There are several reasons why cyclists shave their legs, here are some of the most common.
These are the top reasons for cyclists to shave their legs
Aerodynamic benefit
In an age of wind tunnel testing, skinsuits and aerodynamic rims every little helps when it comes to dialling out air resistance.
Studies have shown that slippery, freshly shaven legs are significantly faster than the natural hairy alternative.
Below is a brilliant video of an experiment on this topic conducted by Specialized in its own wind tunnel facility.
It makes massage more comfortable
When taking advantage of the muscular relief a masseuse has to offer it pays to have less hair — less hair means less oil and potentially less pain.
It's easier to treat road rash
Removing plasters and bandages from crash damaged legs is never going to be a pleasant experience, but one thing that can significantly improve this is having fewer hairs to pull out along the way.
Tradition or because everyone else does
For over a century cyclists have been shaving their legs and as a result shaving your legs is seen by many as a sign of dedication and commitment to the sport, it's a way of ensuring a rider is perceived as a "serious cyclist".
It's the fashion, the tradition. How many hairy legs do you see poking out of Lycra nowadays?
Can you offer any other reasons as to why cyclists shave their legs? Just leave your comments in the box below.
