Which I took as more of a comment on her personal grooming habits than my own.

My Mrs thinks me weird that I have smooth guns but has asked me not to go back to full hairy since she doesn’t like it! Go figure. Personally I think it has bought us closer together. We have another thing to discuss and we have on occasion sat together and removed the fur with our his and hers epilators.

Don’t listen to those guys. I totally support shaving routines between loving partners.

Head above parapet time…

Isn’t all this sticking too the rules a bit like being in a tribute band? I.e. pretending to be something you’re not?

Discuss…

I’ll fire a salvo:

That pitfall is why we have Rule #16 and Rule #17.

I don’t pretend to be a Pro, because I’m not.  I don’t pretend to Look Fantastic, because I do.

As I look down and see my guns glistening, showing off all the V that I have been laying down, hairy arms seemed quite ridiculous looking.

Two weeks ago, I had a brief conversation with an acquaintance about my shaved legs.  He thought it would be too time consuming.  I told him after the forest is chopped down, maintenance only adds a few minutes to my shower time for all my limbs.

My advice is try shaving all your limbs, you just might like it!

Even though I do agree with what others say about it.

I just can’t get myself to do it.

Plus I am primarily in the woods most of the time so it does not much matter there.

@therealpeel

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

The VMW does not like it on me. Bummer. Plus, when I am too fat to climb and peaking in more than two years I feel like a poseur with shaved legs.

Look at it the other way around; once you shave you have to get fit or you will look like a poser. Let your legs lead the way. No advice on the wife. They may be more upset at seeing us shave than being shorn. Who knows.

Additionally, shorn legs look fitter than unshorn! The definition improvement you get is impressive even on the ahem, heaviest of the bunch.

Isn’t all this sticking too the rules a bit like being in a tribute band? I.e. pretending to be something you’re not?

Discuss…

My Mrs thinks me weird that I have smooth guns but has asked me not to go back to full hairy since she doesn’t like it! Go figure. Personally I think it has bought us closer together. We have another thing to discuss and we have on occasion sat together and removed the fur with our his and hers epilators.

A tad too much information! (emoticon here)

My Mrs thinks me weird that I have smooth guns but has asked me not to go back to full hairy since she doesn’t like it! Go figure. Personally I think it has bought us closer together. We have another thing to discuss and we have on occasion sat together and removed the fur with our his and hers epilators.

There’s always someone who just goes that step too far!

@Gianni

@therealpeel

The VMW does not like it on me. Bummer. Plus, when I am too fat to climb and peaking in more than two years I feel like a poseur with shaved legs.

Look at it the other way around; once you shave you have to get fit or you will look like a poser. Let your legs lead the way. No advice on the wife. They may be more upset at seeing us shave than being shorn. Who knows.

This! I faced the same dilemma when I started riding again a few years ago. I was always smooth back in the day, but by 50 I somehow didn’t look 25 anymore (and I live in the howling wilderness now) so I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to the trouble. I’m glad I did start shaving again, because it was like a bet with myself (drop some pounds or else) and because it made me feel like a Cyclist again. It really is true, whatever level of fitness you have, looking more Fantastic motivates you to ride faster which makes you fitter and more Fantastic looking, and so on.

Wives, if they don’t dig it from the outset, get used to it in time. I know this; I’ve demonstrated it twice.

This is why I shave the guns through the winter. Even if I’m not on the bike I can at least look fantastic, and this motivates me to maintain my Flemish tan lines, after which I may smite mine enemies who haven’t gotten off their duffs all winter.

@Mike_P

@Mike_P

@VeloJello

@Teocalli

@anthony

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

Plenty of footballers are looking pretty hairless as well these days, Ronaldo, and Sanchez come to mind, Nobody has given me shit for it in a long time.

I think with the footballers it’s more likely a sign of their immaturity?

That. Plus a million. The biggest fucking preening bunch of wankers I have ever met. Self righteous pricks.

Nurse, time for my shot!

and..breath !!! Aren’t the Thought Police likely to arrest you for alleged blasphemy like that, in your Toon Army part of the World?

Wow guy’s, Just trying to say lots of other athletes seem to be shaving there legs too, seems to be getting more main stream. Fuck it I love Football, always will. I love cycling, always will.

Screw those guys, trolls exist errrwhere

@Mike_P

@VeloJello

@Teocalli

@anthony

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

Plenty of footballers are looking pretty hairless as well these days, Ronaldo, and Sanchez come to mind, Nobody has given me shit for it in a long time.

I think with the footballers it’s more likely a sign of their immaturity?

That. Plus a million. The biggest fucking preening bunch of wankers I have ever met. Self righteous pricks.

Nurse, time for my shot!

and..breath !!! Aren’t the Thought Police likely to arrest you for alleged blasphemy like that, in your Toon Army part of the World?

Wow guy’s, Just trying to say lots of other athletes seem to be shaving there legs too, seems to be getting more main stream. Fuck it I love Football, always will. I love cycling, always will.

@therealpeel

 

The VMW does not like it on me. Bummer. Plus, when I am too fat to climb and peaking in more than two years I feel like a poseur with shaved legs.

Look at it the other way around; once you shave you have to get fit or you will look like a poser. Let your legs lead the way. No advice on the wife. They may be more upset at seeing us shave than being shorn. Who knows.

This! I faced the same dilemma when I started riding again a few years ago. I was always smooth back in the day, but by 50 I somehow didn’t look 25 anymore (and I live in the howling wilderness now) so I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to the trouble. I’m glad I did start shaving again, because it was like a bet with myself (drop some pounds or else) and because it made me feel like a Cyclist again. It really is true, whatever level of fitness you have, looking more Fantastic motivates you to ride faster which makes you fitter and more Fantastic looking, and so on.

Wives, if they don’t dig it from the outset, get used to it in time. I know this; I’ve demonstrated it twice.

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

The VMW does not like it on me. Bummer. Plus, when I am too fat to climb and peaking in more than two years I feel like a poseur with shaved legs.

Look at it the other way around; once you shave you have to get fit or you will look like a poser. Let your legs lead the way. No advice on the wife. They may be more upset at seeing us shave than being shorn. Who knows.

So this is interesting and, obviously, true.

Drag is induced when a fluid separates from a surface. In face, F1 cars often use vortex generators at the trailing edge of a surface to induce swirl and reduce drag. It’s shown up in production cars occasionally as well – like this Mitsu Evo.

Given that, it seems the lowest drag solution might be to shave the front of the legs and leave the posterior 1/4 – 1/3 fully forested.

yeah, that should work and look extremely weird at the same time. Let’s hope that does not catch on. I’m hoping my skin is dimpled enough to do the same thing.

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

The VMW does not like it on me. Bummer. Plus, when I am too fat to climb and peaking in more than two years I feel like a poseur with shaved legs.

The VMH gets asked all the time if it creeps her out. She has the common decency to reply that it’s far from the creepiest thing I do. It’s also funny to make people uncomfortable by loudly being concerned that I missed a spot.

Very timely topic, Gianni. I just arrived on the East Coast of three weeks of rusticating. No bike, and I was contemplating allowing some growth to form on the lower limbs. Thanks to your article I will not be engaging in such blasphemy: even if I am temporarily off the bike, I am still a Cyclist.

Welcome! Enjoy your time over here. I’m heading to northern Ontario in early August for a week at a pal’s cabin, located in the middle of no where. I’ll use the lake to stay on top of Rule 33.

Very timely topic, Gianni. I just arrived on the East Coast of three weeks of rusticating. No bike, and I was contemplating allowing some growth to form on the lower limbs. Thanks to your article I will not be engaging in such blasphemy: even if I am temporarily off the bike, I am still a Cyclist.

Here here.  I’ve always found that when off the bike for injury, illness or family reasons, keeping the guns shaved really helps me keep the faith.

Drag is induced when a fluid separates from a surface. In face, F1 cars often use vortex generators at the trailing edge of a surface to induce swirl and reduce drag. It’s shown up in production cars occasionally as well – like this Mitsu Evo.

Given that, it seems the lowest drag solution might be to shave the front of the legs and leave the posterior 1/4 – 1/3 fully forested.

@piwakawaka

@DCR

@piwakawaka

@DCR

What about shaved arms?

skin suits have long sleeves.

Very true. But in the dead of the summer when temperatures reach into the triple digits I usually prefer short sleeves to long. As it is I don’t shave the arms.

Anyone else here chime in on arm shaving?

The other video those guy’s did for beards showed no real difference, I’m guessing it would be similar for the arms, our guns on the other hand are moving both vertically and laterally through the air, this double gain is enough to make a real difference.

I love spying another proud cyclist with their shaved guns on display in non cycling circumstance, a brother (sister) from another mother!

Actually, arm hair does test slower than shaved arms (that’s also according to the Specialized tunnel, they just didn’t do a film on that). I’m sparsely-haired in my arms anyhow, but for important races, that goes too. My skinsuit only goes to the elbow.

I worked with a guy who shaved his arms and the backs of his hands.  He wasn’t a sportsman at all, just shaved.  Even in my universe, that’s just weird.

@Teocalli

@anthony

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

Plenty of footballers are looking pretty hairless as well these days, Ronaldo, and Sanchez come to mind, Nobody has given me shit for it in a long time.

I think with the footballers it’s more likely a sign of their immaturity?

That. Plus a million. The biggest fucking preening bunch of wankers I have ever met. Self righteous pricks.

Nurse, time for my shot!

and..breath !!!  Aren’t the Thought Police likely to arrest you for alleged blasphemy like that, in your Toon Army part of the World?

@DCR

@piwakawaka

@DCR

What about shaved arms?

skin suits have long sleeves.

Very true. But in the dead of the summer when temperatures reach into the triple digits I usually prefer short sleeves to long. As it is I don’t shave the arms.

Anyone else here chime in on arm shaving?

The other video those guy’s did for beards showed no real difference, I’m guessing it would be similar for the arms, our guns on the other hand are moving both vertically and laterally through the air, this double gain is enough to make a real difference.

I love spying another proud cyclist with their shaved guns on display in non cycling circumstance, a brother (sister) from another mother!

Actually, arm hair does test slower than shaved arms (that’s also according to the Specialized tunnel, they just didn’t do a film on that). I’m sparsely-haired in my arms anyhow, but for important races, that goes too. My skinsuit only goes to the elbow.

@anthony

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

Plenty of footballers are looking pretty hairless as well these days, Ronaldo, and Sanchez come to mind, Nobody has given me shit for it in a long time.

I think with the footballers it’s more likely a sign of their immaturity?

That. Plus a million. The biggest fucking preening bunch of wankers I have ever met. Self righteous pricks.

Nurse, time for my shot!

@Beers

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

Plenty of footballers are looking pretty hairless as well these days, Ronaldo, and Sanchez come to mind, Nobody has given me shit for it in a long time.

I think with the footballers it’s more likely a sign of their immaturity?

@piwakawaka

@DCR

What about shaved arms?

skin suits have long sleeves.

Very true. But in the dead of the summer when temperatures reach into the triple digits I usually prefer short sleeves to long. As it is I don’t shave the arms.

Anyone else here chime in on arm shaving?

The other video those guy’s did for beards showed no real difference, I’m guessing it would be similar for the arms, our guns on the other hand are moving both vertically and laterally through the air, this double gain is enough to make a real difference.

I love spying another proud cyclist with their shaved guns on display in non cycling circumstance, a brother (sister) from another mother!

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

The VMW does not like it on me. Bummer. Plus, when I am too fat to climb and peaking in more than two years I feel like a poseur with shaved legs.

@piwakawaka

@DCR

What about shaved arms?

skin suits have long sleeves.

Very true. But in the dead of the summer when temperatures reach into the triple digits I usually prefer short sleeves to long. As it is I don’t shave the arms.

Anyone else here chime in on arm shaving?

When he asked why, I simply pointed him to this clip of the USS Missouri broadside letting rip with “ripple fire” and asked him.  “Do you see any fur on those guns?”

He is now reflecting on his life choices.

http://youtu.be/vj-15O-BTDw

@DCR

What about shaved arms?

skin suits have long sleeves.

Very true. But in the dead of the summer when temperatures reach into the triple digits I usually prefer short sleeves to long. As it is I don’t shave the arms.

Anyone else here chime in on arm shaving?

Excellent! Great news, to be sure.

I began shaving my guns maybe 18 months ago and didn’t even question continuing during the winter. Sure, I was covered head to toe for six degree riding and no one could see; but I knew it. I couldn’t bear the thought of looking down and seeing hairy pins… No, these babies will remain clean 365/24.

Besides, leg warmers feel better against skin.

Good man.  You’ll get to enjoy the pleasure of applying a warming winter embrocation without looking like a matted furball the cat just threw up.

From what I understand those bastions of machismo the rugby players are also fond of shorn pistons. No one asks them though, nor questions their masculinity. Probably because they are twice our size. As for me, I just turn turn to them and say “Why do I shave my legs? Why do you do your hair like that, why did you pick that shirt to wear? Because you want to? Well, there’s your answer then.” All of the VMH‘s girlfriends and most importantly the VMH like it, and that’s as good a reason as any for me!

Plenty of footballers are looking pretty hairless as well these days, Ronaldo, and Sanchez come to mind, Nobody has given me shit for it in a long time.

What about shaved arms?

skin suits have long sleeves.

I began shaving my guns maybe 18 months ago and didn’t even question continuing during the winter. Sure, I was covered head to toe for six degree riding and no one could see; but I knew it. I couldn’t bear the thought of looking down and seeing hairy pins… No, these babies will remain clean 365/24.

Besides, leg warmers feel better against skin.

Oh, I’ll take the increase in time as well. That’s a nice bonus to.

I was actually thinking about this today when I rode. Actually, I was thinking about how I no longer think about it. Rule 33 has been internalized. Just feels right.

Shaved guns = 90% science + 10 vanity. My morning commute ride doesn’t begin until I’ve checked the guns in the mirror.