WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE REPORT

the fabulous poster art from PDXWNBR.ORG

Following the rides in Los Angeles and Portland its worth getting some first hand accounts from the people who actually showed up and put some skin in the game.

photo by larameeee

Portland's ride gathered in Cathedral Park under the St. John's Bridge in North Portland at 8pm and depared at 9. Of course when you have more then ten thousand people departing it takes a while to disperse. Thankfully there was music by the High Step Society and the sidewalks were lined with countless enthusiastic supporters and a few people that were worried their clothes might not make it to the afterlife.

even naked bikers have their haters

The ride winded its way to Woodlawn park, about 7 miles away a pretty short ride, historically speaking. Of course most were not done partying and there were several options to choose from including following the Tiki Bike to a undisclosed beach party along the Columbia River.

There are some insightful comments on Bike Portland (and some obnoxious ones)

and some photos from @AlexMilanTracy

Apparently both I-5 traffic and ICE were invited to eat naked biker ass.

Now we move our attentions down the west coast a thousand miles to Los Angeles, where about 400 people joined in two daytime, naked celebratory protests of a different, uh flavor.
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We met in an industrial corridor of downtown LA at 9am, just across the train tracks from the skyline. A friend visiting from Phoenix joined me. We were some of the first to arrive, and when we did, at first it definitely had a very SoCal ex-hippy naturist vibe to it.
As it began to fill in, the group became much more diverse in age, race, and gender expression. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly, and we all took pictures with each other. It felt very relaxed and supportive. There were a couple taco trucks, body paint lead by the teenage daughter of one of the organizers, and overall had a very kid-friendly vibe. Very diverse in terms of age range.
At 10:30 we began the first leg of the ride.
LA WNBR is technically split into two shorter rides. The first leg it the political part and goes through the downtown municipal buildings boldly stating our messages: freedom from fuel and legal toplessness for everyone. We rode past the highway then headed back to the starting point.
Then we geared up for the second leg of the trip, where we were joined by many more riders totaling about 350 at its peak. The organizers provided water for the riders, and people were able to buy food at the trucks. There were also a few different groups tabling: naturalists, LA history buffs, and WNBR organizers mainly.
We left for the second leg of the ride, and rode through downtown, through Chinatown, and down the LA River Path. It was beautiful. People came out of shops and restaurants and cheered us on, smiling and saying they'd join us next year.
It was an extremely welcoming ride, I think having it during the day gives it a very different feel.
We stopped at a restaurant that was located just off the River Path, the restaurant let us use the bathrooms and order food and drinks and we were very well received by staff and patrons.
Then we headed back through the neighborhoods, and eventually wound around to the starting point again. People hung out and talked and networked when we got back, then it eventually dispersed at about 5:30pm.
It was very fun to experience WNBR in a new city for my 10th year doing it. I plan on getting involved with the organizers next year. It is a smaller ride, but it is mighty, and I think it is doing some really wonderful things.
(Pic below: me and part of the LA skyline.)

Credit: Liz Nerat  https://www.facebook.com/enerat?fref=gs&dti=56021367677&hc_location=group_dialog

This weekend Vancouver and Victoria, BC host their WNBRs!

Find them! Support them! Join them! As bare as you dare!!

THE SEASON TO RIDE NAKED

Dear readers, we have failed you.

For 10 years we have documented our seemingly perpetual sojourn for joy and liberation. Embracing  self-mobilization and and sex-positivity as our our primary tool of emancipation from single-occupancy cars and general puritanical bullshit we have doggedly traveled and shared these ideas with the world. We are quite proud of our accomplishments but even with a massive collection of radical art the gratitude of our audience we are humbled by many of our best theoretical ideals so simply put into direction action by the participation in the World Naked Bike Ride.

Already in 2018 so many naked rides have come and gone. Besides the entire Southern Hemisphere (where they ride in March) Chicago, Toronto, Austin, Madison, New Orleans, Mexico City Brussels,  Thessaloniki, Manchester, Cambridge, Brighton and Bristol, all had rides in the past 10 days. But where we when all this naked action was going down?

Promoting and documenting our own plucky little film and performance festival is the primary thrust of this blog but we must not turn our backsides on the news and cultural phenomenon that works towards our ideals.

Alas, our primary organizers are worn. Despite slowing the number of shows to a polite trickle we are still not staying on top of our stated goals of sharing excellent ideas that mirror ours. The wear on our tires is starting to show but we are still rolling (more or less) and we are hopeful that these rare moments when we actually have something to chirp about will be appreciated that much more (said every blogger since 2012).

We have slowed the fuck down and we need to make amends. The only way we can think of to make it up to you is sharing some photo-heavy pictures from naked rides around the world.

Chicago has one of the largest rides in the world

We express our regret being unable to participate in the rides of the past; now let us embrace the sweet anticipation of rides to come!

The brilliant smiles of Bristol, UK

June 23
Portland, Oregon
Los Angeles

June 30
Vancouver, BC
Victoria, BC ... ah... well maybe having it the same day can help?

July 7
Amsterdam

July 14
Halifax,
Buffalo,

July 21
Helsinki, Finland 
Boston
St. Louis

September 8
Las Vegas

A misty night in Chicago

Have you ridden a bicycle naked? In public? As a visitor to a new place?!? It is pretty exciting to visit a city during a WNBR. As a spectator or a fully-presenting nude-tourist (... a Nudurist?) it's an exhilarating way to experience a city. But before you increase your carbon footprint, check to see if there is a naked ride happening near you. This website: http://worldnakedbikeride.org/ is a helpful place to get started. Just imagine, you could plant the seed that blooms into a naked revolution!

The WNBR in Thessaloniki, Greece included a sit in. protest + celebration = revolutionary party!

And even if you don't think you will join a naked ride take a moment to consider the creative slogans that YOU would present on your body. As one of the most attention-getting forms of peaceful protest its worthwhile keeping a catchy/cheerful/cheeky phrase in mind because you never know when a naked ride could happen and you will be completely unable to think up something clever in the moment. What's the best text you have read on a human body? Post your comment below and if it makes us smile we will send you a sticker in the fucking mail.

Is the Toronto WNBR mascot a mullet? No really! Go to their website then click on 2018 posters

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Thessaloniki pics by Φώτο Eurokinissi
Chicago Mist at Dusk photo by Brendan Forkin
Bright smiles from the Bristol WNBR 
Walgreen's Naked Bike Ride in Chicago photos by Raf Winterpacht
(warning some of these are FaceCrack links, which may be responsible for stealing souls, elections)

Ride Naked, Las Vegas!

Everybody has a body, born nude and soon thereafter wrapped in shame for its naked existence. Everybody has to be able to get around in a city packed with cars leaving room for few other options. Its time to take back our bodies and our streets. Its time for the 2nd annual Las Vegas World Naked Bike Ride!

This is a global event held to fight body shaming, patriarchy and the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. The ride is "As Bare As You Dare" so wear as much or little clothing as you desire on your bicycles, skateboards, or any other form of human-powered transportation to celebrate human-powered locomotion.

Due to the Las Vegas heat, the museum will be hosting indoor activities including a craft tables, body painting, and more, beginning at 6, with the actual bike ride starting at 9 pm.

 

Crank and Grind has agreed to support riders before and during the WNBR. Minor bike repairs will be provided for by donation. Bad Ass Coffee and Hot Diggity Dog will keeping the riders fueled and ready for action and free water will be available to everyone.

ReBAR is hosting the official Las Vegas WNBR afterparty (pasties required) and will be giving a free beer to anyone on the ride. Bike Smut is providing technical support and coordinating entertainment, including a set by Fans of Jimmy Century as well as some special guest appearances and a yes, we even have a pool to cool off after the hot ride.

"For the second year in a row, The Erotic Heritage Museum is supporting the Las Vegas World Naked Bike Ride," said museum Director, Dr Victoria Hartmann. "As a longtime Las Vegas institution, part of our mission is to advocate for sex positive culture. It's ironic that one of the most sexualized cities in the U.S.-Las Vegas-criminalizes non-sexual nudity. We hope to bring attention to these hypocrisies and help to change the laws in Clark County, bringing them in line with other cities like Chicago, Portland, and New York. We believe nudity as a form of protest should be a 1st amendment issue and thus a form of protected free speech."

Dr. Victoria Hartmann

Naked rides have existed a long time. The origin of the wheel is not exactly known but its safe to say that someone was naked on a wheel shortly after the wheel was invented. 5 thousand years later organized rides are common in select places such as Seattle´s Freemont Festival. Then in 2004 Conrad Schmidt asked friends to organize bikers and nudists across the world into what was officially named the World Naked Bike Ride. 13-years later hundreds of rides happen every year, some with only a handful of riders others with more than 10,0000 riders.

The WNBR is a protest against oil dependency and a celebration of body positivity. For years bikers have struggled to be recognized on the road. All too frequently the simple defense of ¨I didn´t see em¨ was enough to relieve an innatentive motorist of any culpability. Thankfully, the WNBR has a simple solution: RIDE NAKED & BE SEEN. If being naked is necessary to be safe on a bike then we are morally obligated to bike in the buff as much as possible.

¨The bike is the unabashed vehicle of the revolution. By cycling naked we declare our confidence in the beauty and individuality of our bodies and the bicycles’s place as a catalyst for change in the future of sustainability, transport, community and recreation.¨-  pdxwnbr.org

For more details visit the Erotic Heritage Museum

http://www.eroticmuseumvegas.com/ 
or call Call 702 794 4000
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Special thanks to Glitterguts who took these pre-ride photos of this year's World Naked Bike Ride in Chicago! 

Troy, Ready For the Bikesexual Future

Although it may not appear on the top 10 lists of any swanky magazines, Troy, New York has been keep their underground festive and lively, building their culture on their own. That kind of entrepreneurial spirit lends itself to appreciating other DIY kinda activities. So it is really exciting when we have talented hosts who want to actually take advantage of our presence and ACTUALLY *ADD* to the overall event!

It's like my excellent hosts in Milan once said, "Ya know, we a-love the Bike Schmoot, its great but the best part is not the films, its the pretext for our community to make our own bikesexual art"

Whew. When my people get it... they get it!

In the first year Bike Smut came to Troy was only two programs ago for The Porny Express. Reverend Phil was bike touring across North America and had to do some creating routing to grom from Montreal to Burlington back to the Capital District, then back to Boston, but they totally made it worth it and hosted a fun quick show... and The Troy Bike Rescue gave Rev.Phil one of the best, most confusing t-shirts ever!

srsly, there's a heart riding a bike, with a hypodermic needle as an eyeball... and some exposed rib cage, perhaps?

 The following year we had the right people lined up and sure enough they made sure to make it more involved with more people and more fun! Extra events and silly games were planned including a naked bike ride that was a series of Cop Cars following very slowly and creeping people out until we crossed the bridge out of their jurisdiction and all the drivers backed up behind them started passing us with great indifference to our well-being. The peril was no match for our optimism! As even as bikes were needing repair the team gathered and made it a fun time for all.

Now we have a community of sexy bike people, who are gonna make it a really exciting night!

Come celebrate liberation on wheels!



We will meet at Troy Bike Rescue (TBR) to conduct bike safety checks, decorate, and get comfy before the ride. Any kind of non-motorized transportation is welcome. Helmets are encouraged.

Bare As You Dare Bike Ride!

Troy Bike Rescue

3280 6th ave 

FREE

4pm

  
This ride is clothing optional, which means express yourself however you like. Be creative! We are protected in our rights both constitutionally and within city & state codes to bike in as much (optional) nudity as we want since this ride falls under artistic, political, and educational expression.

Most of all, it is a fun and lively event that allows us to make bicycling super visible and celebrate our liberation on many fronts! Then great ready for the last ever Troy screening of Bike Smut!

Bike Smut 9: Science Friction in Troy, NY

Sunday, August 28

The Ranch - 442 2nd St.

6pm

$7

with snacks, libations, and LIVE PERFORMANCES!

with beer from Rare Form
adult material from eXpressions
 intrigue va La Domaine Esemar

WNBR is back in the Buff

Get those bikes rolling smooth its time to Ride naked! Again!

Buffalo hosts its 2nd ever World Naked Bike Ride! 

Saturday, July 9th at 7pm at the corner North and Franklin

The ride is "as bare as you dare" so even the timid are encouraged to join the ride in support. There is no worry about being naked enough. However many started the ride fully dressed then because they saw so many naked people having such a good time have felt the urge to strip off more and more clothes as they ride. It is likely that you may be wearing something (if you want) but you wont be alone. Naked Rides attract dozens if not hundreds (or in the case of Portland and Chicago, thousands) of riders! Many silly prudes react in shock and horror as they exclaim, "but what if i have a problem with the seat? What if I hit a bump?" as if your naked body will somehow engulf the entire saddle and you will be stuck like that forever as some sort of bike-human-hybrid. (A version of that story has already been written but feel free to make that into a short movie if you like.) How absurd! Do you really think a thin piece of fabric is the only thing keeping your saddle from becoming a dildo? Pashaw!

Riding naked feels great! As the sun, wind and even rain kiss our bare skin we are reminded of our humanity. The WNBR is a rare treat because our patriarchal expectations that prohibit mothers from breast feeding their babies have put such an impossible standards on all of us that many never want to go outside, much less expose our skin. But there is nothing "natural" about clothes.

Even with the vast amount of body shame and terror at being vulnerable on our streets the World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is a wildly popular event. Even the local Buffalo newspaper couldn't help but promote it.   Although some want to ride completely nude we encourage comfortable footwear and maybe a fannypack or bag you can attach to your handlebars for your essentials.

 

Its a protest against body shame and car culture. Riding is a great way to bring visibility to a cause so start thinking about what slogans you might want to share.

Body painting may be available, but coming pre-decorated is recommended. A full body painting takes a while to apply, so plan accordingly. Also there is a really fun afterparty planned so be ready for that!

You may also want to decorate your bike. Its a great way to show the connection between you and your mobility. You move together and you play together and you trust your very survival on its steadfast reliability. You both deserve to look great!

Easy there, its not just about bikes. Any human powered people are welcome to attend. Rollerblade, skateboards, shopping carts or just joggers! It a celebration of our bodies and our streets!



Can't ride but want to support? Spectators are encouraged to congregate at the intersection of Bidwell Parkway and Elmwood Avenue around 8 p.m. Get more info by putting your nose in their FaceCrack, er... ButtBook, uh FB


photo cred to BikePortland.org

World Naked Bike Ride, Las Vegas, Baby!

Its naked bike ride season! Get your bewbs and your butts and your bodies ready to ride!

We have been covering and uncovering the World Naked Bike Ride since our inception in 2007. The future of Bike Smut is still unknown but we are confident the ideals inherent to biking naked will carry on!

This weekend for the first time ever the denizens of the City of Sin are encouraged to bare their bodies to the reality of modern living which include (but are not limited to):

• Shame and ridicule for having bodies that are not up to Hollywood standards
• Exposure to auto emissions
• Sunburns
• Traffic
• Seeing others naked bodies
• Others seeing your naked body
• Fun times

Its an odd thing but when enough people gather together to do something that would normally be dangerous or even off-putting, it suddenly becomes acceptable... even patriotic! Such is the nature of  community standards. If the community decides that it doesn’t find nudity offensive then its not offensive. Shall we just blindly inherent our sense of morals from our fore-bearers, who inherited theirs from some stuffy Victorian sense of puritanical propriety? NAY! We must proudly examine our taboos with great trepidation (and a pinch of zeal) so as to avoid continuing lame traditions that at best may have suited a community for its time but were never meant to be carried on so long and at worse should never have been considered in the first place.



The Erotic Museum has made a pledge to help protect our individual right to explore sexuality freely and without shame or coercion. So the "Bare As You Dare" idea of the World Naked Bike Ride fits in perfectly. This idea has not escaped our local media. Rosalie Spear of the Las Vegas Weekly made it their front page story this week:

In our society, the human body is highly sexualized, and its public baring is usually deemed a criminal offense.  The World Naked Bike Ride already occurs annually in more than 75 cities in over 20 countries. This peaceful political protest celebrates our natural form in a non-sexual manner while calling attention to the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. Riding nude suggests a dichotomy, between being vulnerable yet empowered.

That may be the most concise, intellectual way that idea has been expressed. Take a moment to imagine being a driver in a car and seeing many naked bikers. You likely would give them more room because, "I don't want to hit them, they are naked!" Yet you could pass every other biker without a second thought about their safety. As if clothes offered sufficient protection. A case study showed that drivers passed closer to cyclists wearing bike helmets, presumably because they were less concerned about hitting them so it stands to reason naked bikers would be even safer!

Moreover, Las Vegas may be the most difficult place to bike in North America. Having traveled across much of the country we can say with certainty that there are aspects that are absolutely brutal. Most major roads feel more like highways with more active traffic entering and exiting from all the businesses. They both often have 3,  4 or more lanes of travel and lights that are timed for travel at speeds that are near impossible for bikers to maintain. The neighborhood streets in between major arteries often result in dead ends leaving the unwary biker right where they started, only more dehydrated as the endless asphalt keeps the desert heat long into the night. This compounded with half the population visiting from elsewhere, being encouraged to drink and gamble all day and night with the comfort that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

YIKES!

Though all this we find a way. Like many bikers in other cities we learn techniques for mitigating risk. We ride in packs when possible. We learn safer routes and times but there are still a lot of people on the margins. People who haven't been riding long, or haven't thought to look for a different route. By building a stronger community we make it possible for us to organize and improve the conditions for everyone.


This is actually really important because this joyous parade is protected part of our freedom of expression. The people have the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Say it proud what you think, or better yet, show up early and write your ideas on your skin. You know loads of people will be reading your thoughts (as long as its not too wordy).

This is a WORLD naked bike ride. It happens in dozens of places all over the world. We can help each other by letting people know where to join a naked ride in

 Portland,


Chicago,

Vancouver,

Mexico City,




London,


If you would like to host a ride of your own you can start it by adding your location to this ever expanding list of rides.

While at the museum ask to ride the world's largest sex bike 

Its no wonder that the WNBR and Bike Smut are such good friends. It is only with the autonomy of our own bodies independence that we can feel free to explore freely (or conversely, give up that freedom to a trusted dominant partner).

Its your body! Its your life! Expose it as you will without the burden of patriarchal norms that should have been phased out more than a century ago. Bring a friend and join us as we take to the streets in Las Vegas' First ever World Naked Bike Ride!

Saturday, June 11th
Erotic Museum
3275 Sammy Davis Jr Drive
6PM  Free food, Free beverages, vendors, bike mechanics, tabling, body painting and live DJ!
8PM  RIDE!

Please register here so we have enough goodies for everyone!