Shaved Leg Success?

I guess your referring to the swim portion.  I would say that there is minimal noticable effect.

Little to none would be my guess.

0:00.00.

But they look great, so do it anyway.

1 minute and 13 seconds for every 2.4 miles.

I read that on the interwebs.  I swear!!!!

Andy Potts does not shave his legs and he is one of the top swimmers in tri.  Swimmers shave because 100ths of a second matter, so i'd guess, not much

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I do where my shorts are but thats about it....I could do the whole leg bc I dont think I could afford the amount of razors I would need to get through it....I make Chewbacka look twice lol.

I would say 20 - 30 minutes in a 2.4 mile swim if you look like this....

-Dan
www.trimywill.com

Most  guys shave not for gains in the swim but to make cleaning road rash easier and plus makes their legs look hot!

When people ask me if it makes me faster I say `No. But chicks dig guys with shaved legs.' That gets a few nods and a `yep' here or there amongst triathletes. Otherwise I just get `No. We don't.'

But really, it won't make that big a difference. The only thing that'll make you faster in the water is ... to work on your technique. So I'm told. I suck at swimming.

KathyG and Ramtecneon -

Until three weeks ago, I was in the category of the cyclists who will crash, as opposed to those who have crashed. Three weeks ago, I had my first, and it was a doozy - extensive road rash and a separated shoulder.

I have been shaving since '01 ---- I guess planning for something such as what happened June 13. So, KathyG is on the money in what she says.

I had thought about doing a tri on that morning, so the night before I shaved. Waking early on the 13th, I just decided to ride instead - bad decision! Anyhow, I'm very glad I did the "touch-up" the night before, and in hindsight wish I had also done my arms.

For Ramtecneon, my previous pattern had been to shave up to just below my hip bone, about even with my crotch. A big slab of road rash high on my hip, however, will now have me going all the way up. This is because who using Tegaderm and gauze on my thigh, knee, and outer calf was workable, trying to fasten down stuff on the big one on my hip was a real problem.

From now on it will be a no-brainer to shave my legs all the way up, and I also have to think about doing my arms. They were as difficult to attach sticky-stuff to as it was on my hip, and while I was able to do some hair removal post-crash, there were lots of places where the rash and scraping was not tightly-contained, meaning there were many scratched areas that still had hair that I couldn't shave over.

If shaving is done for cosmetic purposes, I guess one can "draw the line" wherever they feel like it. If it's done for purposes of making road rash more treatable, then there are strong arguments to be made for doing it on a broader palette, which would include hips and likely arms.

Of course, the best solution is just to stay upright at all times, huh?

Edited by aarondavidson 2009-07-04 4:54 PM

It will take longer in the shower if you shave.

I wouldn't expect it to make too much of an actual difference in time shavings, but the reason I do it for big races (I don't quite shave, but I do trim it pretty close) is simply from habit because that is what I used to have to do for the state swim meet and thus it helps me to mentally prepare for the race. Imo, the psychological benefits from the different feel of the water against your legs and the fact that you know that it will at least make you slightly faster is well worth the effort. Just be careful not to shave anything that could cause discomfort or chaffing.

Shaving won't save you as much time on the swim as if you took the time you would have spent shaving, and trained instead.

real time saved because of no hair - like others have said probably nothing.  but maybe, just maybe it does help  certainly can't hurt.

in high school we shaved for districts - you feel different in the water...faster.  feeling faster, believing you are faster puts a mental edge on you.

i graduated in '86.  hadn't shaved since - until last week 

i seriously improved my swim time - was it the physical lack of hair or pschological advantage?  does it matter? i went faster.

i personally don't buy into the rash rash reason for shaving.  but again if you believe it helps -it helps.

Edited by bruehoyt 2009-07-04 11:17 PM

this one time, at swim camp, I shaved my legs and like swam the fasted like time ever like...

I shave for personal hygiene other wise I look like a gorilla and my legs are soaked at the end of a run.  When shaved I don't sweat nearly as much. Less sweaty socks = less blisters.

I like shaving for several reasons. 1. my wife digs it. 2. I get more compliments on my muscle definition (it helps me feel fitter if I look fitter) 3. I feel faster overall, not just in the water. 4. Comfort! wetsuit + hairy legs = uncomfortable for me but shaved legs = super comfort and it goes on easier (or seems to) 5. Road rash - for my few accidents it has been easier to clean when shaving than when not and I have had few infections from wounds when shaved than when not.

Is there any scientific evidence to support any of this? not that I know of but I feel much better off this way so will continue to do it.