Opinion

Shaving legs

Bodybuilders shave their legs and bodies - wankers! Swimmers shave too - lairs! And male models, of course - ponces! Cyclists, on the other hand, shave their legs for good reason, and right now, as a cyclist, I'm trying to decide which reason.

They range, as I list them in my column in The Herald today, from easier bandaging and removal of gravel, through aerodynamics to less cover for ticks. Cyclists start searching for a reason, or excuse, to shave their legs when their legs have developed cycling muscle, the rippling that is best shown off when hairless.

I've been spurred to shave (or wax) by someone admiring my calves the other day and an approaching long ride from Coolangatta, during which there'll be ample opportunity to present hairless calves for admiration, but choosing an excuse is not the only challenge. There's also the question of how far up. And whether to apply a bottle tan.

Can you help (with advice)? Which, for example, is best, shave or wax? Does shaved hair really grow back stronger? And would you like to see before and after photos?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 9/03/2010 4:51:00 PM | Comments (28)

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It's not actually for easier bandaging, it's to prevent the gravel rash in the first place. The hairs on your legs create more friction while you're sliding along the bitumen. This allows the road surface to "dig in" to your flesh a bit more than it would on a smooth shaved surface. An example of this is to be seen in your bike helmet. The old style helmet was just a polysteyrene shell covered with a bit of coloured fabric and mesh. If that hit the road with your head inside it the friction between the poly shell and the road surface would snap your neck. That is why they changed to a smooth plastic cover on the helmet to ensure that it would slide easily over a rough surface and not dig in. The same principal appllies to your legs and arms.

Posted by G, 10/03/2010 9:27:04 AM, on The Herald

I didn't know that, G. Interesting.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 10/03/2010 9:43:07 AM

Rippling, hairless calves and a knock-out '70s porn star soup-strainer? It's got to be a winning combination, Jeff - Mrs Corbett will likely pop around to borrow one of my shotguns so she can fend off the ravenous female hordes (yes, hordes) that will descend upon your abode.

Posted by Scott Hillard, 10/03/2010 9:38:56 AM, on The Herald

She's suggesting this morning, Scott, that I wax just one leg.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 10/03/2010 10:01:06 AM

This is the real 'The Herald' now and in the future. With all the advertisements on this page I would be surprised if the owner of this site doesn't make more revenue here than from the sales of the paper Herald. Reading the paper at McDonalds tells me that there are many more stories in the paper version. The benefits to The Herald in seeing which stories are most read, and the reader comments provided make me wonder who is getting the better deal out of this. As for body hair, shaving does produce a blunt end rather than the natural taper so it can look more coarse. Waxing on the other hand produces hair which is "finer, lighter, and less coarse" according to the box, and visible results.

Posted by Jacob, 10/03/2010 9:46:15 AM, on The Herald

jeff, dont fall off bike, = no need to shave or wax or manicure. From Coolangatta to Newcastle? ....your bloody keen, matey.

Posted by suzhousid, 10/03/2010 10:15:59 AM, on The Herald

Coolangatta to Bonney Hills, which is south of Port Macquarie, suz. We're riding mainly secondary roads and dirt tracks and trails trying to stay as close to the coast as possible. To avoid having to use the highway, we're riding 40km of beach, hopefully at low tide!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 10/03/2010 10:28:06 AM

Does DS share your crurophilia?

Posted by moron, 10/03/2010 10:29:50 AM, on The Herald

Just back from the dictionary, moron, and crurophilia seems to mean a love of legs. I don't know about the Directeur Sportif's proclivities. Hopefully he'll share them, or the more acceptable ones, with us here.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 10/03/2010 10:47:22 AM

Jeff, take plenty of sunscreen and plenty of Chockos maybe you can get rid of a few on the way. Coolangatta is still a long way....bloody keen. You must be a fit 'bugger' p.s be careful of which variety of mushroom you pick, that is if you see any.

Posted by suzhousid, 10/03/2010 10:36:20 AM, on The Herald

Ok Jeff -so you want fast legs .Here 's how. Use hair clippers and trim off all the bulk -all the way to your mankini line . Shave up from your ankle to your knee -and shave down from your groin to your knee . Shaving up to your knee will get them smooth -and fast ,but I have found that continuing up the leg may lead to ingrown hairs,which are the enemy of fast legs.When you shave down from the groin ,you tend to leave the hair ends higher than the skin -which results in less ingrown drama. And remember ,mountain bikers shave themselves ,roadies shave each other -haha!

Posted by kedan, 10/03/2010 10:40:27 AM, on The Herald

Jeff, the leg shaving for male cyclists is for show only, there is no need mate. Between training daily, long road runs, weekends with twenty other guys on bikes when do cyclists see their wives and family, is it not a selfish sport? So if you have nice shaved legs when does the misses get to ogle them? It appears that the wives have alot of time on their hands without hubby, but as long as the rest of the guys think your legs are nice well that makes up for it, Right? BTW this is for C@O, "how do you get bigger calves?" You feed them more milk!

Posted by Buell, 10/03/2010 11:04:49 AM, on The Herald

JC - why stop at the calves? - why not go all the way (don't worry about bodybuilders and swimmers) - even up to the top lip. You'll be an aerodynamic machine! Who's with me?

Posted by stevo106, 10/03/2010 11:16:15 AM, on The Herald

The top lip was denuded once, Stevo, and my wife says it is never to be denuded again! I must say I did look a little odd, or odder.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 10/03/2010 11:20:00 AM

maybe when your legs are shaved smooth and shiney you will look good in one of those leather posing pouches that are abundant at mardi-gra. should cut down on testicle/shorts friction when you are riding.

Posted by catl, 10/03/2010 11:21:06 AM, on The Herald

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