Why do cyclists shave their legs? Why do cyclists shave their legs? Is it because of wind resistance?
Cyclists shaving their legs is more tradition than anything else--there is a whole industry around creams, soaps, and salves. However, I'll defer to Sheldon Brown's explanation for a few acceptable reasons why they do it:


To prevent infection when crashing.
To pull off bandages more painlessly after dressing a wound.
To get a massage of the legs without hair pulling.


One reason I've often heard is 'To be more streamlined in the wind'--but I don't believe it!