Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club

An interesting article popped up on Hacker News today:

Is shaving your legs a matter of fashion or function for cyclists? When Oregon-based triathlete Jesse Thomas forgot to shave before a wind-tunnel testing session earlier this year, he realized that he had a rare opportunity for a before-and-after test to find out.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/hea ... e20370814/

There's lots of research on this.

I do it in the hope of getting a post ride massage which rarely eventuates.

My common law wife/girlfriend/defacto complains that I shave my legs more than her.

True dat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZnrE17Jg3I

Thanks for the link, I hadn't seen the Specialized videos before, a good watch.

There's lots of research on this

Just about everything I've been able to turn up that pre-dates the "Win Tunnel" stuff points to the very 1987 study mentioned in the article:

It turned out that the 1987 test involved a fake lower leg in a miniature wind tunnel with or without hair glued onto it – hardly a definitive test, and yet it was enough to persuade most people not to bother with further tests for the next three decades.

I'm your standard asinine contrarian so I've always taken the position that without some more serious proof that there's a significant benefit, I'm just not going to do it. This stuff is making me reconsider.

Absolutely no chance of me ever shaving my legs. Pros do it because they crash and get massaged a lot. I do not. Women are sucked into this thing for fashion, no way I'm joining them.

Absolutely no chance of me ever shaving my legs. Pros do it because they crash and get massaged a lot. I do not. Women are sucked into this thing for fashion, no way I'm joining them.

And now, if you don't shave your legs, and you get beaten by someone who does, you have an excuse.

I've shaved my legs in the past, can't be bothered doing it again.

Then there's the ingrown hairs...

Then there's the ingrown hairs...

Wax

I get them waxing as well. Maybe worse.

Great topic. There's a lot of factors to think about. Tradition, healing efficiency post crash, massages, how it looks in general, how it makes you feel. After riding for a while unshaven and with quite hairy legs, when I finally took the plunge it just felt right. As cyclists, we wear appropriate attire to aid with slicing through the wind; tight Knicks, figure hugging jersies and thin, light socks. Silky smooth legs just go better with what we wear. Each to their own, but for me, I'll never go (chew)back(ca).

You're so right PJCampbell! It was just like that for me with the silk.... dressing gown.