For now, all the data show that going shaved is faster…as for now, there are major differences between leg hair and dimples on a golf ball. First, a golf ball is rotating at very high revolutions, requiring dimples across the entire surface. The front of your leg is always facing forward and not rotating. So smoother is likely better.
Also, dimples are precisely shaped and placed…leg hair is random. Random shaping is rarely good for aerodynamics.
There has been some initial research showing that having leg hair on the bag of your leg only is faster than 100% shaved….similar to the Dutch pursuit team all using kiniseo tape on the back of their legs at the Track Worlds last year. Same is true for Silca Aero socks,the pattern on the back of the socks creates a trip barrier for air to stick to as it flows around the back of your legs
I say it tongue in cheek as the idea of me shaving my legs (thank Ford I’m too old to be a serious competitor, and if I could, I would dull my wife’s razors then). Yeah, a leg isn’t a golf ball, but the idea that research has shown that rough fan blades work better, it’s all physics. I’m not convinced that the expansive balls with the multi sized dimples will actually give a golfer that much distance, but okay…
But telling people who are competitive that shaving their legs is a waste of time is a very unpopular opinion. Possible an ignorant opinion, but so many are…
But if we are being totally honest… Most people aren’t good enough to worry about shaving their legs (or chasing any marginal gains for that matter). If you like it… cool. But it’s not going to take you from mid pack to lead group. If you aren’t fighting for the over-all win, no harm in saving those blades!
Ahh, but so many bikes won’t allow fenders and/or mudguards. I had my Roubaix in NYC for 5boros, and it was raining (all that next day) so I bought probably the last pair of fenders at the bike show, and could not get the front to fit, no matter what I did. shrug I got a little wet, but the back worked fairly well. No hit for speed as they kept trying to keep the speeds rather low at the front, understandably.
Oh, another opinion: Manhole covers are slipperier than road land stripes and other markings.
That day I was amazed at the number of people swerving to avoid manhole covers and yet would ride on the lane markings. (Saw a rider take out three other riders while furiously trying to avoid ‘riding the iron’. One was admitted to hospital for surgery to repair a badly torn shoulder, according to rumors. Also heard someone was taken out by a rail crossing)
So, if it’s pouring rain, I’ll stay home rather than try to put those (that) fender back on. But I do have full shoe covers and a complete rain suit that makes me look like a huge blue shrink wrapped turd on a bike.
At that 5boros, they had no ‘butt guards’, and the front fender (out of the set), that looks somewhat like yours, would not fit at all. I thought of cutting it down in the hotel room, but wondered what the charge would be to clean up the blood if I cut something important. I was glad I brought my neoprene booties, and was so glad when I hit the finish. Oddly, it was my fastest 5Boro ride to date. Can’t quite figure that one out.
Redundancy? Also one set of good overshoes can be used on all my bikes. I’ll need to wear overshoes anyway for the cold. They don’t rattle or squeak. Or need adjusting to avoid rubbing. They don’t limit my ability to swap wheels and head off road etc.
I’m a simple man wanting a simple (quiet and fast) bike without lots of stuff bolted to it.
I get it. So then my unpopular opinion is that a good set of fenders is more effective than ANY overshoes (yes that includes Spatz). Plus you won’t piss off your riding group with water spray off the rear wheel. Fenders protect your feet, your bike, and your mates. Game, set, match.
