Cycling and Leg Shaving

Okay, the boys at the bar have a question. Skipping the colorful language and name calling, the question is basically, "Why do bicyclists shave their legs?" Well, simple, my simple friends. Five reasons, as follows:

1. Easier massages. High level cyclists get massages after every difficult effort. In a race like the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong will get a massage after every day, helping him recuperate and prepare him for the next gruelling stage. Hairy legs mean hair pulling during massages - hard to relax when your literally getting your hair pulled out.
2. Road rash. It's not uncommon for a cyclist to hit the deck, leaving with a nice bit of road rash. Having hair increases friction when sliding across asphalt, and your road rash gets bigger, with flesh being torn from your body by leg hair (nice, huh?). Cleaning road rash with hairs all dug in is a real bitch. Finally, healing road rash with hairs getting embedded in scabs - ouch!
3. Winged insects, particularly those with stingers. Wings stick to the hair and the insect flaps around mightedly trying to escape. Panicking, it then stings. It can be a real distraction when riding 25 mph, six inches away from another rider and in a pack of another 100 or so.
4. Community. Particularly if you're a man. Not too many men with shaved legs. Welcome to the club - small and ultra-selective, if not prestigious.
5. Vanity. Don't kid yourself. The biggest single reason, particularly for "weekend warrior" cyclists (read: all non-professionals), shaving is for appearance and appearance only. Cycling typically results in tanned, muscular, well-defined legs. Mine look best when they're shaved.

So, there you have it. Just be careful for those tricky places on the knee and ankle.