on my bike.
When I ride, I ride like the wind, but when I go down, I go down with hair on my legs
Funny, I only shave before a specific race that I trained hard for. Sure I go for some massages too but the real reason for me to shave is like showing a commitment to proper training. Psychologically the lean look also gives one some confidence….
My husband also shave his and there is nothing more sexier than shaved legs. The guys that does not like it or thinks that only “moffies” does it, SORRY for you.
Because chicks dig it…!!!
Pro rugby players, runners, mountain bikers, cricketers, golfers, swimmers, rowers, canoests, wrestlers, boxers, tennis players, surfers, windsurfers, long-jumpers, javelin throwers, all have massages every day. None of them shave their legs.
Regards ‘roasties’ and infecting sores, rugby players, mountain bikers, wrestlers, and even tennis players may get roasties, none of them shave their legs.
I don’t buy the war paint argument. Rugby players or runners don’t shave their legs to syke themselves up.
Perhaps it is same reason many gay men have a back, sack and crack wax – other men like it.
* psych’
To Brad: Watch the Olympics, I`ll pay you R200 if you can spot a hairy swimmer. Have you ever had a roastie, and had to peel the scab off because it was infected (didn`t shave my legs)? Do rowers or runners race on tarmac at 50km/h +? Do rugby players train for 6hrs a day in sometimes blistering heat? The Time magazine had previously reported that cycling was the second hardest sport. Lots of other athletes shave their legs. By the way, it`s canoeists.
I only shave my legs the night before races. This is sort of a mental preparation for the race.
You’ve got the bike, the kit and the performance…… Now look the part.
I mean the girls love a man with stamina and hairless legs.
Well said allycat, Suppose it is a personal choice, but lets leave it to the ladies to decide..enough said , chicks dig it .. my wife would agree with that !
Yes it’s good for massage – but also easier to put on sunscreen – which you need should you cycle seriously 4 to 7 times a week.It definitely helps to have smooth skin to avoid chafing and ingrown hairs which adds to serious infections and the like (yes you shave all the way if you’re serious about comfort and not just looks).
You also see varicose veins quicker – it definitely helps to heal scratches much quicker (especially if you MTB a lot) and yes – chicks dig it! It does explain the dorky tan without saying a word ….
To Brad:
Young man…the other sport professionals DO shave mostly – especially swimmers and wrestlers – the latter of course for the very reason you have such animosity towards cyclists.I dare you anytime for a leisurely 100km plus at decent pace….you’ll wish you’ve shaved you’re head before you gulp down 3 liters of water and go for a massage, and a cream treatment on the very sensitive place you seem to have an obsession about…..
Only sissies and girls shave. REAL men wax!
During a 100km race in November these two students were in the bunch making jokes. The one said to his mate “see you waxed?”. “If I had legs like that I would have been twice as fast”. Now ladies and gentlemen, the big question is….was it a bikini wax or a brazilian wax…”" The pelton broke up laughing!
I’m a mountain biker. This is the more practical reason why I shave my legs. It is more difficult for ticks to latch on to your legs as you brush past the fynbos next to all the wonderful single track we have in the Cape. Seriously, I have noticed more ticks on me after a ride without shaven legs. I’ve yet to get a tick on me after a ride with shaven legs. THIS IS A GREAT REASON…. So keep on shaving guys. Shaven legs = No ticks.
Keep shaving guys (or waxing!)… it looks great, and yes, the ladies love it! Glad to hear that some of you shave ‘all the way’ as well – it’s not just a “chick thing”.
Smooth legs… smooth ride!
Because it makes me look meaner in the saddle when i stand and sprint.
well let me say this to all the guys who think this is a moffie thing “no ways my man” if woman look so sexy just after the wax or shave so are we entitled to show of who we are in the arena, and yes the sun block definately goes on easier. Wow dont the lean pumped up muscles just show their bit.
i wonder what the guys who say shavers and waxers are moffies when they look at some good lean legs, they will probably want to become moffies. just joking you nuts! good legs stay the best and i even admire my legs more than 5 times a day. its an awesome booster even if you cycle up to kak. enjoy the legs thing its a gas to say the least, and for the guys who have good cycling legs, give it horns boys, cycling is the best sport.
I know a few male cyclists who shave – and they ahve different reasons, some are already here, but in the case of a fall it’s also apparently easier to get dirt/gravel out of a wound if the skin is shaved, as it can’t get stuck in matted hair.
It’s also easier to clean shallow grazes if the area is shaved.
Shaving and cycling i like butter and toast – I am a moffie (lack of better word) and shave as have had enough wounds with hair /blood and stones. Legs feel better, look better and gals (guys) like the look
…not to mention how nice bare legs feel when ur wearing trousers! Or the split second of confusion waking up at night and feeling smooth legs rubbing in bed – “who have I got in here? Oh, wait, it’s just me, back to sleep.”
I cop the nickname tyrannosaurus legs, and for the most part my legs are hairy… That way there’s no expectation from the bunch until I explode foreword of the pack. It’s my way of hiding my secret weapon.
I don’t care about shaving, i’ll do what I want and only the ladies might love it or might hate it… men will definitely hate it :)
And that’s alright!!!
Ok, reality check guys (and gals i’m sure)… I’ve just been for a 20m cycle 2 days ago; ran 6m yesterday; and today i’ve just cycled another 25m. The result of this: A SORE ARSE!!! I am DEFINATELY considering waxing……..
Any therapists out there?!
Out of curiosity though, do women have hairy arses that us men don’t know about…?!
To shave or not to shave, that my dear cyclist is the question. Who cares? If you want to shave, shave no justification needed. I don’t shave cause it’s a pain in the posterior. Hell I’m a lone cyclist and will never race, as for looking sexy, I could shave every hair on me off and I’d still find it impossible to look sexy, oh yeah me wife thinks I’m sexy though I’m not sure if it’s when she has her glasses on or off
Agree with Anonymous Lady…
I am married too, to a female no less ;-) My wife first encouraged me to do a back wax, it felt like fire, but the result was, I could walk on the beach with confidence. The modern day MAN is also a clean man. Metrosexual if you will.
It’s a good feeling to be clean, and hygiene is a priority…
Ticks.
I have had tick bite fever 3 times in the last 4 years, hospitalised once. This is a really good reason for me and I’ll stick with it. Shaving arms? glad I’m not riding with those dimwits.
Roasties and Massages on big rides like the Epic and Cape Pioneer necessitate smooth pistons.
I just always ask if a person has fallen and saw how long it takes for the wound to heal if you have hairy legs:)
Hair belongs on a head. That’s the only place. Anywhere else, it’s disgusting. If my girlfriend didn’t have legs waxed and a brazilian, I’d leave her. The same applies vice versa: there’s no reason why she should have an Orang Utan next to her in bed, shower or company.
My arm and pit hair are negligible and stay. But legs, back, crack, sack, ear, nose etc. needs to go. Yech !!!!
Oh, and having no leg hair makes me “moera” fast. It’s my bike that’s slow.
..to avoid a close shave while riding..?
Shaving takes too long, and my leg hairs are like steel bristles anyways., so no shaving here.
If you fall and get a roasty, HTFU.
Shave if you have the luxury of not much hair in the first place and the time to do so, but then make sure the hairy single speeders dont whoop your ass up that long steep climb on your next race!!!
Nope, don’t shave’em yet. Although most mountainbikers do, I like the more rugged look of hairy legs for mountainbiking. Maybe I’m just not at the ‘level’ yet…
I book and pay for my partner to have his legs waxed at my beautician on a monthly basis… Because it just looks soooo wrong for a guy with a sleek racing bike to ride with all that fur!! yuk!