I was shocked, shocked, to see that there is public nudity at Yale. Imagine, acts of debauchery going on at one of our more august institutions of learning, a nurturer of our finest minds and most moral business and political leaders.

Right.

Apparently nothing new on some campuses; I am just showing my age...

Actually, the nakedness wasn’t completely public; you had to know about the party where birthday suits were de rigueur. And apparently it was a chaste affair, despite all the flesh (though one guest was asked to go outside when he displayed a little genital exuberance).

I learned about the naked party in the Yale Daily News, which was referencing a blog from the Harvard Crimson. Evidently, some Harvard students down in New Haven for “the Game” were a bit surprised to come across a naked party – and the Elis’ blasé attitude toward the frolicking sans clothes.

No, there were no Ivy Leaguers nakedly parading through the streets of the Elm City that night – at least none that made the news. But the article got me thinking about going outside one’s own home without clothes. Not my own home, mind you; I have skinny-dipped or sunbathed au naturel exactly two times in my life, and odds are the count won’t be going higher. But what about throughout history; who were some of the folks who make a social statement with their fashionless statement?

British streakers, 2007 - the fad that wouldn't die

Maybe I'd play softball nude with a body like that...

We had the streaking craze, of course, about 35 years ago. And naturists, (the term preferred over nudists) have sunned and romped in the buff at their own enclaves for more than a century. Greek and Roman athletes competed nude, explaining why few women were allowed at the original Olympic Games. (The exceptions, says Tony Perrottet in his Naked Olympics: young single women, especially ones looking for husbands, and prostitutes. Ah, athletes and the ladies: some  things never change…) A series of Christian sects I’d never heard of before practiced nudity as part of their beliefs. They included the Carpocratians, part of the Gnostic movement of the 2^nd century, and the Marcosians, a slightly later group based in France. Rather than flaunting their nudity, they lived in isolated areas or behind stone walls, but just knowing they were there upset the Church powers-that-be.

The early Quakers gave us a more public display of religious nudity. (The Quakers? Yes, and you can read about my interest in the practice here.) They used biblical justification for their nakedness, which was a taunt at the ruling Puritans who scorned them: “’Go, and loose the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet,’ and he [Isaiah] had done so, walking naked and barefoot.” Some modern Biblical scholars say, don’t take that literally, he wasn’t really naked. But the Quakers did take it literally, if only because they loved tweaking the Puritans.

During the last few years, public nudity made the news, thanks to Vermont. State statutes do not ban public nudity, so in 2007, some folks in Brattleboro, from teens to the elderly, decided to exercise their civic right to stroll through town in the buff. The town council then voted to temporarily prohibit public nudity. Thankfully, sanity triumphed and the ban was soon reversed. Would you really want to live in country where you can’t go to at least one town and proudly strut your stuff without rebuke? (Assuming your stuff is truly strut-worthy; the skinny excuse of a butt I carry around would definitely not past muster.)

And don't forget the World Naked Bike Ride; click for more info

I don’t have any profound summation on the pros and cons of public nudity. I guess seeing others’ naughty bits could get distracting (see the case of that poor Harvard undergrad above), though the folks who attended the Yale party said most eyes seemed to be conspicuously focused above the neck during conversations (dancing, however, was prohibited). I understand America’s puritanical streak (as the Quakers did), so I don’t expect an upswing, as it were, of naturism. But I also understand the appeal of being outside, under the sun, enjoying nature with nothing between us and our environment. With no one worried about how their clothes fit and if they’re the latest fashion. Going beyond the superficiality of looks and taking people for who they are, with no discrimination or sense of superiority. Just as all of today’s naked Yalies surely must do as they go on through life and enter the corridors of power.

Right?

Warning: the photos contained herein are of a graphic nature. Of the human body. Sheild the eyes of those you love and whom you feel warrant protection. Should you object to this post, feel free to take it up with with the blog owner. I happen to know her and I think she’ll probably tell you to #shutit, but that’s just a guess.

Remember that time when I was walking down Queen Street, minding my own business and I saw this?  Well, it happened again. Of course, it happened way back in June, but sometimes I like to go Back to the Future on my blog that way. Anyway. I was once again walking down Queen Street (which I do a lot, apparently), minding my own business (which I *also* do a lot, apparently), when I heard a commotion, looked up to see what was the matter and saw hundreds of people riding their bikes in what could only be described as organized chaos.  The chaos was, I’m guessing, likely because the riders were stark raving naked. Yes, that’s right — completely buck naked!  This is reason #4,281,369 why I love Toronto. I mean, where else can you walk down a city street while feasting your eyes on naked men and women with private parts flailing in the wind as they speed by? 

I’ll tell you where — apparently, in 24 other countries, that’s where. Yes, that’s right — you, too, can witness the World Naked Bike Ride in 24 countries, including, but not limited to, Latvia and Poland. According to the WNBR web site, they are a group of people, wacky Latvians included, who “face automobile traffic with [their] naked bodies as the best way of defending [their] dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians as well as the negative consequences [they] all face due to dependence on oil, and other forms of non-renewable engergy.”  Yes, engergy. Snort!

I’ve spent a fair amount of time trying to determine the significance of the added “g” (because what else do I have to do?), and here are a few guesses:

 Could it be a subtle dig at George Dubya, that evil, oil-hoarding, special-interest-group-harbouring, beat box-ing ex-president^? 

The same George Dubya who may cause us to lose life and limb just to line the greasy pockets of said oil-hoarding special-interest groups?! 

Could WNBR be trying to educate the youth of the world and simultaneously promote Sesame Street?

Or could they be trying to imply that their fair readers are, in fact, gangsters, by subliminally asking ”what up, g“? 

Whatever their reasoning, WNBR might want to spend a little more time proofing their frackin’ home page and less time riding around the world chafing up their privates.  Really, though, who am I to complain? I invite them to spend more time riding around the streets of Toronto. Because what single girl in the city *wouldn’t* want to feast her eyes upon this goodness?  Who, I ask…WHO?!

Don’t you wish you lived in my head, too?

P.S. Apparently, I use the word apparently far too much when I’m tired and haven’t slept in fourteen nights. Apparently.

^ I am actually very fond of GWB. He is from Texas, after all. So before y’all fire up your Ford F-350 extended cabs and race off to the message boards, do me a favour and save it!

In a city where riots break out when we lose sporting events. And riots break out when we win them it is hard to imagine 800 people peacefully doing anything. I’ve had my fair share of disbelief in the kindness of this city. In the ability of Philadelphians to band together and do so without anyone being arrested, or worse, getting seriously hurt. But last night all bets were off.

Last night no arrests were made. Last night people joyously gathered in mass.

Starting at dusk over 800 people in varying degrees of undress and age traversed the distance of Center City to participate in the first Philadelphia Naked Bike Ride. All shapes, all sizes, all religions and all creeds hopped on the saddles of bicycles and banded together. Some were motivated to go naked to bring awareness to cycling, others to show their support of reducing their carbon footprint, others to promote healthy body image and some to just join in a fun evening of liberation in the bare!

It was something I’d been psyching myself up for and looking forward to for months. I first heard about the ride this spring. I knew I wanted to be a part of it but I was nervous about getting nakie-poo so I took the PNBR slogan to heart- “Bare as you Dare.” and decided I would use liquid latex to cover my chest and wear bikini bottoms. My dear friend AZ decided to bare it with me and so we bought some liquid latex and with the help of our lovely friends Miss D and Miss May we got ourselves all latexed-up for the ride.

Painting on the latex

When we pulled up to 25th and Locust I was amazed at all of the people who had decided to join in the evening. The event was a total success.

Bare as You Dare

We shut down Market Street Critical Mass style. We circled City Hall with the call and response of “Who’s Street?” “Our Street” reverberating off the city buildings. We filled the 5th Street Tunnel and as bikers moved forward waves of cheering rolled up the hill like a rush of water through a pipe. We watched as hundreds of people poured out of restaurants, bars and brownstones to cheer us on. Rare was the exclamation that was lewd or the stare that showed judgement. Parents held curious children while policemen ensured traffic did not harm any cyclists. The support of the unknowing Philadelphia public was almost as invigorating as the feel of the brisk late summer breeze on my basically bare body!

Young, Proud, Strong, Peaceful

Did I tell my mom? I sure did.

Did she freak out? No. She didn’t. In fact, I think I heard what might be called a hint of admiration in her voice as she asked me “Was it liberating?”

Unless you were out there, this is as much as you get!

Yes, momma, it was. Very much so. And it was peaceful, beautiful, exciting, motivating and encouraging too.

As I continue this movement through my life and try to learn and explore, it is such experiences that I am grateful to be a part of because even though the world so often wants us to think people will only continue to surprise us with their cruelty, if you open your eyes they also surprise us with their overwhelming support and LOVE.

Click here for a great photo set care of BH!

Full Coverage (actually quite the opposite) at The Philadelphia City Paper’s Staff Blog: THE CLOG.

At the end of the night, the warrior is finally de-masked

Looks like Philly’s first Naked Bike Ride is going to be big.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is an effort to expose (quite literally) the environmental issues associated with cars, congestion, emissions, and the unfriendly traffic patterns we have constructed in attempt to move people from place to place.  On a micro level, urban centers should be designed with the intent that people can walk, bike, hop a bus, or even hail a cab when they’re running a few minutes behind.  However, much a city’s commuting and streets patterns still focus heavily on the car as the main mode of transportation.

This is somewhat of a “chicken or the egg” problem.  Do we design urban centers specifically with the intent to make it more pedestrian friendly, more convenient to use public transportation, more bikeable?  In other words, do we rely more heavily on other modes of public transportation and implement structures for their usage and thereby eliminate the space allotted for vehicle volume? (ie: Do we allot more space for bus and bike lanes by taking away car lanes and parking spaces?).  OR, do we wait for consumer preferences to change? Do we wait for the market to impact consumer behaivor?  In essence, do we wait for people to start abandoning a carbon-heavy lifestyle when they come to the realization that it just doesn’t add up?

I think WNBR has a valid issue to get across; I’m hesistant to say how effective it really is. Does WNBR do anything to change consumer preference, political decisions concerning emissions, climate change, urban development, etc.?  Or is it just excuse for hipster bikers to get naked and ride together en masse?  I couldn’t tell you as this is Philly’s first.

For more details and specifics about PNBR, check out their website or facebook page.

Arriving back in Vancouver saw a change of pace at both extremes. Camping in one place for 2.5 weeks brought my journey to a screeching halt, but being in a city inevitably meant a fast, more hectic speed of life. But what a time was had! So much goodness packed into those weeks.

Highlights?

1.    The Seventh Ave crew. In keeping with the bartering theme from my bike tour, I camped in the backyard of a share house (not far from Kitsilano Beach) in exchange for gardening. Weeding. Soil prep. Seed planting. Watering. Was so good to be working with my hands again. The garden had a calm, quiet atmosphere featuring two big fig trees complete with hammocks and outdoor chairs. So much time was had hanging outside sharing stories with the crew, drinking wine, reading books in the hammock, dinner parties, soaking up the sun (it didn’t rain for the whole time!). At time I almost forgot I was in the city. And with such a great group of friendly people, I immediately felt part of the ‘family’.

2.    World Naked Bike Ride. I promised myself last year after meeting Marte (the Newcastle WNBR organiser) during the Otesha tour that I’d participate in WNBR this year regardless of where I was in the world. So on 16 June, I took a deep breath, grabbed my bike and headed down to English Bay where I was to find another 200 crazy people keen to get off their kit in the name of bike advocacy, climate change and other environmental/social issues. WNBR aims to be a fun, creative platform to express whatever message you’re passionate about. We rode for two hours through every busy street to be found in Vancouver! And it was one of the most liberating experiences of my life. The cheering and encouragement of stander bys constantly overwhelmed me. Alongside the bike awareness and climate change slogans painted on bodies, demystifying body image norms seemed to be a big theme this year as well. You’d think that 200 naked bodies strutting around the city would perpetuate the sexual objectification of the human body. But the event seemed to have the opposite effect. Largely because of all the different shapes, sizes and colours that were represented. You begin to understand that it just doesn’t matter what you look like!

3.    The Beaver Tail. I have to admit, Canadian ‘cuisine’ isn’t something I find particularly sensational. Too much grease, sugar and salad dressing for my likling! But my partner’s folk’s insisted my Canadian experience wouldn’t be complete with tasting a ‘beaver’s tail’. Ok, so think squished doughnut the size of a dinner plate, deep frieds and ooooozing with maple syrup or sugar and cinnamon! And you know what? I almost enjoyed it… although my stomach certainly paid the price!

4.    Meeting Uncle Charlie. Spending time in Vancouver has largely been about meeting family. And this family time has definitely been a highlight. Telling you that meeting ‘Uncle Charlie’ was inspirational is an understatement. Uncle Charlie is 102 years old. Until just last year he was pottering around his house with his wife (96 years old) making jam, baking goodies and attending a vege garden. Just realising the energy and agility required for all these activities perhaps gives you an ideas about the level of inspiration and respect I felt in spending time with him. But combined with his sense of humour and wit the whole experience was brought up yet another notch.

5.    Sunset Beach Experiences. The days were getting longer and the weather was warming up rapidly. The city folk were bustling around and about with giant smiles on their faces, rollerskating along the beach promenades, and basking in the sun at the beaches around town. I joined the crowds on many occasions for a ‘sunset-on-the-beach’ experience. Sitting on the beach with a good glass of wine, delectable food and an awesome view of the snow-capped mountains. Does life get better than this?

6.    Street Parties. Festivals feature regularly on the calendar at this time of the year. And I was lucky enough to experience Commercial Drive’s Car free Day (think King St, Newtown or Brunswick St, Melbourne). Many streets throughout the city were blocked off that day, and the streets were lined with food vendors, artisans selling their arts and crafts and organisations providing information about their activities. Our crew spent the day wandering about soaking up the atmosphere, drinking a few too many jugs of Mohjitas, spending far too much money on second-hand clothes, and joining in spontaneous games along the street (eg. Skipping rope double-dutch style!)…

next stop Kootneys, Okanagan and Calgary…

If you love being naked and you love partying, here are the best events for you. I’m crediting TripAdvisor.com with coming up with the list, but there are lots more nudist events than this all over the world.

1. World Naked Bike Ride – Worldwide, June and July

The World Naked Bike Ride in Toronto

I caught a glimpse of the World Naked Bike Ride as it passed through downtown Toronto last year. – starlagurl

2. Nude Beach Olympics – Maslin Beach, Australia, January

John of cathyandjohn about to go out to Maslin Beach

3. Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada, August – September

Jose nearly naked at Burning Man

A cross between a refugee camp with an outdoor art museum with engineering exhibits with a rave with an adult playground with summer camp with a commune with a hallowe’en party with a bunch of other things. – Jose

Every year a “World Naked Bike Ride” or Cyclonudista is held in different cities all over the world to show the fragility of cyclists in traffic and ask more (political) attention for cycling as a sustainable way of transport in cities.

In Brussels it was a sunny day, which resulted in many naked cyclists, taking most people in town by surprise, creating mixed reactions and lots of photo and video attention. See our video:

Dutch/French with English subtitles.
Filmed in Brussels on Saturday 27 June 2009.
Camera and editing by Bas Ruyters.

On July 11th 2009, the Denver, Colorado edition of the World Naked Bike Ride took place. This is a protest about oil consumption and how it allegedly impacts the environment and not so much about nudity. A typical attendee of the WNBR will probably define “indecent exposure” as the environment being adversely exposed to oil consumption and gas guzzling SUVs like the Hummer. When the bike ride took place last year in Denver, there was a police escort. At this year’s bike ride, the police did not care as long as the bicyclists obeyed the rules of the road. While following them for a few streets with my camera, a lady in a car shouted at me “make sure you put it on youtube!” and another guy in car asked me what the occasion was. I explained that it was the World Naked Bike Ride.

You may or may not be aware of my desire to participate in the World Naked Bike Ride in Portland.  I was shocked to discover it’s existence less than a year ago from a girl I’d met online.   Honestly, if I’d had the money I would have gone to this year’s event.

My best friend was a little confused by this concept.   “Would you really do that?”

“YES.”  The words ran from my mouth almost before he could finish his.   There isn’t a doubt in my mind that I would be willing to disrobe in front of others.

“Why do you want to?”

“An overwhelming desire to show the world my genitals?”

“WHAT?”

“–nothing.”  Admittedly, I’m not in it to spread awareness of bike riders like the hippies out there.   I’m just trying to spread awareness about my cock.

In essence, it is like climbing a mountain to me.  You do it “Because it’s there.”   Because you can.  I mean, why not??   I’m not ashamed of my body.  It’s just nudity.   Sexuality doesn’t have to be scary.   It’s natural.   It is a natural thing for a human being to want to feel the wind and the sun on their naked skin.   To deny it is to deny ourselves.  –okay I made that part up.   But it’s true.

Lets be honest.  It’s only a penis.  What’s so scary about that?  Its not as though I have the words “this machine kills pussy” tattooed on it.   It’s screwed up American Sexual Politics that govern our lives, spreading teen pregnancy and venereal diseases in it’s wake.    Maybe if we all got naked a little more often, we would be mentally, physically and emotionally better off.

“This machine kills sexual hang ups.”

“and fucks your mouth.”

World Naked Bike Ride
Hawthorne Bridge
June 2009
Portland, Oregon
Video shot by Cooper Richardson

Well, June is the end of naked bike riding. Actually, I doubt that in this city. June is the end of naked June bike riding in Portland, and there probably will not be this large of an event until next year. This video is 12 minutes long!!

From Cooper’s tweet:

• 

  bangthemonkey: WNBR video I took of 3k-5k naked bikers pouring over the Hawthorne Bridge. http://bit.ly/DTOEA (expand) #wnbr #pedalpalooza #pdxevents #pdxbikes

Let me mention that if you are on the twitter, using hash tags like #pdxbikes & #pdxevents definitely helps me (& others) find good stuff like this.

***********Related Posts from PDX Pipeline**

• Naked Bike Rides & Runs in Portland
• Portland Naked Bike Ride: 5000 People | Pictures & Story

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We have been having a great time at this year’s Pedalpalooza. Thought I’d share our rides and some photos with you. There is still another week, including tomorrow’s North Portland edition of  Sunday Parkways (on Father’s Day, no less… in honor of me ; )

We started Pedalpalooza off with the kickoff parade, which the kids joined and loved, especially as we went through their school neighborhood and got to see their friends.

Around and around and around Ladd's Addition

Drew turning onto Hawthorne

Following the crowd through Sunnyside Neighborhood

A little spring color

Enjoyed racing, tasty beverages, and community at Cirque de Cycling on Mississippi.

Too fast and too close for me

Jonathan outscooping us all

Notice the contrast in these two modes of travel

Wings are better

Style points

Participated in Portland’s edition of the World Naked Bike Ride.

Clinty pre-funk

The best photo I got... sorry folks

I bought new socks for the occasion

Learned the history and reasoning of Portland street names (rich white male tugboat/steamboat captains, developers, and bankers… mostly) on the Dekum to Woodstock ride.

Carl Larson and Shawn Granton share a bike and a megaphone to lead the ride

And got JC up on a bike that fits him.

He is so much more comfortable now

Then saw the craziest thing in the Willamette. Pedalpalooza irony… (nice photo, though)

Don't know how I feel about "The World"... makes me a little testy.

Here I am! (2:17)

NOW Magazine gets its jollies posting a video from World Naked Bike Ride day in Toronto this past weekend. A fairly boring clip featuring lots of bare male bums.

Meanwhile over at Spacing Montreal, more Bixi coverage. A controversy is brewing over the iPhone app for the public bike sharing enterprise.

DAY 64: Portland, Oregon
Miles traveled: 8,553
States visited: 21
Weather: 70, cloudy

Portland’s nickname is Stumptown, which is quite possibly the stupidest city nickname ever. But everything else about the city is epic.

This was my second trip to Portland and I experienced massive bike envy this weekend. Besides the fact that Portland has the highest percentage of bike riders in the country, it turns out my visit coincided with Pedalpalooza, a bicycle celebration with all sorts of events going on. There were bike movies, bike parties, bike races. If only I’d brought along a bike!

The capper was the World Naked Bike Ride. This is an annual event that happens in different cities all over the world, and Saturday night was Portland’s turn. Hundreds of (mostly) nude cyclists crowded through the streets at midnight. Ostensibly, this was a form of protest against humanity’s overuse of cars, but I think most people just showed up because it’s fun to ride naked through the streets.

Also this weekend was the city’s gay pride fest, so on Sunday folks gathered for a march in the park. I was surprised how many families came out for this event, though I shouldn’t have been since Portland is one of the more liberal cities in the U.S. There was a marching band – they played Dancing Queen.

Earlier, I took a visit up to Mt. Tabor, which is supposedly the only volcano within any city limits in the U.S. It’s an extinct volcano, so no worries. I drove into the park and hiked to the top where you can see the Portland skyline.

I stopped in Powell’s Books, which is a must for anyone visiting the city. It’s one of the largest bookstores I’ve ever seen. I didn’t make any purchases because I’m still working on the three books I brought with me.

Another must-see was Voodoo Doughnuts, which I didn’t know about the last time I visited the PDX. They are known for their wacky creations like a maple roll with bacon on top. I got a chocolate donut with chocolate icing and Cocoa Puffs on top.

My Portland friend Renee, an ex-Pittsburgher, was actually back in Pittsburgh most of the weekend but we got to hang out when she returned on Sunday. We discussed the fact that she got to witness the Penguins winning the Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh the night it happened, while I was stuck watching in a quiet sports bar in Portland. I would much rather have been part of the ruckus in the streets of the South Side. Maybe next year!

Jonathan Maus/BikePortland.org

World Naked Bike Ride goes off without a stitch!

Yet it remains uncovered by the media!

Portland had to take top honors, although curiously unlinked by Google and Bing, which put Chicago, Sydney and other cities ahead in their queues. According to BikePortland.org, some 5,000 semi-clothed and all-naked (hey, they got photos!) riders showed up. What’s more, the cops went along with the ride.

What I like about Portland: They really ride naked down there. Here in Seattle, cyclists body paint in the annual naked bike ride opening the Fremont Solstice Parade (which is coming up this weekend). I have nothing against body painting, but it’s not really naked. The same for bikini shorts, thongs, g-strings and what have you. But somehow the World Partially Clothed Bike Ride doesn’t carry quite the same cachet.

So today’s burning question is: Will riders really get naked for Seattle’s World Naked Bike Ride on July 11? (Early July can be cold, wet and miserable, so other factors impinge as well.) Or will our image as half-assed and wishy-washy simply be reinforced…

More naked rider news:

In Denver, police warned that participation in the ride could mean arrest and registration as a sex offender. Sheesh, who thinks up this stuff anyway? What’re they worried about? Sex with a bicycle?

But riders covered up just enough to avoid the police blotter.

In New York, they made a cause of it: Get commuters out of cars and onto bikes!

Time Out Chicago has actual video (SFW, hee hee) of the ride there.

In Vermont, the message was peace and love…

Upon reflection, good times were had by all. When you bring people and bikes together, only good can happen.

In spite of my Roman Catholic upbringing, I do not subscribe to the theory that sex and sexuality are shameful.  Horseshit.   Nor do I believe the human body is something we should be ashamed of, though that’s something I struggle with just as much as anyone.  We shouldn’t be afraid of nudity.  It doesn’t make you vulnerable. It’s who you are.

Less than a year ago, a girl I know from Oregon informed me that she would be getting naked this June for the World Naked Bike Ride.   I was intrigued… at first because she was talking about herself naked, but later at the thought of the event.

Apparently the WNBR is this event that occurs in 70 locations throughout the globe.   It’s a bunch of hippies who shed their clothes and don bicycles to spread awarness about cyclist safety, energy consumption and  the size of their genitals.

I’m not reallydown with the message.  I don’t have a problem with hippies as long as they keep their political and –marajuanical– opinions to themselves. And yet I am bemused at the thought.  Naked fleshy apendages are bemusing.

I really wanted to do it this year, but circumstances would not permit.  But after hearing a first person account of the event, I am more driven than every to pop wheelies and woodies in Oregon next year.

“Do you really think you could get naked in front of all those people?”  a friend asked.   Absolutely.  It’s scary, but doable.   That said, I may try to get hold of some viagra or cialis beforehand.  Mine is not a “show-penis”.

It has, however, some of the qualities of a stunt penis.

You may ask why someone like me would do something like this.  It’s like sky diving without the whole “falling to your death” part.  It’s about facing your fears.   Once you’ve waved your penis (or flashed your ‘gyna) around a major American city going ten miles an hour, you’ve got bragging rights.

You get to say “I did this.”  Something only a handful of people have ever done.  Something very few people would ever do.

At the very least, I figure my odds of scoring with some drunk hippie chick are increased when we’re both naked and pulsing with adrenaline.

World Naked Bike Ride, é o maior protesto nu mundial que se realiza em mais de 50 cidades e conta com a participação de milhares de pessoas. Uma solução pacífica, um imaginativo e divertido protesto contra a dependência do petróleo e do uso do automóvel. A celebração da bicicleta, e também uma celebração do poder e da individualidade do corpo humano, um símbolo da vulnerabilidade do ciclista no trânsito.

Site: World Naked Bike Ride

World Naked Bike Ride - Reportagem SIC

A big well done to everyone who took part in the Brighton & Hove World Naked Bike Ride today – you are very brave!

Heads-up if you live in a major US city like Chicago — tonight’s World Naked Bike Ride, something that typically surprises just about everyone.  

In Chicago, hundreds of stark-naked people and people dressed in costumes will gather and then ride through the Loop, down Michicagn Avenue, and then up to Halsted and off to Lincoln Park and parts unknown (and uncovered), passing through Boystown around 8-830 or so (if it’s like last year).  

The look on people’s faces when this happens is priceless.  We plan on being at Sidetrack’s, Roscoe’s, or Cocktail at chairs by the windows as all these people ride by — presumably to protest the world’s dependence on oil, but mainly it’s just a bunch of kooks and loons dressed up crazy, or wearing nothing at all, riding bikes through the streets.  

After IML on Memorial Day weekend, it’s the second-craziest thing to happen in Boystown every year — and if you’re in a big city, it’s probably going to happen there too, where everyone will once again be all surprised by it.

Today is delicious.

I was walking down Yonge Street this afternoon, just north of Bloor — and what did I see but a legion of naked men and women on bikes, smiling, laughing and jingling bells. A crowd had assembled at the corner of Yonge and Bloor to watch the bare bikers bell past them, and on up the street. Some had their cameras out, while others just gaped. A man standing beside me, somewhere in his late 50s, had a wide watermelon grin on his face.

But once the initial shock subsided, the question remained: Why on earth was there a band of naked people on bikes rolling through the city? The answer: the World Naked Bike Ride.

Now, what is this World Naked Bike Ride, and why did it happen? According to the designated Wikipedia page, it’s a yearly event in cities around the world to “celebrate cycling and the human body.” As one rider shouted as he peddled his pink bottom up the street, “Burn fat, not gas!”

A worthy cause. An even worthier photo op.

http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/

oh by the way, i’m in halifax. nova scotia. and this saturday june 13th is the second annual World Naked Bike Ride – Halifax edition. building on the international movement that says no to cars, pollution and inhuman landscapes, the ride is all about raising the profile of bicycles in the city and having some good old fashioned naked fun to boot.

ride details on *f*a*c*e*b*o*o*k*

halifax’s free indie paper The Coast—celebrating sixteen years of all-encompassing, in-depth and entertaining coverage of the local arts, culture, politics, activism &tc. scenes—did an article on the ride in last week’s edition wherein you’ll find the new deference aka dr. power! check out the article here. and if you’re too lazy to traverse the link, check this shit out:::

the new deference. see my ass again this weekend at the world naked bike ride. ciào..

Oui, bicyclettes sont belles!

Spokane has approved its Master Bike Plan. Hooray!

Gary Fisher, the Legend, just got operated on for a spot of skin cancer. He’s tweeting that everything’s fine. We wish him a full and speedy recovery!

BikePortland.org: Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride, expected to draw 3,000 barebackers, is this Saturday. As is Vancouver’s. Folks from Seattle are expected at both events, since Seattle’s naked ride doesn’t happen till July 11th. Seattle btw is the naked pioneer here, what with the annual Fremont Solstice Parade naked cyclists as well as:

“Seattle was the second city to stage a WNBR event in the world, the first WNBR-affiliated city to organize a day ride, the first city to work with city officials to make the ride a success, the first city to stage its body painting parties in public parks and the first city to have Yoga in the Park stretching sessions in public parks by certified yoga instructors.”

Northstar at Tahoe opens Friday! A month after Whistler. How can that be? Ah, priorities, priorities…

Trek recall: Bikes with JD Fork suspension — 7300, 7300WSD and 7500, all 2009s — are accidents waiting to happen. Take ‘em back!

Mountain Bike Action interviews Aaron Gwin, the DH phenom who finished an unheard-of 10th last year in his first World Cup race ever. He’s America’s best current hope in the big rig category, dominated by Brits, Aussies and Kiwis to the point ya can barely unnerstan what da blokes is sayin.

Bike World News: To Astana team leader Alberto Contador as the Tour de France approaches, Lance Armstrong is “just another member of the team.” Ouch! You dunna wanna talk about the King that way, he’ll bite ya!

Pedalpalooza starts Thursday in Portland! Opening night features “Traffic Calming.” Would love to be there for that. If there’s anything I’m in favor of on my bike, it’s calm traffic.

BikeSharing Blog: In Paris, the bike sharing program still brings smiles.

Haven’t heard of the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR)?  That’s okay, I hadn’t either.

It’s similar to a critical mass, however, everyone’s naked!  Riders protest oil dependency by giving cars a little taste of their own “indecent” medicine.  Over 70 cities from over 20 countries have signed up to participate this year.

The ride’s scheduled to take place the weekend of June 13th; however, some cities are a little behind.  Philadelphia plans to have its first NBR September 6, 2009 (better late than never).  I guess City Paper’s Cover photo last week for the feature story “Biketopia” was hinting at WNBR without making too much noise just yet…

Check out the schedule of naked bike riding to find a participating city nearest you!