Lycra,Shaving & Skinny Legs

NWLondoner

Hmm I think I may go the whole hog and shave my legs this year.

Two reasons firstly if i am unlucky enough to have a fall it will be easier to clean etc plus i feel the whole lycra and hairy legs thing look horrible.

However I have pale skinny legs and am just worried about looking even worse once shaven :oops:

Damn this cycling lark

will3

Well you could go tho whole gurly thing and use fake tan..............

FCE2007

NWLondoner wrote:

Hmm I think I may go the whole hog and shave my legs this year.
... if i am unlucky enough to have a fall it will be easier to clean etc ...

Frank the tank

Get some miles in your legs and they shouldn't be too skinny.

Alternativly, get some pie and chips down ya on a regular basis with copious amounts of ale, that should build ya up a bit.

on the road

As for the pale skinny legs, come the summer and you'll have tan lines

mrushton

SomeoneI know did the Milan-San Remo sportive about 4 years ago and wore fake tan as he refused to turn up at the start looking 'white'.

Wogan

Where does it end? WHERE DOES IT END?

Seriously, where do you stop? Shorn plums?

a_n_t

NWLondoner wrote:

However I have pale skinny legs

cant be anyway worse than mine!! and anyway, better that than fat

Ruari

Where does it stop indeed!

I started out shaving to just below the 'waterline', then ended up shaving the entire leg (GF didn't like the furry cheeks), now I shave EVERYTHING!

And yes, fake tan can be a boon in early spring! Just don't apply it within 12 hours of a ride as you may find the leg grippers rub off a nice white line lower thigh...

will3

Have you started using mascara yet? I hear that's the latest thing 8)

Ruari

will3 wrote:

Have you started using mascara yet? I hear that's the latest thing 8)

Ha ha, sometimes... I've yet to find nail polish in 'Celeste' to match my bar tape...

Ruari

NWLondoner, to answer your original post (got a bit sidetracked along the way thinking of the latest offerings from Rimmel), once you've shaved your legs you won't go back - provided you do it right.

Initially, you'll think it makes your skinny legs look worse, but soon you'll think 'actually, it makes them look better!'.
For hassle free shaving, first use some hair clipppers to de-fluff, it'll make it so much easier and prevent painful and bloody hacking later. Once de-fluffed, have a shower or bath and use one of those girly exfoliating scrubber puffs, it sets the skin up nicely.
Then, in the bath so there's plenty of water, use a shave gel, foam doesn't moisturise or lift the hairs as efficiently. Then, for at least the first three times you shave, SHAVE WITH THE GRAIN/GROWTH! A first time shave against the grain/growth will result in nasty ingrowns!
Once you're done (oh, and do one leg at a time), dry off and use a good non-scented moisturiser all over your legs. Something like Cocoa Butter.
Inbetween shaves (re-shave every three days or so), use the exfoliating puff to prevent ingrown hairs, and for heavens sake use a NEW razor at least every second shave! Old ones blades dull quickly and are a haven for bacteria.

Simple. You'll love the look, and you'll know why girls pay attention to 'thread count' when you get under the covers...!

STEFANOS4784

:shock: Fair enough i suppose but still :shock:

Feltup

I get bored shaving my face, can't imagine I would ever have the patience to shave my legs.

BigJimmyB

Each to his/her own, but too much faffing IMHO.

I can't be ar$ed to shave more than 2 or 3 times a week - legs have no chance.

SBezza

I started shaving just the thigh above the tan line, as with light coloured hairs poking through black lycra, it just didn't look right. I now shave the complete leg, generally once a week before a race. Much prefer them shaved.

FSR_XC

will3 wrote:

Have you started using mascara yet? I hear that's the latest thing 8)

Shouldn't that be 'manscara' to go with the 'guyliner'?

will3

Oh and another thing - do you find suspenders chafe?

FSR_XC

will3 wrote:

Oh and another thing - do you find suspenders chafe?

Depends if you wear then under or over your shorts . . :oops: . . so I've heard

pugwashcp

Just don't do what I did and let your other half attack them with a waxing kit. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Furbes

pugwashcp wrote:

Just don't do what I did and let your other half attack them with a waxing kit. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Jaysis :shock: I'll bet that stung a little

Ruari

will3 wrote:

Oh and another thing - do you find suspenders chafe?

Only when I haven't shaved all over!

Seriously, a lot of people get put off shaving because they have a bad experience, i.e. ingrown hairs, rash etc. but if you do things properly it's all gravy baby. Guys have coarser hair than chicks, tougher skin (less collagen) and far less patience.

Take the time to do it properly next time you shave and you'll notice the difference...Silky smooth!

on the road

If you get ingrown hairs, just dig them out with a pin or a sowing needle :twisted:

whyamihere

I take a lot more time on my legs than my face. Legs get shaven carefully at least every 3 days, moisturised, generally looked after.

My face might get the fuzz hacked off once a week, taking about a minute. My face doesn't contribute to my pedalling.

NWLondoner

I was going to give it ago tonight but got out of work later than planned

I have an electric remmington body shaver so will give it ago before the weekend (fingers crossed)

Ruari

Keep my tips in mind and you won't regret it... It's definitely the way forward!

Bear in mind your FCN will now drop and you'll have to cycle quicker! 8)

RedAende

I shave with electric body trimmer to shorten the hair, then apply Veet hair removal cream.
No problems with rash, ingrown hairs etc and only need to do once a month, not twice a week. And the wife doesnt complain about stubbly legs rubbing against her.

Fake tan - was guying to try it but fortunately had 10 days in Lanzarote last month which did the trick.

Celeste nail varnish - sounds like a great idea.

Leodhasach

My God you're a bunch of nonces!!

Shaving your legs only makes a difference if you're a swimmer.

I've had far more scrapes on the MTB and it never occurred to me to shave. Likewise with climbing, I'm forever scraping my legs on the rock (I know, poor technique) and have never felt inclined to shave them.

It's vanity pure and simple.

Ye big bunch of bloody jessies!

NWLondoner

Leodhasach wrote:

My God you're a bunch of nonces!!

Shaving your legs only makes a difference if you're a swimmer.

I've had far more scrapes on the MTB and it never occurred to me to shave. Likewise with climbing, I'm forever scraping my legs on the rock (I know, poor technique) and have never felt inclined to shave them.

It's vanity pure and simple.

Ye big bunch of bloody jessies!

That coming from men that wear skirts :twisted:

GO back and look for your loch ness monster will you

Airwave

Leodhasach must have burnt his Hagis or broken his/her bagpipes.Or is the cave roof leaking perhaps? [/quote]

Ruari

Leodhasach wrote:

My God you're a bunch of nonces!!

Shaving your legs only makes a difference if you're a swimmer.

I've had far more scrapes on the MTB and it never occurred to me to shave. Likewise with climbing, I'm forever scraping my legs on the rock (I know, poor technique) and have never felt inclined to shave them.

It's vanity pure and simple.

Ye big bunch of bloody jessies!

Well, there you go... As an MTB rider you don't understand the importance of looking good!
There might be some vanity in it, I'll be the first to admit it, but why have legs all looking like scotchbrite when the rest of your bike and kit is all smooth and shiny?
MTB guys are all about the mud and baggy clothes, so hairy legs go with that image.

Sure, there is no aero advantage, but roadie scrapes on tarmac at 20+ mph are a bit different to offroad scrapes. My take on it, as A confirmed smoothy leg shaver, is if I like it, why not? If you like wearing a Batman suit, why not?

It doesn't mean we're nonces or big jessies, we have found something that we like and feel it brings us closer to cycling and feels more 'professional'. And if our GFs like it and we get more leg massages out of it (she hated massaging my hairy legs) then all the better!

Enjoy the climbing.