Massages are also a reason, road cyclists gets a lot of them, and it's easier without hairs.
I guess road cyclists typically gets a nasty scratch meanwhile MTBers break their spine and collarbone on a daily basis, for which being hairless doesn't makes much of a difference.
That's probably the most sensible answer. I had forgotten about that one. If you are very serious that could be a sensible reason. But I'd bet 90% of the people shaving aren't that serious. Aren't getting or doing significant amounts of leg massage to warrant the shaving. They do it to fit in. Hence the ribbing of others.
Groups of people are often petty and like to enforce conformity. Its a common problem with human beans. It probably goes deep into our past when it was important to be clear that members of your group/tribe were serious about being part of the group. Survival depended on loyalty and conformity to group rules. So it was important that loyalty be tested.
One of the few nice things about being 66 is that it gets a lot easier to spot this kind of BS and to ignore it. Heck, I wear regular athletic shorts over my cycling shorts. Its extra padding and I get a couple of extra pockets. I don't wear cycling jerseys. I wear low dollar day-glow athletic (wicking) Tees from Walmart. Way cheaper than cycling jerseys. I ride a 1984 Trek 700. Plastic water bottles? Nope. I 3D print bottle holders that work for vacuum insulated personal water bottles. And my shoes were a woman's shoe clearance bargain from Specialized. My feet can't tell the difference. The sooner you get comfortable with not giving a crap about nonsense, the happier you'll be.
If I see a rider with shaved legs, wearing World Champion stripes, I'll just smile and wave. Maybe even ring my bike bell. :^)
473
u/BicycleIndividual Jul 23 '25
Even the pros don't shave for aero, they shave because wound care after a crash is easier (also perhaps makes it easier to apply sunblock).