Why Do “Real” Cyclists Do THIS?

Many of the cyclists I ride with and admire shave their legs. I decided to try it too, but why simply shave your legs, when you can wax them?
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[@outdoorbros_]

You had me at, “I’m basically cosplaying a pro cyclist.” 😂😂😂 Gold.

[@MitchBoyer]

Haha it was a big realization me 😅😂

[@Timtimzi]

@@MitchBoyer pushed me to the edge of being a new subscriber . love the humor in this channel for such a sport we consider serious. lol

[@maksymilianmazur8922]

Ive just put it into my strava title. PCC for Life

[@fergo308AE86]

The best setup is to shave the front and sides of your legs, but leave the backs hairy. Smooth leading edges into the wind, and breakup of the attachment on the trailing side, similar to a diffuser on the roof or rear bumper on a racecar.

[@MikeMassey-fi5of]

Mohawk

[@jwarmerdam7578]

who doesn't love a good leg mullet ?

[@MitchBoyer]

Next video: which is more aero, head mullet or leg mullet?

[@jwarmerdam7578]

@@MitchBoyer make.it.happen. :p

[@lesflynn4455]

Ooh, they won't like hearing that.

[@fangxx456]

We all know the real reason we shave our legs is because everyone else does. It's just a cyclist thing. It's part of the culture.

[@MitchBoyer]

🎯

[@WCIIIReiniger]

I don't do it and for me it is an absolute nogo. I am not racing (although I plan to participate in an 300km event this year) so why should I change my body or looks? Doing something because everyone else does it shows a weak character.

[@fangxx456]

@@WCIIIReiniger thanks.

[@bondeus]

I was against it at first too. Why the hell should i do this. Then i thought, wth i could try. Now i enjoy it haha @@WCIIIReiniger

[@markk7203]

weak character. WTF????? @@WCIIIReiniger

[@lutube9710]

When I was younger and racing I shaved my legs not for arrow dynamics but to help heal potential road rash after a crash. I crashed real bad and the nurse who treated me said my badly road rashed leg likely healed weeks faster because my leg was shaved. Less potential for infection. Food for thought.

[@vibratingstring]

that and massages are the real reason for the tradition

[@CliveN-yr1gv]

Absolutely. Remove any vector for possible infection. Shaving/waxing is a no-brainer. It's bad enough getting gravel rash, but 'dirty' hairs will make infections even more likely. It's nothing to do with aesthetics or aerodynamics!

[@vibratingstring]

@@CliveN-yr1gv mostly massage. We had a masseur on my team. It has a long tradition in racing. HAiry legs are more work

[@stuartfreedman6854]

Years ago, my (ex) wife told me that if I shaved my legs, she would stop shaving hers. I called her bluff. She couldn't do it. Guys, call that bluff!

[@coreyreeder3549]

Hahah. That Strava bit was gold. With the camera angles and everything. Perfect.

[@rickbeckner9906]

Although my opinion is of limited value, I think the technical quality of your videos keep getting better and better. Nice work! (I also enjoyed the content and story telling in this one as well).

[@MitchBoyer]

Appreciate it, Rick!

[@MahmoudBelhaouane]

The dogs looking up was a great moment 😂

[@zWjwR8biM_st]

Sebastian… Vettel?…😅

[@_monti142]

hahaha i see it too

[@rocco.mbb.zoccoli]

The spray bottle tears.. the puzzled hounds… 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Bravo!

[@ausbrook]

It appears to me after seeing this video, while shaved legs helps, the marginal gain does not offset the inconvenience of continually having to re-shave and having legs feeling like a Christmas tree. I’m however not opposed to others doing it. Maybe I would only shave for a big race. Thanks Mitch for another great video.

[@MitchBoyer]

It’s a lot of upkeep for a marginal gain! That’s probably why people let it go in the off season… and in between races… 😅

[@nigelbrockton163]

I shaved my legs once, @@MitchBoyer ...but it felt like I lost the "I don't take this too seriously" higher ground...and the marginal gains would be too marginal to compensate! I also suspect that it has next to zero impact in a group ride...and while climbing a steepish hill! I have approximately 800 factors that I could improve before leg hair becomes the next most important...

[@bikingyogatennis]

Because I'm mostly bald, I buzz my head weekly, with the shortest setting, then continue south to my legs. Easy, quick and I like the way they look, ie I'm not sure I'm faster, or that the sunscreen goes on more easily and I don't get leg massages; it's pure vanity. There, I said it.

[@spinnersf]

Fun video! Can always do it the natural way and just get old. Turning 70 this year and over the past decade my legs have gone from Belgian Malinois to Bottlenose Dolphin. Not sure how it has affected my speed, but most of the young guys still keep up ok...

[@paulflory3532]

The real scientific test would be to shave only one leg and see if that leg is faster than the other!

[@nick-maccook8044]

Awesome

[@paulflory3532]

@@nick-maccook8044 Retired scientist here. That's how it's done. To be rigorous, you should let the hair grow out on the shaved leg, shave the other leg, and test it the other way round.

[@DannyTorres-gg7ii]

I do day..😀

[@donttouchthisatall]

If I ever consider shaving my legs, I know I've gone to far. This is one of the weird things i don't get about roadies - esp. non-pros. My intent is not to insult you for doing it, just something I will never wrap my head around. (This falls in line with all the roadie-optics). Love your vids. keep doing what you do!

[@MitchBoyer]

Oh I went too far loooooong ago 😂😂

[@al-du6lb]

only other roadies think roadies are cool, everyone else just views us as complete dorks. I would know because that's how I used to view roadies, and still kinda do even though I do a lot of road cycling these days.

[@GreatAnubis]

I'm with you here, mate. I will never, ever do this. We're amateurs. If you do that, you have most likely an overgrown EGO or you're a psycho :) We're THE MEN!

[@nelsonhibbert5267]

@@GreatAnubis I never bothered with it back in my road racing days (as a diabolical 4th cat) but I considered it after seeing one of my team mates end up with road rash and needing stitches. The medical team commented that it was easier to clean wounds and stitch skin without hair, which in turn reminded me of a stint in hospital where a square patch was shaved off my leg (while I was under) in order to "stick something to". If I went back to road racing I'd consider taking the hair off beforehand a bit more seriously.

[@vibratingstring]

if you aren't actually a licensed road racer, no point. You will not race cat III or higher with hairy legs though. The peer pressure will convert you haha. Also if you actually race at elite level you should have a masseuse and you will need hair removed.

[@LarryCalcGOAT]

Cycling makes explaining why my legs are shaved much easier

[@Insert_Screename_Here]

Trimmer, then a razor with really good shaving gel is the best way. Alternatively, Nair. Also, your bibs will stay in place WAY better. That's when I found out how much of a difference it makes

[@pietroravioli445]

Hilariously good and funny video! So entertaining! Personally, last year I have shaved my legs for the first time - me, an old man of 56yrs. And I can only confirm, that regardless of any scientific evidence, feeling fast is so much more important than actually being! Great video, great job, love it!

[@rideout5849]

biggest benefit of shaved legs: it just looks better :D tanned, trained legs and calves just looks better shaved. :D

[@seanp2k617]

Any women out there actually agree with this?

[@mathias8013]

Great video!

[@martingavrilovski6463]

Whaaaat?!?! My man Boo Johnson is there hahaaaa thats so random. I bumped in to the channel so randomly, this is the third video I'm watching and there it is the man himself.

[@bikeracerdude]

As a former amateur road racer, I was told we did it for prevention of infection in the eventuality of road rash from crashes.

[@ausbrook]

I have always thought that if I’m looking for marginal gains like shaving legs, then I should also stop eating yummy treats during a cafe ride. The extra weight far outweighs my watts per kilo than shaven legs. 😂

[@aboomination897]

but if you shaved your legs, you could have one additional cake per season

[@MitchBoyer]

I’ll remove all the leg hair I need too, but I draw the like at removing treats 😂

[@todgerino]

"I dont have time to shave my FACE" exactly this ❤

[@SenWerk]

Thanks for the entertaining video! I’ll ask around about shaved legs in my cycling group when we start up in the spring. It should be interesting. Thanks again.

[@davidiverson5928]

Mountain biking convinced me to shave my legs and arms, even though I ride in baggies and never race. It's all about wound cleaning/dressing.

[@apollodb]

as a pro amateur cyclist, shaved legs are a must, got mine lasered so hair just doesent grow anymore 🏆

[@6___________99_____________64]

Now that is PRO level dedication

[@thenoclue90]

On Valentines Day?! Bold strategy

[@JDPhader]

Just manually measure part of the segment that your PM worked on ;) It's pretty easy given you have GPS data points for every second to give you the same starting point in the older ride.

[@-P-Z-]

Hilarious one. Keep them coming Mitch. Next time you're in Brisbane let's go for a ride.

[@mikepeligro]

An epilator is much cheaper and just as effective. The hair grows back much thinner each time you remove them.

[@CamNicholls]

Love the vid mate, just dropping a comment for the algorithm. PS - shaved legs just looks way better with lycra. Simple

[@MitchBoyer]

Thanks Cam! 🫡

[@itsNaack]

What brand is the bike with the pink fork? That is stunning!

[@batbawls]

The full superpower is only toggled on once you shave the legs AND wear the long chain with La Madonna del Ghisallo pendant.

[@kimpedersen]

Nice video! :D What about facial hair? doesnt that have a impact?

[@MitchBoyer]

Surprisingly, not really! Both Specialized and GCN have wind tunnel videos showing it has no real impact.

[@millardjk]

I tried shaving for the better part of the summer in 2022. Aside from the extra time I spent faffing about to keep things "tidy", the main thing I noticed was how HOT my legs got. Mitch makes the point that it felt "more warm" in cold weather riding, and I believe it for the same reason it was hotter in the summer: those hairs don't so much transmit wind & temperature differences to the nerves in the skin (although they do to some degree) as much as they wick sweat up & into the wind, providing more surface area for better evaporative cooling. I don't plan on racing, and unless I have an accident that more or less requires being shaved for hygiene, I'll skip the marginal aero gain in favor of the heat management benefit.

[@AndyWJP]

Oh that's interesting. I sweat a lot and have hairy legs so I will keep the hair.

[@dan_lazaro]

Around mid 2022 I stopped shaving my legs and around 2 weeks ago a big gash on my knee while mountain biking reminded me of precisely why I always had shaved legs.

[@mikeconley98]

I noticed the Normatec boots in the background. Have you done a video on those ??

[@MitchBoyer]

I just got them and I'm still trying them out. I haven't noticed any performance gains directly from them, but they feel incredible after a long ride, and they do seem to reduce muscle soreness.

[@Kim_Miller]

When I"m cycling it looks like my legs are shaved but they aren't. I've been riding motorcycles for so long that the kevlar lining on my riding pants have epilated them for me. The kevlar grips each hair very closely and over time it pulls them out. My riding boots also have a woven goretex lining that does the same thing, even through socks, that keeps my lower legs hairless. So it seems I'd have to give up motorcycles for a long time to check whether my legs are more aero or not. 😀

[@AnomadAlaska]

I started shaving my legs in 1991 just before before my first triathlon. I won that race later on. If you need a 1 second advantage over your race course, by all means shave everything. I shaved my head for heat removal and sweat wicking with a helmet liner. I never won anything other than small local races.

[@ricardolazo9209]

You just know Val was enjoying the waxing😂😂

[@MitchBoyer]

A little too excited 😂

[@swansongcycling]

9:59 channeling your inner Andrew from Love Is Blind s3😂 also a quote from Phil Liggett sums up my position on this matter: “What could be nicer than a bunch of men with shaved legs rolling past?”…really makes you think…

[@MitchBoyer]

Deep thoughts 💭🤔

[@macklewis4882]

What if you have no hair on your legs?

[@fredfred9000]

i think the most logic reason is to scar from the healing wound or something like this , it make more sense than for cosmetic or aero

[@speciesofspaces]

Folks it's not for marginal gains. Shaving aids in scrubbing that road grime out of your road rash and applying the bandages afterward etc. But it's also an imperfect way to know that maybe you shouldn't be behind a newbie all day long. Not a science but more an art.

[@SternLX]

I think the fellas wearing the Long bike pants have the right idea. 😄

[@konrdchristensen2111]

When i was racing i shaved. The real reason no one talks about why is that it is easier when you have had a very bad crash. It is cleaner, and having hairs in a scab is even more painful. The hairs pull when you move and it is very uncomfortable. If you ever had bad road rash with hairy skin you would know what i am talking about. The bandages adhere much better with shaved skin as well.

[@NanoDex]

Curious about arms. Sure they are 50% (25) the size, but its still basically round tubes out in the air right? Which someone online said is baddddddd

[@keithburt7874]

For the important Time Trials, slick

[@nelsonhibbert5267]

I competed both in road races and TTs and never bothered with it. It just didn't seem necessary. I might consider it if I was to road race again, purely for crashing as it's easier to keep wounds clean. And the time saved is pretty insignificant if you're just another also-ran.

[@thecritdad]

Wow, didn't know you held out so long! I waited until about 2 years of cycling and my second year of racing, got my first podium and someone said, "you've earned the right to shave your legs," now I can't imagine it any other way even if the wife and kids think it's weird.

[@MitchBoyer]

Haha well I definitely haven’t earned the right yet (congrats!) Maybe I should let them grow back first… 🤔

[@thecritdad]

@@MitchBoyer oh you’ve definitely earned it! It was just something I remember. After that I finally started noticing EVERYONE had shaved legs and thought welp, here we go!

[@serendipityrecordco9380]

I just wear sun sleeves and sun legs over my Chewbacca limbs. Active wicking, UV protection, and I can always soak them in ice water prior to heading out on brutal rides at the height of summer.

[@mjock392]

Roads are very dirty where I ride. One summer a mixture of gunk and dirt from the road and my sweat got tangled up on my hairs on my legs after a 160km ride so I was genuinely concerned how much it would infect a wound if I were to crash. Shaved them before the next ride, and it just felt better. I don't feel so sticky in the summer, since the wind easily keeps the sweat off your legs when there are no hairs.

[@vicgarcia8738]

BOO JOHNSON?? THE HELL

[@lirrtrainwreck]

I go back-and-forth with it here’s the better question, at what height point do you stop shaving like how high do you go? I go as high as you can, but I’ve heard this question before. As a cyclist, shaved legs makes you look better feel better and there is that small little savings of watts

[@mrkamantong]

Two massages a week in Thailand, about $10 an hour w/ tip is how it's done. My legs are bald and that doesn't seem to help me at all. 😟

[@woutersandstra6879]

Shaving legs is crucial for me cause in the event of a crash if you have unshaven legs the hairs will kind of stick to the asphalt and pull all your skin off, with shaven legs in my experience the wounds are significantly smaller!!

[@alpercino2172]

Shaved for years and years. Ego and look only.

[@MitchBoyer]

The real reasons right there 🫡

[@davewyman]

I raced a few times. Didn’t shave my legs. I’ve shaved them over the years when I’ve made an epic ride. Like the time I set the record for most repeat rides up Fargo Street. And like most of the people who said they shaved in your vid, but weren’t shaved at the time, shaving all the time makes it less special. Just like wearing the fanciest, most expensive kit everyday makes wearing it less special.

[@petermyers4409]

Do people shave their forearms as well? And if not why not? they are out in the wind right? At least in summer they are. And you could get road rash on them in a crash too. I think shaved legs in cycling are mostly a vanity thing outside of serious racing.

[@BFin26]

i resisted for the longest time but have since switched it does make the difference i think lol

[@ketle369]

One thing none of you mentioned is that if you ride in the rain 🌧️ and dirt 💩 the dirt will not stick to your legs 🦵if you shave 🪒 them. They would be like a teflon pan.

[@jedunboxing4127]

what if you just wear long cycling pants instead of shorts

[@lesliereissner4711]

There is a wonderfully foul-mouthed Scottish coach on KZbin who points out that shaving your legs shows a commitment to the sport of cycling. It is part of the tradition. For myself, after I saw a photo of me racing with unshaved legs I vowed not to let that happen again since looking good is more important than being fast. But if I had to go through the wax treatment shown in this video for smooth cycling legs I might take up lawn bowling or something else instead.

[@seanp2k617]

Hairy legs go best with cyclocross and gravel where the real cyclists are

[@chrisC5339]

Get an electric lady's shaver then use a safety/normal razor, lots of shaving cream and rinse the razor often sliding your finger with the blade to remove longer hairs stuck in between the blades, I've been using this technique for years and works quickly and efficiently everytime....no painful waxing necessary.

[@ManOfDoodle]

Couldnˋt go hairless… I just LOVE the breeze on my hair and really miss this whole body feeling in winter 😢

[@UncleMike6653]

Shaved legs are cooler literally. Helps out a lot on those hot humid days.

[@JensDueOhlsen]

Fast or not fast ... your legs looks great man!

[@musclelessfitness2045]

pause ... :D

[@H457ur]

I honestly don’t care why other people shave their legs (or not). For me, it’s because I have sensitive skin and when my leg hairs tunnel through Lycra (or wool, or anything skin tight), I get terrible skin irritation - shaving prevents that and so I shave from the tops of my feet (including the tops of my toes), all the way to the tops of my thighs. I know there are a lot of reasons, but if you’re going to claim that it’s easier to care for road rash, then you’re going to have to shave your arms. When I used to take more chances (and fall more often), I did shave my forearms too, because the worst road rash was always on my elbows, not legs. In short, it’s personal and I think it should be the same for anyone. If you like it, do it.

[@FancyAnimal]

I think the real question is are pantyhose legs faster than smooth legs?

[@minimiert846]

Does someone know what bike the guy at 2:11 is riding? It looks dope

[@egorpushkin7701]

pretty sure that this is giant tcr

[@DoNuT_1985]

I haven't shared my legs in 8 years of cycling but I'll give it a try for my only race 2024, six hours TTing on a climbing/endurance bike. It's pointless and I don't really look for marginal gains in my everyday riding but on race day, I'll take everything I can.

[@high1458]

3:40 My man EJ!

[@CycoWarriorx]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’ve been sooooooo hesitant to do mine, but I decided I would… this video helped push me over the edge… but I’m not waxing them… that sheet looks hella painful… #ouch 😅

[@MitchBoyer]

haha yeah good call on not waxing them 😂😅

[@jimpomeroy9258]

How do you like your Ritte compared to other bikes you've owned?

[@MitchBoyer]

I think it’s the perfect bike for the riding I do: snappy short efforts up really steep streets. To be honest, I have nothing really bad to say about my previous bikes. The Giant Revolt was a great intro to drop bar bikes, and I still ride it when I visit my parents (it’s at their house), the BMC Roadmachine is a solid endurance bike and I’d probably still be riding it if I hadn’t tried the Ritte. The Ritte is just a little lighter and stiffer. I don’t notice much difference in my performance compared to the BMC on longer endurance/base rides, but it is noticeably quicker up really steep stuff (20%+)

[@bironbrunelle5186]

I thought I heard swimmers say it feels faster and so makes you swim faster.

[@vibratingstring]

In the 70s and early 80s the top US pro was Jon Boyer. He shaved. Are you related? (He also won the GABR/RAAM defeating Haldeman, Marino and other super long distance touring guys who held the record. But then Lon married road champion Sue Notorangelo so the marathon crowd officially interbred with the roadies.😂

[@MartinMunthe]

Historically the shaven legs in cycling is completely connected to cleaning wounds. Over large races like the Tour De France an infected scraped leg could be the end of the race really quickly. Keep in mind in the begining of the tour everything was gravel. There was no tarmac. Ever raced down an alp on a gravel road? You had toe be able to compress the wounds and clean them out and french hairy monkey legs did not help one bit. But sure - it's a life style thing for 99,9% of all road cyclists. Shaved legs, wool cycling wear, one gear, heavy road bike with wheels made from wood and spare tyres wrapped across your back should give you an indication that this did not start with trying to decrease drag after reading about Specialized's wind tunnel testing.

[@zodgzod]

I’m not shaving my legs or my face. Surely facial hair is as bad as hairy legs?

[@joynthis]

Pros may do it for massage reasons, but the rest of us Freds do it for road rash. When hairy legs slide across the pavement all that fur rips off skin and gets in the wounds, increasing infection and slowing healing. Plus, my gams look great in heals.

[@jayde850]

Is that Boo Johnson?!

[@AverageOlek]

resistance at 45 km/h may as well be 30 km/h plus a face wind blowing at 15 km/h

[@tonytwotoes4456]

if I ain't racing ....I ain't shaving

[@ridewithmenashville]

Instead of shaving my legs I just wear nylon sun sleeves on both my arms and legs. More aero, sun blocking 30 spf, and better sweat /heat transfer.

[@inx1252]

I'm over 50 , a keen cyclist and mountain biker and I still manage to get KOMs and PRs without shaved legs. I may one day trim them, but not shave them. So what are the gains? Also, my wife hates it and a happy wife is a happy life.

[@eastersundaecavity5413]

Rather than shaving, could one not also use some kind of legging? Though I figure hair getting into a wound if you crash is still going to be a pain to deal with.

[@madrapperdave]

Wax/shave because sunscreen goes on better, cleans up easier, looks/feels better & massages are nicer. DGAF what others do.

[@blackhandofset]

Isn't it so plasters stick better??

[@petervonl]

The waxing is GREAT entertainment. Many likes and subscribes. Please make it a recurring segment! 😬👍 Thank you!

[@lolbubs11111]

Hey the waxed legs made you put out 40 more watts, that's faster. If shaving takes too much time, get an epilator. The hair stays gone longer than with shaving.

[@el_carbonara]

it's not just a cyclist thing. Even if I wasn't id still shave them and arms too. Just feels and looks so much better.

[@lloydhlavac6807]

Waxing your legs?! You are a masochist! I was an amateur racer for over 25 years, and I generally shaved my legs twice a week with an electric razor. A LOT less painful. 😉

[@JibbaJabber]

It's obvious, the 'leg mullet' is the fastest. Ask a pro - if you can catch one 💨 Stay strong brother💪

[@mg0109]

This was excellent Mitch!! I loved all your expressions when you were being "vaxxed"....sorry! "waxed". 🤣

[@rickstokes2239]

My two reasons I stand by: 1. Try getting a real good massage on your legs after a hard week of cycling when you have hair😊. 2. In the colder months I rub an embrocation formula into my legs which warm and prime my the muscles in the cold, and also helps to not need the long pants.

[@keithburt7874]

Texas in the '70's, the only important Cyclist not shaven was our legendary State Rep Chuck, the days of leather chaomois and Noxema

[@sonkegrewe4111]

Just regarding the test setup: why would you test a potential aerodynamic advantage on a climb? Maybe you should've just rolled down the hill without pedaling and compared the time results.

[@MitchBoyer]

Very good point :)

[@jamessheard5498]

We shave legs because all the sweat is just wicked away and keeps the legs feeling fresh vs a wet sweaty mat fest with it nipping at the back of the knee. Its let our legs become water proof

[@cvn6555]

I thought that the reason for shaving was to reduce skin injury when you hit the deck.

[@benyyyo]

Sebastian Vettel is Mitch Boyer ?!?!? 😂

[@zuzanahorakova4796]

I found it weird that one of reasons roadies shave legs is because of road rashes, but on the other hand mountain bikers have just so many scars and injuries on shins and arms and don't shave hair usually.

[@barrymullen5242]

I don’t have hairy legs. The friction from wearing pants removes most of the hair from my legs.