5 Real Reasons Why You Should Shave Your Legs (That Have Nothing To Do With Aerodynamics)
Comments(28)
I have been shaving my legs for so long that I don’t even remember why I do it. It’s just instinct. Kind of like putting on my helmet or lathering up with chamois butter, I don’t think about why I do it, I just do it. And hey, it works fine that way.
But there are so many myths and misconceptions about leg shaving, and so many articles that don’t quite get it right, I decided to put on my thinking cap and remember exactly why I shave my legs. You should always be able to make informed decisions, even if your information comes from some loon on the internet! So all my reasons to shave are listed below…
Shaving Your Legs for All The Wrong Reasons
First, we’ll start with a few reasons people give for shaving their legs that are actually myths or just dumb reasons.
To ride faster (due to better aerodynamics.)
The first thing most people think of with smooth legs is better aerodynamics. Surely a smooth leg slices through the wind much, much faster than a leg covered in thin little hairs!
But guess what – this lack of leg hair does not make you more aerodynamic. While there are a variety of wind tunnel tests for time trial positioning, along with big studies about air turbulence for golf ball dimple designs, drag from leg hair has not been studied. Why? Because it is way too minimal to even matter.
If you are a triathlete or swimmer, though, you’re dealing with water, and that’s a different story. (One which doesn’t even matter these days, thanks to super fast suits that even smooth skin can’t compare to.)
For sheer joy and excitement.
You might be thinking “hey, that might be neat to shave my legs once.” Trust me, it’s not. Ask any cyclist (or any female, for that matter) that shaves their legs how fun and exciting it is, and you’ll get blank stares and confused looks.
The first time is alright, and smooth legs do make for a good conversation piece, but then you have to shave again at least twice a week. It’s a hassle, and if you don’t do it, well, the stubble is not fun. So then you are forced to keep shaving or deal with stubble for a couple weeks.
Good Reasons to Shave Your Legs
Now here are the real reasons to shave your legs that actually justify the time, expense, and possible ridicule you’ll experience once you begin shaving your legs.
Reason 1 – To look good.
This is what it’s all about right here. You can have a fancy kit, sleek helmet, and top-of-the-line bike, but if you pair hairy legs with tight spandex, the cycling fashion police will be forced to haul you away.
Best of all, hairless legs emphasize your muscles. With hair, your legs will still be big, but once they’re shaved, every little ripple in your muscles stands out for the world to see. (Just look at Bobby Julich’s legs, pictured above!)
Reason 2 – To feel like a pro.
All the pros shave their legs. Not once have I seen a professional racer (on the road, at least) that foregos shaving, and even the majority of recreational roadies and amateur racers shave their legs. If you shave yours, too, it makes you feel like part of the group.
You’ll feel faster, too, just like the pros. Heck, you might even get motivated enough that your mind is driven to ride faster. This is a placebo effect, not aerodynamics, but it could very well result in faster times!
And not only do you feel like a pro, you just feel good. That’s probably because hairless legs keep you cooler (think of hairy legs like wearing a cotton t-shirt.) Plus, you actually “feel” the air moving around your legs, which is very neat.
Reason 3 – To treat road rash easily.
The less you race or do group rides, the less you’ll have to worry about road rash, but it’s always a concern. But if you do a lot of group rides and races, there’s a good chance you’ll experience road rash first-hand.
The previous two reasons (looking good and feeling good) will help you on each ride, but the (hopefully) rare cases when you get road rash will be the most memorable “I’m so glad I shaved my legs!” moments. That’s because cleaning your raw skin is much easier if you don’t have hair in the way. Not to mention, the hair will likely trap more dust, dirt, bugs, and gravel in your wounds.
If you end up in the hospital to get your hairy road rash cleaned out, chances are a tired, unsympathetic nurse will bust out the wire brush to scrub your wounds. Ouch! So in this case, leg shaving is kind of like wearing a helmet – you hope you don’t need it, but it’s there just in case.
Smooth legs also come in handy if you’re a mountain biker and get scratched up or cut; then you can put a band-aid on your wounds without it pulling out your hair (which can sometimes be more painful than the cut itself!)
Reason 4 – For better massages.
Again, this probably doesn’t matter on a day-to-day basis (unless you’re a pro,) but getting a massage feels so much better if your legs are smooth. Part of the reason is that the hair gets sticky and creates friction, which makes it harder for the masseuse, which translates into a sub-par experience for you.
Try it yourself: rub some massage oil on a hairy leg, and then do a little self-massage. Then try the same thing on a smooth leg, and you’ll see a big difference. Your hands will glide easily, and it will feel oh so good!
Reason 5 – To deter ticks.
If you ride in the woods (or even on back roads,) ticks can jump off weeds and grab your leg hair, then make their way around your body until they decide to bite. Smooth legs don’t leave them much to grab onto, so it’s less likely that a tick will stay on your body.
It will also be easier to spot a tick if there isn’t a mass of hair obscuring your vision.
I’ve found five ticks on me so far this year, but with my smooth legs, most have been stuck hiding on my clothes. With hairy legs, I probably would have had at least twice as many ticks, some of which may have crawled through my leg hair and made a nice home somewhere on my upper thigh!
(One did stick itself into my hamstring, but that bugger got there one evening when I was sitting around in the grass. I don’t think he would have made it there had I been wearing lycra!)
So there you have it. Five solid reasons to shave your legs that have nothing to do with aerodynamics.
Photo credits: Bobby Julich by The Dublin Reeds | Aero cyclist by Gaetan Lee | George Hincapie’s legs by TimothyJ | Tick by ninjapoodles
A Few More Articles You Will Probably Like:
Want CoachLevi.com updates?
Click here to get CoachLevi.com updates via email so that you don't miss any of these great cycling and fitness tips!
Like this article?
ohhhhhhhhh now it makes sense! all these men with hairless legs!
How dare u speak of nurses that way
Reason 6, it helps you pull at the homo bar,
@Kendra
Yes, there is a method to our madness.
@dale
What do you mean? Do you think everyone in the ER is happy, sympathetic, gentle, and always gets plenty of sleep?
@lasered
Thanks for the tip, although I only included the 5 reasons I have personal experience with.
another reason, no bugs in the hair, sweat evaporates instead of dripping down into your shoes.
@pro
Yeah, bugs in the hair suck. Although I still get quite a few gnats and other little buggers stuck to my legs when it’s wet or if I’m extra sweaty.
They say women are vane. I’m sure there are women who like that their men shave or they may even tell them to shave.
Real men have hair on their legs, they don’t wear Band-Aids, they show off their scars like a badge of honor.
If your wife or girlfriend make you shave off your hair, grow some, and be a man. Girlie Men, sweet sensitive new age men. God help us all.
yes! now I have an article to refer people to when the ask why I shave my legs. I don’t ride road (yet), but the tick thing is great for excuse for trails. hehehe.
I think the best reason was overlooked: sweat evaporates more quickly. That and the road rash thing are the only reasons I do it.
@Chris,
Yeah, I kind of lumped the sweat evaporation aspect into the “feeling good” reason, because I love how it keeps me cool on hot days.
I didn’t think it was big enough for its own section because: If sweat evaporated that quickly from a hairless surface, none of our forehead sweat would drip into our eyes…
The only good reasons are to treat road rash and deter ticks. Guys are SUPPOSED to have hairy legs. I have friends that are gay, and even THEY don’t freaking shave their legs! Plus the other reasoms are lame. Like “feel like a pro”? Whatever.
I like that road rash…I know I’ve had a couple crashes on the road. not fun especially when your skin is ripped off and lower tissue layers are exposed. seen it too many times to over look it. Feelings I’m not so concerned didn’t even think about ticks and insects. good point.
I don’t shave my legs, and I do alot of biking. I’ve never had a problem with cleaning a cut. Yeah the hair my legs gets in the way, and when I pull the bandaid off, some hair comes with it, but I’m happy having hairy legs like a man should.
The main reason to shave their legs is because in a case of road rash, it will not get infected because of the hair
I’m really surprised no one has mentioned the ease of applying and removing embrocations on hairless legs. If you ride in the cold, the rain or w/ fatigued muscles like almost every competitive rider it is much easier to apply and wipe off. And besides all the ‘legit’ reasons let’s not pretend it’s a big deal. It’s not. When someone asks me why my legs are shaved I tell them ‘chicks dig it’. You can’t buy legs that will win a TT or a sprint. If you put work into it of course you want it to show. Nothing wrong w/ that.
@Raleigh
Yes, applying embrocations is easier, much like giving yourself a massage. (So I just grouped them into one reason.)
Funny as I just read another article about this. I am a fairly serious cyclist (only recently) and have said I would never shave but am starting to think I might…
http://thegearjunkie.com/men-who-shave-their-legs
My husband has just shaved his legs and I’m SO disappointed. Most women love hairy men – it’s the hair that makes them look and feel like men. Who wants to rub their legs agains hairless shiny legs? Well, not me for one. I hate it – just like I hate the look of any man who removes the hair from his body.
I am pretty sure ticks do not jump onto another organism. Would not worth the energy if you missed. you have to come into contact with them.
@Curtis
The point is that however you come into contact with ticks, whether it’s from an overgrown trail or a wreck where you tumble through the weeds, you’re better off without leg hair.
If you shave your legs for all these reasons why not shave arms too ? Shaving legs is just fashion and for those that look in the mirror too much. If you really believed what you say then shave your arms too…or do bugs and road rash only go on the legs ?
You need to take up weightlifting too there are lots of mirrors in the gym to look at yourself..
Ok Tom if men are supposed to have hair then why dont women stop shaving? After all they too are supposed to have hair
I shave my nipples so I can run faster.
For road rash? Weak. I’m a mountain biker and crash pretty regularly. I’m not having problems because of the hair on my legs. Do you think a nurse will use the brush only on hairy legs? Ha! If you have gravel in your leg, it needs to be scrubbed!
The real reasons for shaving are the first couple listed in the article.
1. To feel like a pro, or at least feel like part of the “group”
2. They like the way it looks.
If you’re honest…. That’s about the only reasons they do it. I know it seems lame, but if it’s you… then OWN IT!
Most important reason: if you’re competing against someone up a climb or in a race and you don’t have shaved legs, he/she won’t take you seriously and will be more likely to attack you.
It was discovered that covering towed underwater cables with hair created an ad-hoc fairing, shedding vortices and reducing drag. It’s called the “Haired Fairing” (US patent 4756270 and others).
I have my doubts that it would actually work with legs (short hair, wide legs) in air, but you could probably at least start a fun bar brawl by citing that patent after dropping your smooth-legged buddies…
If you live or ride in cool rainforest areas ticks and leeches will drop out of trees and shrubs when they detect body heat. This will happen when you stop for a moment or when your legs brush past damp bushes where ticks await. I once stopped at a meeting point at the top of a mountain trail then noticed a lump on my thigh under two layers of clothing. Peeled the pants and bike shorts back and there was a leech buried into my leg. gave me nightmares, Yeark! Hate em! Shaving would not stop that situation although it would help with ticks. Hate them too.
But getting back to shaving. Do it or don’t. Half do it (like once for trying) and when the sharp ended hairs grow back they will poke out through the lycra shorts and that looks, well… you can imagine.
Enjoy your ride.