A Scientific Study -- cont.

Seems like my idea was popular and well taken. I will have to continue to formulate the hypothesis so I can apply for a grant.

Cyclists shave their legs. Swimmers shave their entire bodies. For swimmers it is about aerodynamics, cutting through the water. Bubbles of air get trapped in hair, disrupting the flow. It is also probably partially psychological -- when I swam and the guys had their "shaving parties" prior to a big meet they would tell me how smooth and fast they felt. Technology has developed highly expensive suits to do the same -- suits which were recently outlawed they were so fast.

Cyclists need an aerodynamic assist as well. There are specially designed jersey's and windsuits which have been tested in wind tunnels. They have different materials for different areas of the body, some material with dimples to disrupt but speed the flow of air over certain areas, others with smoother fabric.

Cyclists don't shave their chests, even though the the pictures on the previous posts make it seem as if they might! Covered by jerseys they have no need to. They do however shave their legs. Not so much for aerodynamic reasons, more for hygenic reasons. Shaved legs make it easier for the soigneur to massage sore and tired legs, and for the ER doctors to clean out road debris and pebbles from road rash after crashes.

And perhaps there is a pyschological advantage to shaved legs as well. They sure do make those legs stronger and sexier looking which I'm sure totally intimidates the other cyclists. For me -- they add to the enjoyment of following a wheel!

Cyclists don't present attractive, healthy looking images shirtless. Between the extreme tans lines and sunken chest, noone would confuse a cyclist for a wrestler or gymnast (not that I rate chests mind you).

Cycling is all power vs. weight ratio. You have to produce more and more power the heavier you are to climb at the speeds of the other cyclists. Obviously at a point there is a diminishing return -- you simply cannot produce or maintain more wattage. If, however, you loose weight and maintain the power -- walla a world class cyclist! In the off season cyclists only do as much upper body as to maintain core, back health and to be able to pull the handlebars while climbing. A 7 time tour winner once commented after his 1st retirement that now he could build that stone wall -- he was afraid to put on unneeded muscle mass before. Saul Raison, a US cyclist who suffered a terrible head injury in a fall, recovered but was not able to return his balance to the level needed to be a professional cyclist, commented at his retirement that his fiancee was excited about the prospect of being able to rest her head against his chest -- to date it was too uncomfortable due to his skin and bones body type.

A 5'10" cyclists will hover around 140 pounds. A large sprinter may hit 165. Lance is smaller and slighter in feel than I am -- I realize that's not saying too much but you get the overall idea.

Cyclist have a choice. Those obsessed with shaving grams off of their bikes are typically called weigth weenies. They'll spend $600 on a piece of equipment for their bike to shave 100 grams off of their bike.

I'm cheap. I'll lose a pound off of my middle and be way ahead!

Now to work on that power thing.