Shaving of legs
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There was a article published before the Olympics from British Cycling that stated it was better to be hairy around 'that' region for saddle sore prevention. It was specifically focused on the female anatomy and was part of their marginal gains policy. By advising their female athletes to not shave, groom ect they were able to eliminate saddle sore related issues almost entirely. This resulted in more effective training time without healing time disruptions.
I think it was published on the Cycling Tips Ella site. I trim in that particular area rather than shave and have not had any issues. I would probably recommend waxing rather than shaving as it prevents issues with ingrown hairs and other inflammatory responses. Hair is also softer growing back so less itching and irritation.
I think it was published on the Cycling Tips Ella site. I trim in that particular area rather than shave and have not had any issues. I would probably recommend waxing rather than shaving as it prevents issues with ingrown hairs and other inflammatory responses. Hair is also softer growing back so less itching and irritation.
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airpoppoff wrote:What is everyones standpoint on shaving where you get saddle sores?
Huh ?
I only shave to a little above where my shorts end. No where near any saddle sores.
That's when I shave. I think I went most of last season without even bothering to shave.
When shaving, I have to adopt a habit of just doing a very quick shave nearly every shower. That way I don't have to fuss about being perfect, and if I miss some they will be more obvious next time and I will get them then.
Shaving definitely helps with sunscreen and massage.
Also, I never really noticed how thoroughly other guys shave until I found myself in a pack behind a non-shaver that really did look like a woolly mammoth!
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This thread always makes me recall the Jeff Foxworthy "Big Deck" skit.
airpoppoff wrote:What is everyones standpoint on shaving where you get saddle sores?
I have heard the same thing another poster mentioned, about shaving and the potential for ingrown hairs increasing the risk of saddle sores or even follicular infection away from the saddle but still under the shorts. I know a guy who started riding in the 80s and still only shaves up to his bib short tan lines. The funny thing is that, when off the bike, he has a habit of wearing casual shorts with a shorter inseam than his bibs, so it appears that he is wearing some kind of hairy shearling undershorts, as that area becomes exposed.
Personally, I find it helpful to use an electric trimmer on the saddle interfacing "sensitive areas" for the reason that with too much hair I find it can have a sort of brillo steel wool pad effect on the skin, especially when riding in the rain or sweaty heat, plus it makes it more difficult to thoroughly wash the area post-ride. It's like how the skin is shaved before surgery, one of the reasons being that hair has so much surface area that it is difficult to thoroughly cleanse.
If what you are doing is working for you I wouldn't suggest you change though.
Fixie82 wrote:I trim in that particular area rather than shave and have not had any issues. I would probably recommend waxing rather than shaving as it prevents issues with ingrown hairs and other inflammatory responses. Hair is also softer growing back so less itching and irritation.
Agreed that using an electric trimmer can be the best of both worlds, but.....are you serious about waxing? Ouch! And if you have ever seen the sad state of the follicles after a wax, I can't imagine that it would be good to go sitting, sweating, and generally chafing the area on a bike.
Yep serious about waxing if you wanted it all gone and smooth skin. Shaving is worse in regards to sweating and sitting on the area due to the stubble, micro abrasions to the skin and high chance of ingrown hair. Plus no itching on the grow back - waxing that area doesn't really hurt that bad if the person waxing has any experience.
What works for you really depends on the temperatures in which you're riding, your mileage, your personal cleanliness, and your personal biome (bacterial and fungal growth on the skin, which is largely beyond your control).
As a case in point, if you're riding in very hot weather, a damp chamois will pull hairs and it becomes more beneficial to shave it all off. Also, if you shave regularly, your follicles become adjusted to shaving and don't get ingrown; if you do so irregularly or aren't careful to shave all of it every time, you can get more ingrown hairs. More than anything, it's about cleanliness. Scrubbing well will minimize a lot of problems.
And just in case there were questions, you don't need an aftershave or any stimulant there. It's used to a little of whatever chamois cream you use and that's about it, if even that. You'll find you want a little more cream mid-summer or after riding in the rain, but for a cool dry ride just wash and dry.
If you're a trackie you know the benefits of Utilikilts. Modernized kilts so you get better airing down there, and of course you have to keep to Scottish tradition when wearing a kilt. They're great for changing out after a ride and for the ride home, the awards ceremony, the long drinking sessions after the race, and so on.
As a case in point, if you're riding in very hot weather, a damp chamois will pull hairs and it becomes more beneficial to shave it all off. Also, if you shave regularly, your follicles become adjusted to shaving and don't get ingrown; if you do so irregularly or aren't careful to shave all of it every time, you can get more ingrown hairs. More than anything, it's about cleanliness. Scrubbing well will minimize a lot of problems.
And just in case there were questions, you don't need an aftershave or any stimulant there. It's used to a little of whatever chamois cream you use and that's about it, if even that. You'll find you want a little more cream mid-summer or after riding in the rain, but for a cool dry ride just wash and dry.
If you're a trackie you know the benefits of Utilikilts. Modernized kilts so you get better airing down there, and of course you have to keep to Scottish tradition when wearing a kilt. They're great for changing out after a ride and for the ride home, the awards ceremony, the long drinking sessions after the race, and so on.
11.4 wrote:What works for you really depends on the temperatures in which you're riding, your mileage, your personal cleanliness, and your personal biome (bacterial and fungal growth on the skin, which is largely beyond your control).
As a case in point, if you're riding in very hot weather, a damp chamois will pull hairs and it becomes more beneficial to shave it all off. Also, if you shave regularly, your follicles become adjusted to shaving and don't get ingrown; if you do so irregularly or aren't careful to shave all of it every time, you can get more ingrown hairs. More than anything, it's about cleanliness. Scrubbing well will minimize a lot of problems.
All good points. If you have an unfavorable microbiome and are so inclined, you could try to shift it with some ammonia-oxidizing, nitrifying bacteria, either from the below spray, or by pre-treating your chamois with some dirt from a horse paddock :
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/maga ... .html?_r=0
https://shop.motherdirt.com/product/ao- ... aobiome_hd
It might even allow you to skip the beetroot juice with all of the NO2/NO you will be producing, although all this would require eliminating modern cleansers and just doing a simple warm water sponge bath henceforth!
11.4 wrote:I wasn't going to go so far as to suggest rubbing dirt from a horse paddock into your bibs.
I'd just encourage one to pay careful attention to one's health and cleanliness. And ride hard.
The dirt was of course in jest, although it does have a kind of romantic ring to it, like something an old Belgian coach would suggest, akin to the slab of raw steak in the shorts to relieve pressure on a saddle sore.
The spray would be a more hygienic way to attempt to accomplish the same thing, and it is reputed to reduce acne, dryness/chapping, and eczema, so saddle sores aren't far off. I did bring it up as kind of a joke, but after all this talk I may have to actually give that a try, and if I do I will report back.
TheKaiser wrote:11.4 wrote:I wasn't going to go so far as to suggest rubbing dirt from a horse paddock into your bibs.
I'd just encourage one to pay careful attention to one's health and cleanliness. And ride hard.
The dirt was of course in jest, although it does have a kind of romantic ring to it, like something an old Belgian coach would suggest, akin to the slab of raw steak in the shorts to relieve pressure on a saddle sore.
The spray would be a more hygienic way to attempt to accomplish the same thing, and it is reputed to reduce acne, dryness/chapping, and eczema, so saddle sores aren't far off. I did bring it up as kind of a joke, but after all this talk I may have to actually give that a try, and if I do I will report back.
Well sir, if that was your intent, you should have suggested a soiled towel from the stone showers at Paris Roubaix after the race was finished. That one would have created a whole market in purloined towels cut into pieces and sold like herbalist remedies. You can only imagine the number of people on this forum who would actually go out after those, and the inquiries about whether a used towel from the Sky van would have the same or better qualities.
TheKaiser wrote:11.4 wrote:I wasn't going to go so far as to suggest rubbing dirt from a horse paddock into your bibs.
I'd just encourage one to pay careful attention to one's health and cleanliness. And ride hard.
The dirt was of course in jest, although it does have a kind of romantic ring to it, like something an old Belgian coach would suggest, akin to the slab of raw steak in the shorts to relieve pressure on a saddle sore.
The spray would be a more hygienic way to attempt to accomplish the same thing, and it is reputed to reduce acne, dryness/chapping, and eczema, so saddle sores aren't far off. I did bring it up as kind of a joke, but after all this talk I may have to actually give that a try, and if I do I will report back.
Well sir, if that was your intent, you should have suggested a soiled towel from the stone showers at Paris Roubaix after the race was finished. That one would have created a whole market in purloined towels cut into pieces and sold like herbalist remedies. You can only imagine the number of people on this forum who would actually go out after those, and the inquiries about whether a used towel from the Sky van would have the same or better qualities.
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worstshotever wrote:This thread is so old TP apparently had a gf when it began.
Only took me three years to see this zinger
For the record, had one at the time. Then didn't. Do again.
But my legs have remained consistently smooth the whole time
Oh and also, I own zero Rapha clothing. But their stuff like shaving cream, chamois cream and embrocation I actually have. And rate. And buy!
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Rapha embro is great
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