Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits

[HeltorChasca]

There%u2019s a thread over on the TrainerRoad forum about shaving. Not only legs, but arms too!

So who on here shaves their limbs? And why? And how do you do it?

[quixoticgeek]

There’s a thread like over on the TrainerRoad forum about shaving. Not only legs, but arms too!

So who on here shaves their limbs? And why? And how do you do it?

I shave my legs. Also my arm pits. I use a mens Gillette Mach 3 razor (cheaper than a women's one). Shaving arms seems like a silly idea...

J

[Ham]

Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits

Why would I shave my stomach?

[hellymedic]

My nose does not need shaving.
YNMV

[L CC]

I shave my armpits, (mach 3, borrowed from Mr Smith--he now doesn't want it back) and get a professional in for if I'm going to be swimming.
I might shave my legs in the summer for aero benefits but they're not very hairy, so I don't usually bother.

Mr Smith shaves his head, and sometimes his chin.

As to how to do it, slather area in lather (soap is sufficient for arm pits, foam is better for larger areas) and stroke away with razor. Follow the grain, ideally.
If you get a pro in, lie back and think of England. They'll tell you what you need to do. Waxing is neater, lasts longer, and doesn't give such irritating stubble on regrowth.
Moisturise well afterwards whatever method you use.

Generally, I resent the societal expectation that one's limbs and areas should be doll-like hair free, but it can actually improve undercarriage issues on long rides. Hair holds scents and fluid sticks to it. Sometimes it's better without.

[bludger]

I don't - 2 years ago I was having my leg sewn up by a chap in an ambulance and asked for his medical opinion on whether it would be worth me shaving my legs or not.

He advised against it - if you ended up having a cast on or whatever the risk of dangerous ingrown hairs is much higher. So for me I've got hairy tent pegs and it's doing me no harm.

I also get the feeling if I were to do a really longish bike ride e.g. 7-12 days the sensation of the hairs coming through would get very annoying.

[sg37409]

After my inguinal hernia op, I was convinced I could feel the scars/meshes prickling a little as I bent over to pedal. It could be quite uncomfortable.
I later discovered it was most likely the stubble growing back in itching against the lycra.

(perhaps it was scars/meshes and its just settled down now)

[jiberjaber]

Legs in the summer because over the last 2 years I developed a bit of a phobia about insects (wasps mostly due to recurring bouts of cellulitis from their stings) and the wind blowing on the hair makes me think there is something crawling to sting me.  In a roll reversal, I borrow the Mrs wet shaver to do it in the shower... 

[Karla]

Legs in the summer, because you're a dirty tourist if you don't.

[hellymedic]

I don't shave my tits or bum.

They stick out.

[sojournermike]

I don’t shave my chin

Although I used to lightly pass the razor over my pate.

[Greenbank]

Chin/face once a month usually. About as often as I shave my feet/toes (just feels nicer putting on socks with no hair on the feet). Have never shaved legs/arms/chest/back/sack/crack/etc.

[FifeingEejit]

Hair gets dealt with when it's annoying me, the threshold varies with location of hair.

This is how I go from scruffy beard and my ears hidden to close cropped and clean shaven on occasion.
Anything else is a waste of time, effort and money.

[perpetual dan]

I shaved my legs once in recent years. The stubble was unpopular with Mrs Dan, so now I get a wax.
I've shaved other bits of me from time to time, face most frequently.
None of this has anything to do with cycling 

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I shaved my arms for the state track championships one year many moons ago but that was a lot of trouble for minimal gain. The following years, I went for long-sleeve skinsuits instead. I regularly shaved my legs when I raced, mostly for ease of massage. All that stopped a long time ago. I just shave the face nowadays

[De Sisti]

As I've grown older I have fewer hairs on my legs and arms (head too).

[Wowbagger]

I have a lot of hair. It sticks out. I never shave any of it. I do have a cry special pair of tonsorial scissor for moustache trimming. I suppose that happens every 2 or 3 months.

[T42]

I stopped shaving anything over 30 years ago.

[ian]

I have a Beard of Authority these days, so that and the minimally Tidy Hair get trimmed weekly. The neck bit below the beard gets the razor treatment twice a week so it's nice and neat. I got a rep to uphold.

I always have to fight the temptation to keep going, down through the chest and beyond. Get every single hair south of the beard. I'm a bloke and hairy everywhere except on my head. I do hate body hair on anything, starting with me. Most expressly me. I'm like the monkey that escaped.

Of course, then stubble, in places you don't want stubble. I could see it taking over my life.

But every time I pick up the razor, the urge returns and whispers go on ian, keep going...

[T42]

When I had my first stent put in they handed me a razor, then looked in my crotch and said "but you're already shaven!"  Nope, I'm a cyclist.

[ElyDave]

Legs, but only in the summer, mostly for ease of applying insect repellant and sunscreen. I trim rather than shave, using my beard trimmer on its shortest setting. Beard gets done once every week or so. Other than beard and legs I'm not really that hairy. I wasked the other week if I'd been shaving my upper arms, erm, no!

I also used to trim the legs when training or racing ultra marathons as its much easier for taping mid-run if needed.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I read somewhere that for best aero you should shave a strip down the front of your legs, leaving the sides and back hairy. It's to do with laminar airflow. Or perhaps it was to shave a strip down the sides, leaving the front hairy. Either way, it's a bold look and would give you a strong psychological advantage on the start line.

You'd have to be very careful with the angles when transferring this to arms. Faces should be easier but... I think the OP has a beard.

[T42]

Aye, them Angles'll fuck you over every time.

[HeltorChasca]

I read somewhere that for best aero you should shave a strip down the front of your legs, leaving the sides and back hairy. It's to do with laminar airflow. Or perhaps it was to shave a strip down the sides, leaving the front hairy. Either way, it's a bold look and would give you a strong psychological advantage on the start line.

You'd have to be very careful with the angles when transferring this to arms. Faces should be easier but... I think the OP has a beard.

TrainerRoad and Specialized did some wind tunnel tests. Beards have no effect. I like your suggestion. I dig the zebra look.

The responses upthread are very likeable 

[rob]

Legs in the Summer/racing season - once a week.   I did listen to a podcast with the guy behind aerocoach who said to shave legs, although my race suit has very long legs and my overshoes are mid calf.   I do think it looks better, though.

I don't shave my arms but my race suit has long sleeves so I don't see much point.

I'm not massively hairy.