That’s me on the right, with a beard that got about two months longer than that before I shaved it. This was taken at a wedding in November 2006 with my brother, striking an odd GQ-esque pose. [Larger and more beard-ilicious version here.]
When we read about the Fred phenomenon, a thick beard is often mentioned with cargo pants and sandals. I’ve been referred to as a Fred more than once, and I was wondering: Whence the cycling beards?
For myself, they keep me warm! I grow my famous (infamous to ElRo) Winter Beard every year, much the same way that some animals produce their winter coats. I have a modest beard currently, which means only moderately shaggy and somewhat “well”-trimmed. I let it get nice and full before the holidays but went beardless for a week or so around Christmas because I was being an idiot and forgetting that I don’t drive and still need to get places all winter. I immediately noticed how cold my face was getting on my bike, so I grew the Old Man Winter Beard back in ASAP. Now I seldom need a scarf wrapped around my face, though it is February now, not January, so maybe it’s just not as cold. But I do get very red cheeks where there is no beard. I’m rosy and raw today from this week’s wind.
This is me on moving day from Southern Illinois in a hot day in August 2006, with the beard I had to trim for my doctoral dissertation prospectus defense a few days before. This was the trimmed start of the bitchin beard in the first photo.
It’s probably in poor taste for me to post photos of Zack from last winter without him knowing, but I was incredibly impressed with the vigor of Mr. Zack’s beard. I’m sure it kept him warm on the food drive we helped with, which is coming up again in the next two weekends.
I shouldn’t tease about beards because Mr. Dan has a job which dis-allows him to grow a beard. But he’s a handsome guy and looks nice without it.
How about all you cycling folks? Who rocks beards to keep warm? To savor the flavor of coffee or good beer? For religious, fashion or health reasons?
6 comments
Comments feed for this article
02.24.09 at 4:56 pm
Allan
I tried a beard for a bit this winter, but in general my solution is a balaclava, which works great.
02.24.09 at 5:46 pm
Johnny
I’ve been meaning to get the wife knit me a balaclava. They look boss; maybe next winter I can get one:)
02.25.09 at 6:51 pm
mule1
I miss my facial hair damn it. When I retire I’m gonna grow it back.
02.26.09 at 10:41 pm
Josh Keogh
a knit balaclava would be very tough. I may jump on that band wagon … it’ll make you look like sub comandante marcos.
I would grow a beard … if I could grow a beard. at best I come out looking like shaggy from scooby doo.
02.27.09 at 10:09 am
Johnny
Geez, with the weather today, I’m feeling like it’s almost time to lose the beard, LOL. But the forecast looks pretty chilly and wet for the next few days. Gotta go put shoes and socks on now — DOH!
03.05.09 at 8:55 am
Lapiernanegra
I have ridden with and without beards. I have found that once it get’s cold and wet enough outside you are just gonna be wet and cold with a wet human hair rug on yer face caked with ice & snot. I prefer balaclava for extreme cold. I dunno if you guys could but I have found that local ski (maybe REI or EMS?) shops have a plethora of facial covering options. It’s a thought.