Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Manchester cycling festival to begin with nude bike ride

City to spend a fortnight celebrating cycling via determinedly ‘non-corporate’ event

North West Velo Fest 2017 will begin on Friday June 9 with the city’s World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR). The two-week festival, now in its sixth year, is described by organisers as a free, non-corporate, DIY event and will run until Saturday June 24.

Run in cities the world over, WNBR is designed to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists and protest against fossil-fuelled climate change and the dominance of our streets by cars.

Full or partial nudity is encouraged, but not mandatory. More than 200 people are expected to turn out for the Manchester ride.

Organiser Andrew Fisher said: "It’s all about getting cyclists to be more visible on roads. Drivers say they don’t see you. We’re saying cyclists need to be seen to get their fair share of the road."

The ride will be followed by an after party at Sand Bar, which is described as: “Samba band street party! Nudity likely.”

Other (clothed) events to take place in the rest of the festival include a free bike tour of Manchester's musical history, led countryside rides, bike dancing, bike polo and races with cash prizes.

Festival organiser Joe Hulme says "There's something for everyone. Obviously the naked bike ride is the one everyone notices – who couldn't? But it's not all about getting your kit off. There are lots of other less scary opportunities to feel the wind through your hair in new places."

For more information see the North West Velo Fest website.

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.

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
Eton Rifle | 6 years ago
0 likes

What exactly does 'partial nudity' mean? Does leaving your helmet off count?

Avatar
Bob Wheeler CX | 6 years ago
0 likes

The Islamists will love this.

Avatar
Swiss | 6 years ago
1 like

Hopefully disc brakes are banned from this event...

Avatar
Boss Hogg replied to Swiss | 6 years ago
0 likes

Swiss wrote:

Hopefully disc brakes are banned from this event...

Not to worry. GCN did some scientific testing and they couldn't even get a disc brake rotor cut a spanish sausage.

Avatar
KevM replied to Boss Hogg | 6 years ago
0 likes
Boss Hogg wrote:

Not to worry. GCN did some scientific testing and they couldn't even get a disc brake rotor cut a spanish sausage.

Let alone an English one...

Avatar
chinarello_official | 6 years ago
0 likes

i imagine it is sponsered by castelli?

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

Dammit. Repeated myself.

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
2 likes

Pulled off I heard.

Avatar
Jamminatrix | 6 years ago
3 likes

Will riders who get too "happy" be sent home?

Latest Comments