Posted on 06/03/2004 6:12:37 AM PDT by presidio9
Cyclists are well-known for wearing skin-tight outfits that leave little to the imagination - but naked biking? That is what is proposed in Kensington and Edinburgh on Saturday, June 12, and more than 70 riders have already enrolled for the London leg of the World Naked Bike Ride.
The cyclists will be starkers bar helmets and footwear as they take to the streets on the same day in more than 20 cities in ten countries, including Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Canada and New Zealand.
Bare all: Or, if you're shy, wear body paint to remain incognito on the World Naked Bike Ride
Inspired by the monthly Critical Mass rides, the meeting is a protest against oil dependency, as well as a celebration of the power and individuality of the body, say organisers.
Office worker Ben Pearson, 37, is stripping for the event but often goes 'all-out' when he's in the countryside.
'Last year, my girlfriend and I cycled around the Ring of Kerry in Ireland. I stopped for a wee and then decided to strip off completely. It was daytime and warm so I kept my crash helmet, shades and trainers on and pedalled past her - butt naked.
It's all about freedom. There is nothing more invigorating.'
But what about comfort, ahem... particularly for men? 'It's very comfy as long as you don't have racing saddles. I have a Turin bike - it's lovely.'
Freedom, as well as naughtiness, appears to be one of the enticing factors of cycling in the buff. Although this is the WNBR's first year, the cheeky sport has been quietly growing in popularity since the 1990s.
Mass clothesless rides have been a regular feature of the Cycle Messenger World Championships since 1993. Jacquie Phelan, the US mountain biking legend, rode the whole of the CMWC completely starkers in 1996.
And five times Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong glamorised riding au naturel when he posed naked on his bike for the magazine Vanity Fair a few years ago.
Go as bare as you dare
The founder of WNBR, Conrad Schmidt, came up with the idea because so many people were doing it anyway. The 34-year-old Canadian computer programmer in not a purist when it comes to nudism. 'Nobody has to be naked. Wear a thong or G-string by all means,' he says. Tricycles and music are also encouraged.
But what if you are a bit bashful about baring all so publicly and would rather go unrecognised? Schmidt suggests painting your body with nonsmear Fudge War Paint. 'Put your clothes on over the body paint,' he says, 'then take them off on arrival.'
Whether or not the WNBR lures more voyeurs than cyclists remains to be seen.
ping
Very thoughtful of you.
-good times, G.J.P. Jr.
Ugh. I'll continue to bike fully clothed, thanks.
REMOVES SEAT BEFORE BIKING
That's what I imagine to be Miss Morford's preferred form of transportation.
Fcukin' pedal-pushers.
Ah, but are they pedaling pu@@y without a license. (sorry, punch line from an old joke.)
~</;o)
What's wrong with these people?
I got over my 'nude bike riding' phase by the time
I was 5 years old. After that, the thrill was gone.
LOL, I concur, however, nude rugby is all the rage lately, hmmmm..... must find my pics of those guys and post 'em ;)
Are these guys on one of those nude rugby teams?
Oh no, hell no! lol! Just a bunch of crazy, nekkid, Europeans,("Not that there's anything wrong with that"-crazy and nekkid, however, the European part-uh maybe), hahaha!
Like I told Bella and Xena, I'm gonna be very sporadic in posting for a while. I just started a new job. I'm working from home for now, but I'll be packing up and moving in about a month. Feel free to keep pinging me, but if I don't always respond, don't get offended. :-)
BigB
Congrats and good luck! :)
Good luck dude.
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