Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Health & Fitness => Topic started by: HeltorChasca on 05 February, 2020, 02:33:43 pm

Title: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: HeltorChasca on 05 February, 2020, 02:33:43 pm
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?
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: quixoticgeek on 05 February, 2020, 02:39:05 pm
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
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Ham on 05 February, 2020, 02:41:16 pm
Quote
Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits

Why would I shave my stomach?
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: hellymedic on 05 February, 2020, 02:50:51 pm
My nose does not need shaving.
YNMV
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: L CC on 05 February, 2020, 02:56:50 pm
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.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: bludger on 05 February, 2020, 03:01:58 pm
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.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: sg37409 on 05 February, 2020, 03:35:53 pm
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)
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: jiberjaber on 05 February, 2020, 05:24:06 pm

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...  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Karla on 05 February, 2020, 05:27:53 pm
Legs in the summer, because you're a dirty tourist if you don't.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: hellymedic on 05 February, 2020, 05:39:57 pm
I don't shave my tits or bum.

They stick out.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: sojournermike on 05 February, 2020, 06:21:45 pm
I don’t shave my chin

Although I used to lightly pass the razor over my pate.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Greenbank on 05 February, 2020, 06:46:09 pm
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.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: FifeingEejit on 05 February, 2020, 07:13:23 pm
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.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: perpetual dan on 05 February, 2020, 09:52:15 pm
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  ;D
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 05 February, 2020, 10:01:58 pm
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
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: De Sisti on 05 February, 2020, 10:14:47 pm
As I've grown older I have fewer hairs on my legs and arms (head too).
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 February, 2020, 10:29:48 pm
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.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: T42 on 06 February, 2020, 09:19:36 am
I stopped shaving anything over 30 years ago.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: ian on 06 February, 2020, 09:25:35 am
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...
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: T42 on 06 February, 2020, 01:37:20 pm
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.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: ElyDave on 07 February, 2020, 05:59:30 am
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.

Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 07 February, 2020, 08:12:34 am
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.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: T42 on 07 February, 2020, 08:28:23 am
Aye, them Angles'll fuck you over every time.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: HeltorChasca on 07 February, 2020, 10:59:48 am
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  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: rob on 07 February, 2020, 11:20:30 am
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.   
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: perpetual dan on 07 February, 2020, 12:55:32 pm
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.
I think i heard Dave Brailsford suggesting a leg mohican was more aero. I just assumed he was taking the piss.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: rob on 07 February, 2020, 01:09:03 pm
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.
I think i heard Dave Brailsford suggesting a leg mohican was more aero. I just assumed he was taking the piss.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I've seen time triallists with shaved legs but 'trip strips' taped to their legs.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/why-leaving-hair-on-your-legs-could-help-you-go-faster-186135
 
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: rafletcher on 07 February, 2020, 01:15:25 pm
It's probably more to do with creating turbulent flow that adheres less to the leg and has a lower drag.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: ian on 07 February, 2020, 01:53:51 pm
I thought it was supposed to make things look bigger.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Ham on 07 February, 2020, 04:03:30 pm
In the context, there may be one or two here who might appreciate the information that my brother, Esau, is a hairy man. No? oh well.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: hellymedic on 07 February, 2020, 04:08:18 pm
Will you sell your birthright for a mess of potage?
My brother's called Jacob...
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Ham on 07 February, 2020, 04:16:42 pm
Would the Twitter version be a potted message?
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: hellymedic on 07 February, 2020, 04:44:53 pm
 ;D

Esau: bonked out hunter loses rational thought for FOOD!
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 February, 2020, 10:26:22 pm
In the context, there may be one or two here who might appreciate the information that my brother, Esau, is a hairy man. No? oh well.

You are a right smoothie then...
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: numbnuts on 08 February, 2020, 12:41:41 pm
I use Gillette venus shave from the neck down, but not my arms
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Phil W on 09 February, 2020, 12:50:59 pm
I thought it was supposed to make things look bigger.

Jimmy Hill without his beard, what do you reckon?

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article2320245.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Jimmy-Hill.jpg)
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: andrewc on 14 February, 2020, 12:00:00 pm
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/asa-tells-friction-free-shaving-shaving-cannot-friction-free/1670719


https://www.ffs.co.uk



FFS !   Subscription shaving WTF ?


https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1228279783785713665?s=20
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: ian on 14 February, 2020, 12:43:10 pm
It sort of makes sense as there are regular consumables like blades and shaving gumpf.

That said, I bought about 5 million old fashioned double-edged blades back when I used to shave every day (and they'd last a month then), so now I've a Beard of Authority℠ each lasts about six months. On that basis, I'm set for this life, the next, and the one after that. Unless I come back as a cockroach, in which case I won't bother shaving.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 14 February, 2020, 04:37:30 pm
What if you come back as a woolly mammoth?
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Karla on 14 February, 2020, 06:37:59 pm
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.

I'm fairly sure I know where that came from, and it was a joke.  Shaved legs do test faster than fully hairy though.

Like Rob, when I'm racing my arms and calves are covered.  Just shaving the knees would definitely look dodgy though.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: ian on 14 February, 2020, 08:02:43 pm
What if you come back as a woolly mammoth?

I reckon I'm just going to go with it.
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 February, 2020, 12:26:32 am
What if you come back as a woolly mammoth?

He'd clean a car...
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: sojournermike on 15 February, 2020, 08:23:36 am
;D

Esau: bonked out hunter loses rational thought for FOOD!

Careful Helly, you’ll end up in one of the diet wars threads
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 February, 2020, 09:37:25 am
What if you come back as a woolly mammoth?

He'd clean a car...
:D
Title: Re: Shaving Your Sticky Out Bits
Post by: Kim on 15 February, 2020, 05:10:01 pm
What if you come back as a woolly mammoth?

He'd clean a car...

(https://media1.tenor.com/images/96e0a1a7b8e851d42efe0f35fd68bc09/tenor.gif?itemid=12841982)