Chain grease on leg

[quint41]

I'm proud of my grease tatoos! That's what one of my friends calls them, since I always end up with a grease tatoo somewhere on my calf. And, hey, if the guys want to comment on my greasy calves, I'll just say, "thank you for admiring my legs!"

[luvs2ride]

hey Sara-
It's just not a ride for me without those greese tatoos!! I too wonder how they get there but have learned to laugh about it! I don't think I've ever completed a ride without something landing on my leg. Usually the right calf because I clip out left and lean right (I think !!). Anyway, I'm sure you're in good company!

Blessings!!
Susan

[GLC1968]

The women's group I ride with was just talking about this a couple of weeks ago. Most of these women have been riding for many, many years and we all laughed that we ALL had grease on our calves in some way, shape or form.

We decided that the concept of it being a 'rookie' mistake was probably invented by some guy who needed yet another reason to rag on some other guy who was probably kicking his butt! We figured that if you aren't getting bike grease on you...you aren't riding enough!

[SadieKate]

On the road, I always clip out on the left which seems to have solved it for me.

Too much lube can definitely contribute to the problem, but mtbiking you are going to pick up dirt no matter what. Ace was asking me the same question this weekend so I was thinking about it. I don't get much grease on my legs even mtbiking when you have to clip out on either side. I wonder if I may also have trained myself to put my foot down a bit farther out to the side. This accomplishes two things - less grease and more stability on uneven trail.

I'm much more likely to have dirt on the tops of my knees from sitting on the top tube during breaks and brushing against the tire.

[Kimmyt]

You should just tell them that you're not afraid of a little dirt.

[RoadRaven]

I like having the bike tat there... never make a huge effort to wash it off... kind've proud of it - particularly at work!

But I am often not sure when it gets there either... one of the girls at the race the other day had one above her knee and was completely baffled as to how it got there!