It sounds like a strange thing to do, but yes, I do shave my legs, and arms for that matter.  I do it for a very practical reason.

Once the good weather comes around and I start to ride my bike outside, I start another regular ritual, shaving my body hair.  You might think I do this, because it reduces aerodynamic drag, and helps me go faster.  Body hair is indeed, bad for aerodynamics, and smooth skin does help you increase speed. It’s also true that I do like the fact that shaving helps me go faster, but that is not the reason I do it.

I actually hope I never get to experience the main reason why I do it.  To get the benefit I seek, would actually mean that I have probably crashed on my bike.  When cyclists crash they tend to lose a lot of skin, and get what is called ‘road rash’.  This is where shaving pays off.  It’s a lot less difficult to heal up ‘road rash’, if you don’t have body hair.  The hair doesn’t get into the wound as it heals, and bandages are a whole lot less painful to change with smooth skin.

So there you have it.  That is why I shave.  It’s insurance should I ever get ‘road rash’… hopefully I never cash in the insurance premium, even if most cyclists will tell you, it’s just a matter of time!!