Thursday, June 2, 2011

Top 6: Why do Men Shave Their Legs for Cycling?

The question of why men shave their legs for cycling comes up time and time again.  So here are the top 6 reasons why we do it;


  1. Wound Management *(fact of cycling: it's not if, but when... your fault, or not... we sometimes go down and a clean wound is a lot easier to care for than a hairy mess)
  2. The Culture of Road Racing (show that you have a serious commitment to the sport!)
  3. Massage (a leg massage after a hard or long ride is not only for pro racers, it has many benefits for enthusiasts as well and it's far more pleasant for both parties if the legs are clean and not a shag carpet)
  4. Sunscreen Application (easier to apply)
  5. Speed (while aerodynamic improvement is absolutely a myth, there is a placebo effect: if you feel faster, you ride faster.)
  6. Heat Management (sure feels nice to have the wind cooling the skin on hot days)
Please feel free to add any good reasons I missed...

*Additional note for point #1: If you have hairy shoulders and back, you may want to keep those cropped as well because road rash isn't limited to your legs in a fall! Do not shave your arms - sorry but that is just too creepy.

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