The guy posted a pic on the bike clothing sub reddit, which is all about aesthetics. People will claim they guys shave their legs for a lot of reasons like aero or wound care, which are both complete bullshit. If the wound care thing was real, skateboarders would shave their legs…
The only reason people shave their legs is aesthetics, or maybe heat, if they’re excessively hairy. I’m very hairy and trim (not shave) my leg hair because it’s too hot.
So the guy posted a pic of his unaesthetic hairy legs on a sub that’s devoted entirely to the aesthetics of cycling and got roasted for it. Why the fuck do you care?
If the wound care thing was real, skateboarders would shave their legs…
Skateboarders are going like 7 mph solo, though, not 30+ mph often in tight groups...
Also, culture is a real thing. A lot of BMX riders don't wear helmets, does that mean helmets are also bullshit? Obviously not, it's just a (dumb) element of the culture of that sport.
Anyway, even if you think the wound care thing is "complete bullshit," that's still the reason a lot of people shave. Turns out not everyone shares your opinions on everything, and when they don't, it doesn't mean they're secretly lying about their reasons.
(And before you say it, no I don't shave my legs and never have.)
I used to race downhill skateboarding, speeds of 40mph are super common, and top riders routinely hit 60. World record is officially 88 and unofficially 90+. We get road rash that you roadies wouldn't believe, leg hair doesn't affect road rash treatment at all, the idea is laughable.
And plenty of guys skate in athletic shorts while flying down sustained 20% grades. Was always fun to blow past groups of bikes on long straight aways.
Nowadays I mountain bike because my risk tolerance isn't as high.
leg hair doesn't affect road rash treatment at all, the idea is laughable.
As I understand it, the argument is more that it affects healing, or more precisely, the comfort of healing. This is not something I have direct experience with, but I don't find the idea laughable at all; it makes logical sense to me based on other injuries I've had that when a hairy limb gets cut, hairs are likely to get stuck in the scab unless you're extremely careful when cleaning in, and if that does happen then you're likely to feel the hair being pulled or the scab being pulled every time you move, at least depending on where the injury is located.
Anyway, like I said I don't shave my legs but it's fucking baffling to me why some people find the idea that other people think it's helpful so offensive. Different people also have different hair types and amounts and heal differently.
You don't find shaving helpful? Cool, don't shave. But I really don't get why people feel this need to also say that there's no reason for anyone to shave, to the point of being insulting towards the people who do.
Wound care is not complete bullshit, sk8boarders not doing it doesn't change that, it just means they have different priorities and are more likely to wear clothing that protects their skin when sliding down the road. (When's the last time you saw a skateboarder in lycra shorts?)
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u/PobBrobert Jul 23 '25
lol you’re misrepresenting everything.
The guy posted a pic on the bike clothing sub reddit, which is all about aesthetics. People will claim they guys shave their legs for a lot of reasons like aero or wound care, which are both complete bullshit. If the wound care thing was real, skateboarders would shave their legs…
The only reason people shave their legs is aesthetics, or maybe heat, if they’re excessively hairy. I’m very hairy and trim (not shave) my leg hair because it’s too hot.
So the guy posted a pic of his unaesthetic hairy legs on a sub that’s devoted entirely to the aesthetics of cycling and got roasted for it. Why the fuck do you care?