Zip, zip, OUCH! Zip, zip, OUCH! That's what it used to sound like when I shaved my legs. I ride enough that it's a must but the only example of leg shaving is 'the wife' and some movies that pushed the limits of virtue when I was young, it's just not manly that way. Then I saw the movie"Overcoming" and witnessed the smooth finesse of a pro cyclist and the flawless zip-zip and done...very manly indeed. As for me I overcame the the bloody pant leg on several occasions before the realization that it's finesse and not brut strength that gets it done with out the need for toilet paper bandages..
Just how did this leg shaving become a necessity? I have no idea who or when some cyclist started shaving his legs thinking it was a health aid or was it just Paris in the 20's and 30's? I remember when pro-swimmers started to shave and yes shave time off their laps. What a weird thought for a nubile teen to hear these manly swimmers were shaving ALL their bodies just to increase lap speed. Then when those same swimmers started wearing panty hose for resistance during swim practice i steered away form the pool. Lucky for us those french cyclist didn't think of that or it would be part of our sport too.
But shaving ones legs is a wonder-kin for those who don't want to suffer ingrown and infected legs after a good road rash session. Not that I can't imagine that because I had a heck of a asphalt burn about 20 something years ago and I DON"T wont to see that day again! But yes, I did shave then and yes thanks to this small but useful hint of precautionary measure I didn't agonize over any ingrown hair but the gravel was painful to dig out.
So what else is manly about our chosen sport? That really tight Lycra we wear is very manly indeed. Even now as I walk into a store or pump gas and everyone stares I think to myself, "that's right losers, you too could be wearing this stuff and be a sexy beast like me". Notice I don't say it out loud, that would be stupid amongst the uninitiated and in some of the 'country' areas I ride it would be cause for me to be Alligator food in the squeal of a pig.
Not only do we wear lycra but it is very, how shall I say this...colorful and most of us wear a kit that is of our favorite riders. Not that every sport in the world has fans and the uniform is sold to these fans but ours are these skin tight very-colorful some times even garish types. It's very manly to wear one in public especially if you are on a solo flight far from home. Thanks Berto, for the thumbs up seal of approval.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peests, because you are buying.
No comments:
Post a Comment