Wiggins effect & shaved legs said to lie behind rise in thread vein removal surgery among male cyclists

I didnt know cycling was so camp
Think I'll keep my winter tights on all year just in case anyone get the wrong idea - mind you I'll probably need them anyway the way temperatures are going

I don't shave my legs and I'm not shallow and vain to want my thread veins done.

Don't care, for non racers its only about looks and I couldn't give a hairy arse what people think of me. When I'm fit its a joy to overtake a cleanly shaven, stem slamming, pro idoliser on a 5k bike with nothing but my hairy pins.

All the way up to my ears...

If I was going away on one of these European trips where you live like a pro for a week and get a massage every night, then I might consider it.

Sod that I detest shaving my face bugger shaving my legs what do you gain as an enthusiast oh yes the wife taking the p**s

I shave my legs. I'm not sure completely why, but it partly stems from a big tour I did where the physios were much happier massaging shaved legs, it partly reminds me to keep looking after my legs (I feel more like a "proper cyclist" with shaved legs so am more likely to get off my arse and go for a ride or say no to another pint), and partly because for some reason my leg hair is the type that likes poking through lycra, and that's not a good look.

To answer the "how far up do you shave" question, I tend to stop about 2/3 up my thighs, so that even in my shortest shorts I'm not hairy; I use an electronic clipper thing to keep everything above that to about grade 1, which keeps things tidy and doesn't leave such an obvious line between shaved and clipped - i.e. avoiding the "hairy shorts" look.

Well, that's more about myself than I'm used to revealing to a bunch of complete strangers!

Think it might have been something Graeme Obree was talking about.

'Hairs on legs are more aero (due to an effect like the dimples on a golf ball)'

reference please?

I stopped shaving my legs after 25 years a couple of years ago. My wife had out first baby recently.

Coincidence? I don't think so.

I don't shave my legs.

With a nice furry coat of hairs that I have I can pick up radio signals, and its a good listen when I am bored, you know.

Shaving your legs; cycling can be the excuse if you like, but don't kid yourself there is anything to be gained. It's just a fetish. Hairs on legs are more aero (due to an effect like the dimples on a golf ball), and they are certainly natural. Pro cyclists shave because they have daily massages, weekly road rash, and sponsors to look sleek for - how many readers of this can justify it on those grounds?

And here I was just on my way out the door, in my Sugoi full length winter tights, to buy blades! Don't want to be monkey boy when I switch to capri tights tomorrow.

I started shaving right after the first ride with my club, way back in 1984.

Strewth....I don't like shaving my face...so why in hell would I want to shave my legs!!??

As I'm generally quite furry all over anyway....so without going for a full body shave I see absolutely no point in shaving my legs!!

I need to start shaving, I do feel a tad out of place on my club runs as the hairiest man there. Also, racing starts soon and I don't really fancy hair in my road rash should the worst happen...

It wasn't the club, the guys there are ace and have never said anything to anyone about how they look (shaved, kit, lids, or bikes). The issue was mainly me, looking the odd one out, it made me a little uncomfortable, so I did it, it's definitely made it easier those times I've come off (mainly with the MTB folks, I'm not very good at that :P)

I've never shaved my legs in my life. Not that my legs are any where near mildly hairy that anyone would notice.

I tried it years ago when riding with a club where it 'should be done'. I was still only a kid, ok?! About 16/17 I think.

Anyway, for the benefit of Joemmo, the first time, I did the whole of my legs. Then two days later the stubble on my thighs made my nutsack sore. (Sorry, no nicer way to put it) So then I left a bit towards the top of my thighs, but the contrast between shaved and unshaved just made it look like I had no leg hair but that my pubes had run wild and were spreading down my thighs!

Oh, and it feels like wind whips right through your trousers, even jeans.

Anyway, these days, if I was made to feel like a tool for not doing it, I *would* be finding a different club.

For a UK-based amateur (read: often requires 3/4s or tights due to weather, doesn't get regular massage, doesn't need to shave 3 seconds off a 25 mile TT), the best reason I can see for shaving is to avoid the hair poking through the tights and giving you an awful 'furry lycra' look, and the associated increased comfort of not pulling hair in unintended directions due to the wearing of lycra.

I shaved one leg, but found no gains, marginal or otherwise, so I didn't bother with the other one.

I live in Manchester and I cycle, I've never heard of anyone having this done and I've never heard of this surgery/practice.

I'm very much with Phax7 on this one.

Real men have them waxed then you truly have a reason to say "Shut up legs!"

Question for the more hirsute leg shaver - if you are a gentleman blessed with a comprehensive fur coat, how do you decide where to draw - or shave - the line?

Have to say if I was made to feel 'a dick' for not having shaved legs on a club run I'd be tempted to find another club.

This sounds suspiciously like someone "making sh1t up" in the hope tht itleads to some business ..

Move along, nothing to see here..

Yes i shave mine, though i'd been cycling for 18 years or so before i felt i'd earned the right. Nothing to do with aerodynamics, cuts, massaging or any of that as i've never raced so have never had a post ride rub down by a soigneur...
For me it's a badge that i take my cycling seriously, along with the tan lines that never fade away (even in the dead of winter).
The problem is in circuit training you do get comments as running shorts are shorter than cycling shorts and show a whiter shade of pale up top - it's been suggested that i get St Tropez'd to mask the tan line!! So i've had to tell them that the tan lines are hard earned and are my badge of honour, taking thousands of miles of cycling to achieve. They usually think i've come back from a summer holiday and are amazed to hear that the tan has come from not so sunny Northern Ireland.
A word of warning to anyone who hasn't shaved before, once you start you won't stop - because to itching after a couple of days regrowth will drive you mad and back to your razor for some relief..

If I had the money for this I would start with the veins on my face first. I don't have any vanity spare for my legs; thought this post was going to be about Varicose veins.

Definitely going to give shaving a go.......just need the daytime temperature to rise above -1.

Took about 3 months of serious cycling before I did. I was slightly fed up of looking a dick on club runs, as well as the fact I like the feel, not so much the look since I've had no sun to tan them yet this year, and my girlfriend likes it. But seriously, nothing beats the wind feel when you go fast.

It's cool.

The chicks dig it.