Today at Hampton Court everyone, but everyone, has posed for their picture on the medalists’ thrones. We have had some terrific Olympic cycling action with Bradley Wiggins yesterday (left) and Lizzie Armitstead and Mark Cavendish whizzing past the palace at the weekend.
Earlier this year I had the great pleasure of having lunch with Mark Cavendish, last year’s world champion.
One of the questions I asked him was: ‘is it true that you shave your legs before a race?’
‘Yes!’ he said. His slightly weary tone signalled that I wasn’t the first person to ask. ‘But can you guess why?’
‘Is it because you think your legs look more attractive hairless, having been influenced, like so many people these days, by the regrettable encroachment of the aesthetic values of porn films onto mainstream grooming habits?’ I hazarded.
He gave me what can only be described as a funny look.
‘No one’s ever guessed that before’, he eventually conceded. ‘Most people think that it’s to make my legs more aerodynamic. But really it’s so that if I fall off and graze myself, my hairs don’t get into the wound and make it harder to heal’.
that would have been my first guess too Lucy but I suppose his ‘reason’ is believable
actually my husband is an avid cyclist (nearly made it into the Olympics himself in the 80′s) and he shaves his arms & legs! Cyclist’s legs are the best!
Loved your guess. Sounds as if you need to try witticisms on someone with a sense of humour. Still, Wiggly Baggins did well
But. If he falls, the little stones and dirt will be a greater hindrance, let alone that you can always get the hairs out then. Lucy, I believe that your reason is the real one!
Lucy, that is one wickedly delicious guess! By the way, your Cavalier book is brilliant and I really enjoyed it! Just wondered though, how did they go about travelling in those days with no road signs or maps, such as when William Cavendish went to Italy? Or will they have had maps, I’m not sure?!
That is a brilliant picture of Bradley Wiggins. Swoon a wee bit?
That was a great answer Lucy, I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Jo x