In a message dated 7/14/02 12:59:44 PM, TheMaaslands@comcast.net writes:
<< Gilbert wrote:
> From England I even obtained some Lutz wool Mini leg padded bike shorts
in my early days,
> had to shave pretty high :)
The idea behind shaving has nothing to do with short lines. For reduction of
the severity of road rash when you come off, you should always shave both
hips well beyond the short lines. For ease of massage, you are also
well-advised to go beyond the short line too. Your note does make me think
back to going to the beach in the 70's with my high school class. If having
the cyclist's tan (including the lines from mesh-back gloves and the spots
from perforated leather shoes) wasn't enough, having shorn legs certainly
made you stand out. And a skinsuit...
You had to have a strong character back then.
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ >>
Qui,
In my circle of cycling friends shaving was performed from ankle to ass at least three times a week and my teenage sisters never seemed to take it nearly as seriously as any pubescent bike racer.
I was referring to a well known Florida racer (who shall go unnamed but may have won a masters national championship much later in life) who shaved his legs barely to his short line with mid thigh wool shorts. At after race gathering in the mid seventies in hot and humid Florida cyclists generally changed to some sort of running short or short cutoffs. The fairly hairy cyclist with low hair line stood out in the crowd! Not pretty.
Regards,
Gilbert Anderson
The North Road Bicycle Company
your bicycle outfitter
519 W. North St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
USA
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