"Shaving your legs is girly"

Said my wife to me.

I did try to sell her on the “it makes me faster in the pool” or “it gives me an extra 5w on the bike” or “its better when i get a massage”.

Did you guys ever face this and how did you tackle this issue?

I’m not going to lose a race because of hairy legs so I don’t shave, and never have. Mark Spitz won many gold medals with a full head of hair and no swim cap. Hair definitely makes a difference in the water but in air, not so much. Not on legs anyway. It’s just performance vanity to think it does.

“In the air, not so much”

Still a free 5-15 watts on the bike (depending on how hairy you are). Thats a pretty decent amount!

Anyway, I shave because it is cleaner and makes any road rash more tolerable. Wife doesnt like it but that’s her loss.

There is nothing that looks worse in this world than hairy legs in a cycling kit.

Don’t shave for 5 days and snuggle in bed. She will ask you to shave:-)

All the cool kids do it.

And hairy legs are not a good look in a race photo.

Said my wife to me.

I did try to sell her on the “it makes me faster in the pool” or “it gives me an extra 5w on the bike” or “its better when i get a massage”.

Did you guys ever face this and how did you tackle this issue?

Race bikes where you are bound to go down a few times a year. Deal with road rash whilst having hairy legs. This quickly becomes a concern with healing and hygiene. Also, it does make you faster on the bike and in the pool.

That should be enough.

Here’s the thing: I like the Wife more than I like sport. She has a strong opinion against my shaven legs. I respect her and her opinion. I absolutely could shave down against her wishes. This, however, is not something I’d like to put on the ‘con’ side of my participation in tri. I rely on her support as much as my training, perhaps more. Therefore, I don’t shave. She’s worth losing the extra ~3 seconds in a race.

Here’s the thing: I like the Wife more than I like sport. She has a strong opinion against my shaven legs. I respect her and her opinion. I absolutely could shave down against her wishes. This, however, is not something I’d like to put on the ‘con’ side of my participation in tri. I rely on her support as much as my training, perhaps more. Therefore, I don’t shave. She’s worth losing the extra ~3 seconds in a race.
Give it a few years :wink: (pink)

yes, i did face it.

my solution was to get some tall aero socks!

Hair definitely makes a difference in the water but in air, not so much. Not on legs anyway.
Are you new to ST???

Here’s the thing: I like the Wife more than I like sport. She has a strong opinion against my shaven legs. I respect her and her opinion. I absolutely could shave down against her wishes. This, however, is not something I’d like to put on the ‘con’ side of my participation in tri. I rely on her support as much as my training, perhaps more. Therefore, I don’t shave. She’s worth losing the extra ~3 seconds in a race.

My significant other also enjoys the fact that I have man hair where man hair is supposed to be.

I’m not going to lose a race because of hairy legs so I don’t shave, and never have.

How many races have you won with hairy legs?

Hair definitely makes a difference in the water but in air, not so much. Not on legs anyway.
Are you new to ST???

lol riiiight

yes, i did face it.

my solution was to get some tall aero socks!

Just tell them you are AWA!!!

Said my wife to me.

I did try to sell her on the “it makes me faster in the pool” or “it gives me an extra 5w on the bike” or “its better when i get a massage”.

Did you guys ever face this and how did you tackle this issue?

Just own it. Assuming you don’t have any self confidence issues, let her tease you about it, then laugh when your man stubble stabs her.

Don’t shave for 5 days and snuggle in bed. She will ask you to shave:-)

This was the key. Then she liked it, then she didn’t like hair when I didn’t shave when injured.

Legs look better when shaved when you are fit too. Word on the street.

My Ex-gf actually said “If you shave your legs I’ll stop shaving mine.” Needless to say I abstained but my fiancé doesn’t care so I do now but only around races.

Shaved legs look good- man or woman. Do it for the vanity.

Yeah myvgf is not a fan either. I often use compression tubes so they cover.most of the lower leg and thus you are only really shacing for the knee area.

I did it for a last season race as i really wanted a PR, problem is it takes over a month to grow out