Cyclists shave their legs to 'look good'

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Cyclists-shave-their-legs-to-look-good/2007/08/09/1186530492884.html

The truth is out - cyclists shave their legs to look good.

It's not to help with massages and it's definitely not about speed.

An increasing number of otherwise normal Australians are shaving their legs, donning tight lycra (which leaves little to the imagination) and clogging up cafe sidewalks every weekend in order to fit into a growing subculture.

It's about following a code where looks and style are just as important as speed and performance.

The only practical reason amateur cyclists shave, Clarke admits, is because it helps when you crash.

"Your wound heals a lot quicker when there's no hair in there," he says.

What about the figure-hugging lycra then?

Is it necessary and should it be worn while drinking a cafe latte at the local cafe?

"I know it sounds strange but it's incredibly comfortable," Clarke says.

"It's grand. It's a good feeling," he says.

"The harder you've ridden the more credibility you've got and the more license you have to be sitting around (in lycra)."