Female cyclists hair length

geoff_ss

Looking at the picture of Obama shaking hands with the riders at the start of a women's road race reminded me of the girls racing at the velodrome at the Revolution meetings. It seemed most of them had long hair (usually in a pony tail) flying out the back.

It occurred to me that it must be quite inconvenient both aerodynamically and when showering to have such long hair. The only elite women's road racer I know (she doesn't race now) always had short hair and my wife's hair is often shorter than mine when I need a haircut (she cuts it ) and she's just had one (she won't let me near hers ).

I just wondered if any of the women who post here had any thoughts on the matter.

Geoff

Crapaud

Geoff_SS wrote:

It occurred to me that it must be quite inconvenient both aerodynamically and when showering to have such long hair. The only elite women's road racer I know (she doesn't race now) always had short hair and my wife's hair is often shorter than mine when I need a haircut (she cuts it ) and she's just had one (she won't let me near hers ).

In the 1989 Tour de France, LeMond won, by 8 seconds, over Laurent Fignon. Fignon had long hair...



...and some clever person with a calculator, and too much time on their hands, calculated that Fignon would have won by 1 sec. if he'd had cut his hair; Fignon lost because of the wind resistance / drag from his flowing locks.

Geoff_SS wrote:

It occurred to me that it must be quite inconvenient both aerodynamically and when showering to have such long hair. The only elite women's road racer I know (she doesn't race now) always had short hair and my wife's hair is often shorter than mine when I need a haircut (she cuts it ) and she's just had one (she won't let me near hers ).

I've now spent some time trying to imagine how an elite woman cyclists long hair could be inconvenient in the shower and I can't see a problem. However, I may have missed something due to a} soapy lather, or b) being distracted. :shock:

Sorry for lowering the tone of your thread, Geoff. I'll see myself out.

popette

Hi Geoff,

Interesting question . I'm growing my hair as long as possible for the Etape - it's already down past my shoulders but I want it way down my back for the big day! When I've got all my gear on, I feel that I look a bit like a bloke - I'm just under 6ft with broad shoulders and I have to wear mens cycling kit because the ladies stuff is all too short/tight so I want to have some visible sign (apart from my chest) that I am actually a lady. It's all very vain but I want a picture from the offical photographer of me riding down a mountain with my hair flying behind me. I hear that the spectators shout more for the girls so I want to make sure they realise I'm actually a girl.

Washing it is a bit of pain but on the days that I don't wash it, I can just tie it up. When I had shorter hair I had to wash it every day or it would stick up and I looked like Bradley Wiggins.

Red Rock

Crapaud wrote:

I've now spent some time trying to imagine how an elite woman cyclists long hair could be inconvenient in the shower and I can't see a problem. However, I may have missed something due to a} soapy lather, or b) being distracted. :shock:

Sorry for lowering the tone of your thread, Geoff. I'll see myself out.

Totalnewbie

Having long hair might make the back of my neck really sweaty, although could be less of a problem as I wear a buff as a hairband which should wick it away.

Mine is barely touching my shoulders at the moment, I don't think it looks nice when it gets very long as it is too fine and goes straggly. Also if it was blowing in the wind it might get some very impressive knots, it's good at that.

popette

I cut my husband's hair too - and my eldest. I only do one hair style though - think Action Man.

Total Newbie - yeh, know what you mean about the knots; they can be a problem. It occured to me that the Etape has kind of become like my wedding - growing my hair for the photos and slimming down (although that's more to do with not wanting to haul any extra lbs over a mountain than it has fitting in my dress), that same feeling of excitement and a little bit of fear as the day looms nearer, going to bed visualising what the whole event is going to be like.

Think I'd better edit that last bit out.

SunWuKong

Popette: With long hair you will be at an advantage over many men at the Etape.

Those chivalrous French men are quite happy to grab the saddle and give the ladies a helpful push up the cols IME. They then look at us blokes and vocally encourage us, whilst appreciated a shove would help too.

IanTrcp

SunWuKong wrote:

Those chivalrous French men are quite happy to grab the saddle and give the ladies a helpful push up the cols...

Care to rephrase perhaps?

popette

McBain_v1

*SMUT ALERT*

Lindagordinho

I love cycling but it's not the only thing I do. When I had long hair, tying it back was convenient for cycling, but for looking my best I would undo the ponytail and titillate for a while before going out. Now that it's chin length (the first of the three chins, that is) I still tie it back but it needs less farting-about-with before work, the pub, etc.