A while back I did a post that poked fun at some (male) friends who shave their legs.
Active.com just issued this post about shaving.
One thread of rationale about shaving caught my eye:
For serious road cyclists–the most vocal and particular participants in this investigation–legs are an instant identifier, said Jamie Smith, author of Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer (VeloPress, 2008). Smith, a shaver for 22 years, said male legs are the first thing he looks at when showing up for a group bike ride.
“A quick glance determines where you are in the sport,” he said. “I know who the serious and safer riders are from their defined tan lines and clean legs.”
This may be true in some parts, but I’ve ridden with plenty of hairy guys (including long beards) who are very skilled cyclists and at least as competent as riders with smooth legs.
I’m not against shaving, I just think Jamie Smith’s generalization is inaccurate.
