I need everyone's help - I don't want to look like a trapped chinchilla...

You have a valid reason for shaving your legs (road rash) so that sounds reasonable. Don't bother with the rest though. Too much effort and possibility of razor burn.

If you're married or otherwise involved, though, go with the overall opinion of your significant other.

If you do shave, go over the legs with a clipper first to shorten the hair (guard set on the lowest setting). Then shave using skintimate shave gel (none better) and a fresh razor.

Good luck.

IMHO. I don't think you need to shave your legs at all. In my experience, road rash heals just as well on my hairy parts as on my hairless parts. If I were going to "shave" time off of my race I would get more aero tubular wheels, an TT helmet or put down the burrito in my hot little hands.
But... if you really want to, then shave to your hearts content!

I'm very hairy too but I don't shave. I tried it once and got razor bumps. Now I only trim the hair on my legs and chest. It's low enough to make me look and feel more like an athlete. I suggest you do what makes you feel comfortable.

once you commit go all the way my man.
if nothing else you may feel faster and that can go all long way.

just remember to get a good clipper to shorten the hair length prior to blade shaving.

if you shave I have only one piece of advice....

a fresh razor is YOUR BEST FRIEND!!!

don't be afraid to use a couple razors for the procedure....nothing worse than dragging a dull, dead, hair clogged razor across your calves as you pull and tug and try to get at the leg hair.....

not that I have any experience with that....

Just make sure to trim the hairs before you pull out the razor, you will miss more than you will get, plus you have to clean out the head way too much

Thanks for the input everyone. I've shaved my legs before, so I'm good on the technique - I got a whole box of blades for the razor and I just oiled up the beard trimmer Looks like it'll be just the legs. Maybe once I have pecs worth looking at, I'll worry about the trapped chinchilla look

-Frank

OK,  I could use a little enlightenment here.  Who's to say you're going to get road rash on your next tri?  Do you plan to wipe out on the bike?

Not being sarcastic, I'm honestly confused

Edited by CindyK 2004-09-07 7:13 PM

Well, I've already ridden the course and there are a few turns where I can see myself getting a little 'hungry' for speed. Previous experience shows that I wipe out when I race a bike. In fact I have yet to be in too many races where I haven't been part of a big boom. Sometimes I wipe out on a harsh turn, sometimes I'm part of a pack that goes down, but it seems to happen to me a disproportionate amount of times. Just trying to cover my bases I guess. Although the last bike race I was in was 14 years ago, so maybe being older and wiser (um, right) I may be good this time. While I'm certainly not 'planning' on turning my legs into road pizza with extra toppings, I get ingrown hairs stupid easy (again, previous experience) - so, on the off chance that I do wreck, I'd like to have clean legs. Good question though, thanks for the positive thought.

-Frank

Remind me not to ride too close to you! :-)

Swimmers will shave everything, more for the psychological benefit. I'm not planning on shaving anything, as I've got far more to worry about to become more aerodynamic than a few ozs. of leg hair. Trim what you can, then shave. Feel free to use far more shaving gel than you think you need.

My 2 cents...
If you think by shaving it will make a big enough difference in your times, and/or if the healing value of losing the leg hair is great enough then go for it man. If you think the benefit is going to be marginal, walk away from the tub.

Edited by jkbostic 2004-09-07 9:46 PM

here we go again.

just shave already!

the July '04 issue of "Outside" magazine (pg. 56) had a little blurb on shaving by Eric Hansen on why cyclists shave. "More than anythng, going bare is a tradition,..." I was introduced to leg shaving by a friend who was a Cat. 3 racer. Since then I do it because it feels good and I think looks better than what little hair I would normally have.

If you're going to wear a tri suit, there is no point in worrying about shaving your torso - it'll be covered! Otherwise, make sure you clean the tub when you're done....

There is a product called Ingrow Go to treat and prevent ingrown hairs. I used to have bad probs with bikini line ingrowns from the bike but this works really well. Shaving doesn't mean you won't still get them. Personally I can't imagine why a bloke would be bothered with this whole leg hair thing. I think shaving every day would be the biggest drag, why would you want to add on another half acre of leg deforestation as well? Dx

I'm with Max...shaved once...can't stop now, wife tells me "it's time"...so, it's time...every couple of days I get the look...neck to ankles too...oh well, payoff is worth it ;-)

d

i dunno how i feel about shaved armpits. guys should have hair there! but i did say hairless ape look. if your worried about it, then just do all of it...

Don't expiriment with the pits on race day.... ingrowns there suck, and can sting for DAYS.....

I am also with Max, my fiance loves when I am clean from beard to toe. Just a much cleaner look. Can't imagine going back

I'll never understand this shaving fetish. Someone explain plz as it seems like such a feminine thing to do and without purpose.

Chucky,

Just do it, you'll see.

That first night you slid in between the sheets... or into the pool.... You'll understand. Come over to the dark side!

-Chris

I swam in highschool and college so I had to perform this dreaded ritual a time or two. What I found to work the best on those dreaded red bumps (razor burn) was some kind of medicated baby powder; like goldbond. Put that on before bed and your set to go. They also make a lotion that works to if you want to go that route. Bit is all that necessary for the distance of a tri?

Edited by hollebeek 2004-09-08 3:33 PM

Shaving you legs is too much work. I do prefer to keep my legs from looking like a over grown forest, so I use a electric beard trimmer to keep my the hair short. I do this about once a month and it only takes about 15 minutes to do. This might be another option than do a full blown shave job.