shaving - is it needed?

They won't let you start a triathlon if your legs aren't shaved.

 Just kidding of course, a lot of people do it for a variety of 'reasons.'  i'll let them explain why. for me, i am way to lazy and have enough trouble shaving just my face regularly.  i think the rational for shaving the legs are generally one of the following:

- easier to get wetsuit on/off

-easier to deal with road rash (which hopefully isn't happening too much)

- makes your leg definition more noticeable  

No, it doesn't make you any faster in a pure aerodynamics process.

It helps get the wetsuit on and off, makes massages a lot more pleasant and helps when it comes time to clean your wounds should you crash on the bike at any time.

And you work hard to have nice defined muscles, you deserve to show them off .......

I wish I sould be this succinct.  I tend to use 10 words when one would do.  See, I can't even comment on Derek's brevity w/o rambling on about nothing! 

What the heck was this thread about?  Oh yeah, shavng.  I don't know how long it takes for people to shave thier bodies but I'm sure the time would be better spent training.  The only reason I even shave my face is becuase it gets itchy.  I can't imagine shaving my legs!  Vanity, vanity, vanity.  :-)

~Mike

Not necessary but it looks good (at least I think so) and certainly helps when you crash.

Yep.

Gee, I'm glad that my time spectrum allows for more than two activities, so that doing one doesn't take away time from the other. I have time to do things I need to do, time to do things I want to do, and still have time to do nothing at all. It's the "doing nothing at all" time that gets reassigned for leg shaving. Fifteen minutes, twice a week, usually after the shower or a long soak in the tub while listening to music.

 And I still get my training in.

I didn't say it was either/or.  What I said was that your time would be BETTER SPENT training.  You might 'shave' a second or two off your IM time by having hairless legs but an extra 30 minutes training per week will pay much bigger dividends. 

Unless you are Michael Phelps where .01 seconds can be the differance in gold and silver, leg shaving and waxing is simply to make your legs look sleeker.  

 ~Mike

Nelg - 2008-10-26 3:16 PM

Daremo - 2008-10-26 10:22 AM And you work hard to have nice defined muscles, you deserve to show them off .......

Which is the only reason people do it, it's about vanity and nothing more.

No its not ........

Ever get a good massage with hairy legs?  Painful.

Ever go down on the pavement or a fire trail and have to clean the wound as it tries to heal?  Paiful (and much higher risk for infection).

There are numerous reasons, not just vanity.

for any other reason, nope

Daremo - 2008-10-26 5:02 PM

Nelg - 2008-10-26 3:16 PM

Daremo - 2008-10-26 10:22 AM And you work hard to have nice defined muscles, you deserve to show them off .......

Which is the only reason people do it, it's about vanity and nothing more.

 

There are numerous reasons, not just vanity.

So we have reasons to shave your legs:

1.  To show off your legs.

2.  So band aids don't pull your little hairs out and give you owies.

3.  So you can get a good message without it pulling your hair and giving you owies.

4.  To get in touch with your feminine side. 

5.  Taking .001 second off your swim time.

6.  Easier to ger your wesuit on and off.

7.  It feels good.  (no comment)

8.  Some chicks dig it.  Some do not - according to a recent survey (a random sample of one Mrs Rogillio)....."It looks weird to see a guy with no hair on his legs."

I am rather ambivalent.  If you think it's worth your time to shave your legs or paint your toe nails, have at it.  To each his own.

~Mike

They do look much better shaved!

Once in awhile I see a guy with hairy legs and it just looks weird.

Does mine look weird?

(Mikes Bike wreck 008.jpg)