Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Metrosexual Triathlete - Tip Of The Week

There is little doubt that male swimmers and cyclists have been shaving their bodies since the day after swimming and cycling were invented.  Typically, swimmers will allow themselves to get as hairy as possible during a training block and then shave their bodies for competition.  Not only does a lack of hair reduce drag in the water, but there are psychological benefits as well - jumping into a 76 degree pool freshly shaved makes you feel immortal.

As a cyclist, shaving your legs for the first time is truly a rite of passage.  It's the day when you proclaim to the world that since you are already rolling around in super tight spandex cycling shorts, going "all in" by shaving is simply an unremarkable footnote to your cyclist lifestyle.   Besides,  it's much easier to treat road rash, get a massage or apply embrocation with clean legs.

But technical reasons aside, the biggest reason we shave is because it simply looks better.  We've been working the crap out of our bodies and we want to put that work on display.  We want razor sharp tan lines just above the knee.  And when we are not out training or racing, we want other people to notice that we mean business.  By the way, everyone at Metrosexual Triathlete calls bullsh*t on any of you who don't at least partially agree with this statement.

Gentlemen:  Even though there are definite performance benefits derived from shaving your legs, if you do it purely for vanity it's still OK.  Shaving your chest is also OK to if you want to put in the time and effort to maintain it.  Shaving your back.....well to be honest you should be doing this anyway regardless of your sporting status.

There are literally hundreds of videos online that demonstrate the proper technique for shaving your body for the first time.  But we know that your training schedules are mad crazy at the moment, so we went ahead and watched them all for you.  Here are our favorites:

Leg Shaving:



Chest Shaving (Warning!! This one is steamy!!):



So there it is.  If you are already shaving, then these videos might as well be of you, especially the chest shaving one.  And if you are thinking about shaving, now you know what to do.

But the question begs to be asked - who IS shaving?  We've got the answer.  Simply take part in the our poll and see for yourself!

18 comments:

Amanda@runninghood said...

This is awesome! Not so sure I'll convince my husband to shave his legs and chest but perhaps I'll suggest it next time I'm shaving his neck and random spots on his back.

XLMIC said...

So the shaved chest thing is just gross... I dated (or something) a guy who did that. I didn't realize it until he got stubbly... just gross. He was a total dick anyway, but that just sealed it. I mean if you're Michael Phelps or something... or for a big competition and you actually have a shot at winning by the thinnest of margins... okay, but for the average shmoe triathlete... just don't. Unless you're also shaving your balls and it's just your 'thing' to remove all evidence of testosterone in your system.

Sheesh.. I could go on and on and on... I already have. Leaving now. Oh... i shave... not everything though. Do girls get to do the survey... or is this guys only like that awesome soap giveaway?

Jennifer said...

Holy cow these are sooo funny. I know i might be insulting someone out there, but it is so hard to take these videos seriously I was laughing so hard, especially the last one.

LB said...

i wish i could get my husband to shave, if just for the comedic value. hes far from a serious cyclist and im not sure he even knows how to swim, but it would be quite the site just to see his chicken legs smooth. he has shaved his chest a couple time, not sure of his reasoning for that though....hmmmm???

KovasP said...

Maybe my computer is on vacation ass well, but I couldn't see the videos. I only shave my face, and that sporadically, but have thought about doing the legs. Probably wouldn't be fair to my competition though.

misszippy said...

Do we get to see who answered what?

Mr. Zippy used to shave his legs for tri's, but since he's only into basketball these days, I guess he'd look a bit out of place!

Tri4Success said...

So far I only shave my face though I'm not all that consistent. Depends when I'm going into the office or other events. I usually regret the hairy legs after a crash though.

Annette@(running)In the Right Direction said...

Now I'm going to be searching for all the shaved folks...I totally agree witht he bacck thing though!!! gross .

Austin said...

Good call. Another interesting poll would be to find out if all that man-scaping is worth the effort. Do the ladies appreciate the low drag look, or are the fellas just trimming to look good in the mirror?

TRI714 said...

It often becomes a topic at home. But I have some sexy ass pistons. I'm a cyclist (more than occassional), I also still concider myself a triathlete. Although my swim/bike run equality is more than questionable in the peak of bike racing season.
As far a chest goes, it is too infrequent, but needs to be manscaped more often than it gets. Now the wife puts up the biggest complaint (at times) and yet for fathers day she bought me this tricked out body scaper from sharper image ? WTF ? So as usual I'm forever trying to figure out the opposite sex,and what the hell the are thinking in there.

Unknown said...

Your muscles look better clean shaved too! ;) Just saying...

XLMIC said...

@TRI714…she bought you the gadget to help you out, not necessarily because she likes it. I think she's just being thoughtful. It also seems like there's an age thing with who prefers and who doesn't. Younger women seem more into shaved guys than older ones.

it's all about pace said...

I, am a Veet man... legs and occarionally chest... I'm not real hairy anyway (part Cherokee)

Ransick said...

Still haven't taken the plunge to shave my legs. Maybe I will after my first real crash. It just seems like another thing to have to fit into the morning routine a couple days a week and I'm already strapped for time.

Jason said...

wife will not let me shave my chest, but i am working on the bald look (naturally) but hopefully just finally shaving it if she will let me.

Lauren said...

Absolutely hilarious! I read portions outloud to my husband and we cracked up (he's the Grizzly Adams type : )

DRog said...

officially addicted to shaving my legs
feels great
worry that a Seinfeld moment might take over and Ill find myself completely shaven if I watch one of those videos

Chris K said...

Wow, look at XLMIC. Interesting take.

I sometimes shave my chest. But it is hard to keep up.

Dude, I gave you an award on my Blog today.

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