In a word, it's all about tradition. Like pledges enduring fraternity initiation rituals, cyclists shave their legs because it's expected of them if they want to be part of the group, says Paul Swift, a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and professional cyclist. He believes most cyclists don't know why they do it, but going against the norm by not shaving can make individuals targets for teasing. "If you show up [for a race] with hair on your legs, you'll be the only one," says Swift. "And the others will say things like, 'I hope you don't crash.'"

Trash talking because some guy didn't shave his legs? It's hard to believe if you're not immersed in the cycling world, but Swift says it's common. Shaving isn't only about fitting in, though; it has surprising safety benefits as well. When you crash your bike, the hair on your legs can catch on the pavement, making your road rash all the more severe, according to Keli Roberts, a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and a personal trainer. "Plus, having shaved legs dramatically helps with the cleanup if you skid on the road," says Roberts. "Unfortunately, falling is part of cycling, so shaving your legs is a necessity."

Although cycling folklore has it that shaving the hair off your legs can increase your speed, Swift says that's simply not true. "I've never seen any evidence that it makes you faster," he says. "If it is, I can't believe it's measurable."

Roberts says that only elite athletes, for whom even fractions of a second can mean the difference between first and second place, may benefit from any minuscule increase in speed that results from shaving ones legs. She says the real help is with injury prevention, which makes for smart grooming for weekend warriors, not just competitive and elite athletes. So if you decide to take it all off, just remember there's no going back-unless, of course, you don't mind getting teased.

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