Shaving legs... more aero or man card violation??

My muscles and veins look awesome when the legs are hairless.  Plus the wife likes it.

Cyclists do it for one/or all of three reasons:

1)  Their buddies do it, and they have to fit it with the cycling culture

2)  There is something to be said for smooth, silky feel, of freshly......sorry, got carried away.

3)  You shave because after you crash it is a hell of a lot easier to clean the grime and dirt out of yourself when your legs aren't covered in hair.  If you see what a Pro does to "scour" themselves after a crash so they can ride the next day, you'd make sure to try and always stay upright.

And if you are getting an aero benefit from shaving, you have an awful lot more hair than me - and should likely shave even if you didn't ride a bike.

There's only one reason for male triathletes to shave their legs. Because it's part of a culture you want to associate with.

Everything else is an excuse for the above.

And yes, I shave my legs. It's one of the rules.

You'd never convince my wife of this.  She's threatened me if I were to ever shave my legs.

Probably jealous that mine are nicer than hers.

This. I'd wish my legs had been shaven the last time I crashed. Hair is really annoying. That being said, I've never actually shaven my legs but I do plan on doing it for my 70.3 in June. I've been all-in with everything else so why not the shaving too?

No man card removal.

Real men can take the shave.

This.

I might add that your man card doesn't mean much to me if I can't get to your man tree for the forest in the way.

switch - 2013-05-15 8:46 AM

RussTKD - 2013-05-15 8:39 AM

switch - 2013-05-15 8:23 AM Don't think twice about it. More aero and it looks HOT.Waist down? Shave it.

 

You'd never convince my wife of this.  She's threatened me if I were to ever shave my legs.

 

Probably jealous that mine are nicer than hers.

She's not a triathlete, huh? The legs are nice. Shaving it all? Very nice. She should let you both try it once. Tell her to PM me

I've got the dumbest looking body hair in the history of body hair, so she's OK with me shaving my chest and the hobbit patch on my lower back.  She just has a hang up with the legs.  I got weird looks for having clippered my ankles to get out of my wetsuit easier (and it actually worked).

And no, she's not a monathlete, much less a triathlete.

If the forest is in the way..............uh..........shaving ain't gonna save one tree.

Oh boy.... another leg shaving thread. 

Yes I do.  I like the look and feel.  When my "non" tri buddies give me about it I more or less tell them it's a personal choice.  Feels better in the water, with my wetsuit, on my bike, and when I get ultrasound physical therapy on my leg muscles.

Essentially, I like it and that's my reason.

I despise the "man card" crap. It only serves to place others in a box that is defined by generations of generalizations.

I shave my legs because I like how it feels. I'm of no illusion that it makes me faster. I did take a spill in some loose gravel this weekend. Nothing serious, buy minor road rash. I like how much easier it is to keep things clean without leg hair in the way.

Edit to add: I had forgotten about the wet suit. Pulling that on without leg hair is so much more comfortable.

Quote of the Year!  I might have to put this in my sig line.  Classic.

The OP didn't put "others in a box."  He put himself in the box.

Does that stuff help?  What are you treating with it?  I'm curious because I've got a touch of ITBS in my right knee.

My chiropractor says its helping me... but honestly I don't really know, it seems more of a physiological thing.