Let’s be honest, if you’re new to triathlon and someone mentions shaving their legs, it might sound like pure vanity. But once you dig into the sport, you’ll realise it’s as common as gels and nice socks. And no, it’s not just about looking fast. It’s about being fast!
The big one: aerodynamics. In a 2014 test run by Specialized’s Win Tunnel, shaving legs saved riders an average of 70 seconds over 40 km. That’s not marketing fluff, that’s wind tunnel data. If you’ve already dropped money on aero bars, a skin suit, or a fast wheelset, leaving your legs hairy is like racing with the brakes stuck half on. It’s low effort, and about as cheap as it goes for gains!
While the gains in the swim might not be quite as measurable as on the bike, shaved legs do help with wetsuit removal. Ever wrestled with neoprene clinging to leg hair in T1? It’s not fun and it’s not fast. Smooth skin means a slick wetsuit exit and quicker transitions.
Crashing sucks. But what’s worse? Trying to clean grit and gravel out of a hairy leg. Shaved legs make it easier to treat wounds, clean up post-spill, and avoid the ripping-plasters-off-a-rug experience. If you’ve ever had road rash on a summer ride, you’ll know how painful hair makes the healing process.
Whether you’re into sports massage, foam rolling or physio, hairless legs just make it all smoother, literally. Massage oils don’t get stuck, there’s no hair tugging, and therapists can apply consistent pressure without working against friction. It’s a small detail, but it adds up over a season.
There’s something about freshly shaved legs especially with fresh sheets that just feels so good!
So will you shave your legs?