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World Naked Bike Ride returns to the UK

Dates set for 18 towns and cities

Thousands of cyclists are set to strip off to protest against oil dependency and car culture this summer with a series of World Naked Bike Rides scheduled to take place in cities up and down the nation.

The nudity is said to symbolise the vulnerability of the cyclist in traffic, but it also helps garner attention for a protest which now takes place in towns and cities worldwide. Dates have been set for 18 UK locations already with a couple more likely to be confirmed on top of that.

The first naked bike ride of the year will be in Portsmouth on May 21 with regular protests up until Clacton on July 23. You can sign up for any on the official website.

Initially the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) was primarily about protesting oil dependency and celebrating the power and individuality of the human body. However, since 2006, there has been a shift towards simplifying the message with a greater focus on cycling advocacy.

Man thrown off Canterbury World Naked Bike Ride – for getting “overexcited”

Organisers say that it is “time to put a stop to the indecent exposure of people and the planet to cars and the pollution they create,” and explain that they face traffic naked to highlight the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News about the tenth anniversary of the Manchester event, they say:

“The WNBR is a fun way to show that cycling is inclusive and is suitable for all, while also highlighting cyclist’s fragility and that when a cyclist is hit by a vehicle they have little protection from the impact and might as well be naked.

“It has always got an amazing reception from the people of Manchester with cheers from the people watching, with many people wishing they had taken part.

“It encourages people to ride naked as a bold statement to highlight rider’s vulnerability, but riders can participate on a dare as you bare basis. We encourage participants to decorate their body and use it to show why they are riding.”

The Manchester ride is on June 10.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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19 comments

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FischEi | 7 years ago
0 likes

Whatever, There is lovely lady without clothes. Its best for me

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Thelma Viaduct | 7 years ago
1 like

I wonder if the sexy female saddles get covered in lady cream? Probably help reduce saddle sores etc might be a bit slippery. Getting a semi just thinking about it.

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BBB | 7 years ago
0 likes

Mass rides like this one, critical mass, Sky ride etc... reinforce the stereotypes of cyclists being a bunch of weirdos or doing something dangerous.

If you want to make an impact, dress like a "normal" person, in jeans, suit, work uniform etc... Also leave your high vis gear and a helmet at home.

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hoski replied to BBB | 7 years ago
0 likes

BBB wrote:

Mass rides like this one, critical mass, Sky ride etc... reinforce the stereotypes of cyclists being a bunch of weirdos or doing something dangerous.

Are you high?

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SimoninSpalding | 7 years ago
1 like

I assume that they have signed up Mario Cipollini to be the face (?!) of this event?

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iclord | 7 years ago
0 likes

Well Boys and Girls maybe you could find your faithful wife or  Husband there all nude for all to see. I feel sorry for young people looking for a mate these days.

 

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bogbrush replied to iclord | 7 years ago
0 likes

iclord wrote:

Well Boys and Girls maybe you could find your faithful wife or  Husband there all nude for all to see. I feel sorry for young people looking for a mate these days.

 

Your profile picture is you almost naked...

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Allotmentlad | 7 years ago
0 likes

I've done the Manchester one a few times. . In the early days, there was an argument with a copper after someone complained, in other years we actually had a police escort, now they don't bother. . It's just part of the summer events. It's a good laugh, bit of a buzz and the people we go past enjoy the laugh. . Mostly.

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Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
0 likes

Cue much tittering.

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OldRidgeback | 7 years ago
2 likes

Time for a joke about helmets

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brooksby | 7 years ago
2 likes

They announced the date for the Bristol NBR and the local paper picked up on it.  The below-the-line comments were hilarious: apparently, being naked in public is of itself dangerous and illegal and anyone who does it deserves to be beaten up by well meaning citizens before they get arrested for corrupting the youth.  Apparently they were also very worried about questions being asked of their parents by children viewing this utter depravity cycling past...   (Makes you wonder how people manage to produce and then raise children at all if they're not allowed to see each other naked...).

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lushmiester | 7 years ago
0 likes

Ok cannot resist a little flippancy.

 

This is possibly a miss conception of skin suit and marginal gain. Do not think we'll see Chris Froome adopting this approach in theTDF time trial, the pictures of his last dabble with a Rapha mesh skin suit was horrific enough 

 

Seriously the naked bike ride has been around for some time and correct me if I'm wrong it was originally an Australian thing. Am all for it, cycling (in my life time) has always had that slightly mocking irreverent and rebellious side and long may it continue.

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John Dory | 7 years ago
5 likes

A wicker basket will surely negate the aero benefits of a skinsuit?

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Broady. | 7 years ago
0 likes

Surely parading around naked is just going to get you arrested?

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Kerouac replied to Broady. | 7 years ago
3 likes

Broady. wrote:

Surely parading around naked is just going to get you arrested?

Yeah, the human body is so offensive that female nipples are illegal and male ones are not.

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Broady. replied to Kerouac | 7 years ago
1 like

Kerouac wrote:

Broady. wrote:

Surely parading around naked is just going to get you arrested?

Yeah, the human body is so offensive that female nipples are illegal and male ones are not.

I agree with your sentiment, it certainly doesn't bother me but the police would obviously take a different view.

A load of naked blokes cycling around Scarborough or York with their tackle bouncing off a saddle in the middle of Summer will surely offend a lot of holidaymakers with young children. Doesn't really help cycling at all.

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JonD replied to Broady. | 7 years ago
2 likes

Broady. wrote:

I agree with your sentiment, it certainly doesn't bother me but the police would obviously take a different view.

A load of naked blokes cycling around Scarborough or York with their tackle bouncing off a saddle in the middle of Summer will surely offend a lot of holidaymakers with young children. Doesn't really help cycling at all.

 

Well, if they want to be offended, I suspect most people tend to be more bemused..

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/nudity_in_public/

 

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Danger Dicko | 7 years ago
1 like

Love the kid filming it, for research purposes obviously.

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MarshalK | 7 years ago
1 like

That's got to chafe.

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