CYCLING LIFE [314–443]
345. Adjust your bike and riding position as your
351. Start at your ankles and work upwards in long, even
pregnancy progresses. A more upright position leaves more space for your growing bump and also removes pressure from the front of your pelvis, which some women find uncomfortable as pregnancy progresses, when the pelvic joints start to move and ligaments relax.
strokes. Bend your knee to even out the contours and pull the skin tight, so you can work round it more easily, before switching to your thigh. Rinse and moisturise for that baby soft, just-shaved feel. 352. Where do you stop? At least a few centimetres above
346. I know a woman who cycled up until the day before
she gave birth; I even know a woman who cycled to get her membrane sweep done when she had gone past term. I also know women who stopped cycling outside as soon as they got a positive pregnancy test. Everyone’s experience of pregnancy is different. Do what feels right for you and your baby. Your bike will be there waiting for you when you are ready.
SHAVING [347–356] 347. Do you need to shave your legs to ride a bike? No, of
course you don’t, but you might like to. You’ll hear loads of reasons for leg shaving: massage, reducing infections after a crash, aerodynamics. All of these have some truth in them, but you either like the look and feel of it or you don’t. 348. Interesting fact: male cyclists started shaving their
legs before women. Women only started shaving their legs in the first half of the twentieth century, a trend that was reinforced during World War II when there was a shortage of nylon stockings. 349. If you are really hairy, trim it down to a manageable
length before wet-shaving, otherwise it will take ages and make a right mess of your bathroom.
the line of your cycling shorts, just in case they ride up a bit and reveal a forest. 353. Advice from a male friend: don’t shave your legs for the
first time the night before a big race, as the silky feel of your legs beneath the sheets will distract you from sleeping. 354. Fake tan? Plenty do and no judgement here. After
all, if you have gone to the effort of shaving your legs, you’re damn sure you want them to look good. 355. If you are going for fake tan you can keep your tan lines
sharp by wearing a pair of cycle socks and shorts and applying fake tan up to the line. I heard this from someone who is fairly well known in the cycling world, and they aren’t the only one to do it. Not every pro gets their tan lines on training camps. 356. So far, we have talked about shaving legs, but if you
shave above the short line there are other things to consider. Body hair provides a barrier between skin and the outside world, so a little bit of hair is a good thing. Frequent shaving or waxing can lead to inflammation of the hair follicles and make saddle sores more likely.
SECURITY [357–368]
350. For a close wet-shave you need a lot of lather. You can
357. No one wants to lose a bike to a bike thief. Lock up your
use anything from soap to shower gel or shaving foam. This helps the razor glide, gets close to your skin without pulling and keeps your skin soft.
bike somewhere visible. Look around for CCTV or street lighting that will act as a deterrent.
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