Florida half ironman on Sunday - one very hairy 1st timer - should I shave legs, arms, chest? How much diference if any does it make?
Thanks,
Neil
Shave it all! Just kidding. Shaving your legs (to your speedo line) will help you ‘fit it’ and not look like a newbie.
Uhhh. . .you’d do best at this point to concentrate on the race at hand. Don’t go changing things, including your hair status, this close to a big race. Its a recipe for distraction. You never know. . .it may take you some time to get used to the new sensations of sheets, clothing, etc. . .you don’t want to be tossing and turning without sleeping this week. . .
Definitely shave. Just not now. Should have started weeks ago. As far as looking like Nick-the-new-guy. . .well. . .I’ve had my butt smoked by more than one hairy monster in the last 19 years. It isn’t going to slow you down, especially if you have a wetsuit.
…but remember to remove the wetsuit as you transition from swim to bike.
Break out the razor, and do it soon (so everything will have healed up reasonably by race day). Then, throw on one last pre-race shave - a regular part of my pre-race ritual. If nothing else, it’ll feel super cool in the water and on the bike. Even if it’s only psychological, ain’t that enough? Oh yeah…don’t be half loaded when you do it the first time - took me about 45 min. per leg, and there was alot of bleeding. Use new blades and take your time - watch out around the front and back of the knees, too. Have a great race, whether you go fuzzy or hairless!
Neil,
This is an unbeliveably bad idea. Don’t go screwing with things so close to race day. Having not done it before you could give youself major razor burn (most do on thier first attempt). You’ll be very sorry, very quick if that’s the case. Have fun. Be hairy. Do the race. Shave later.
SM
SHAVE! It’s cool, it’s fun and it’s part of the whole experience. Hell no, it’s not faster, but neither are half the other stupid things we do.
Chest and legs only for me, though.
If you do shave don’t forget to shave the balzac as this will make sitting on the bike seat for 2.5 hours more comfartable. Be sure to apply a thick coat of ben-gay to all shave areas immediately after shave. This will help close the pores. Good Luck.
I might shave when someone pays me to do triathlon, but until then why bother? It’s a lot of effort for “feeling good” and “fitting in” with all the other tri-geeks. Think of the the satisfaction that you will get evertime you pass someone who has shaved their legs - it far surpasses any aero or cool air on the skin benefit.
I keep the fur on until the week before my first tri of the year. Then I take the barber sheers to them to get off the major stuff and finish off with a razor. Shaving down just before my tri season gets me psychologically ready for my first race. Do it. You’ll feel fast.
“Chest and legs only for me, though.”
What about your back, dude? ;p
Do it, but not before your big race.
It’s worth 1-2 mph on the bike. Not because your aero but because you don’t want to be the slow guy with smooth legs. You’ll train harder to keep those hairy beasts behind. They will be after you.
And also, the chicks dig it. My wife was mixed about it until I finally did it. Now she says I can’t stop. Some day I’ll be cycling just to justify the shaving for her. I am amazed how many other women comment about it too.
David
“You’ll train harder to keep those hairy beasts behind. They will be after you.”
It’s funny that so many people mention this. I’d love to be fast enough to place in my AG someday, for one reason and one reason alone:
I want to run across the finish line and, a la Cameron Mannheim, shout, “This one’s for the hairy guys!”
You “legs and chest” guys just don’t understand how hairy we primates can get! If the Fab Five ever got their hands on me, Carson would pass out in horror, and the “manscaping” would take them hours. With a Weed Whacker.