It happens every year. In metropolises the world over from London to Chicago to Cork to Mexico City, tens of thousands of in-the-buff bicyclists swarm the streets wearing barely a stitch for the World Naked Bike Ride. Here in Portland, it’s the largest annual group ride by orders of magnitude. Head counts hover around the ten-thousand mark, but including spectators, the ride gathers some 20,000 voyeurs and exhibitionists (albeit many temporary ones) to ride (and stare) as bare as they dare. It’s consistently the fucking funnest public event that happens in this city, no matter how many years you’ve participated. Truthfully, I wish I could do it again for the first time. One’s own initial maiden WNBR voyage is an experience unmatched in life.
Sadly, and comically, something else happens every year. As hype for WNBR ramps up, so too do the NIMBY voices of puritanical body-shamers determined to eradicate all that is enjoyable and curious and passionate about bicycles and the human body. Local media has proven all too eager to jump on this band-wagon, providing legitimacy to people who yearn to spend their free time worrying how thousands of dangling phalluses and mammary glands are destroying the fabric of American decency.
They say never read the comments, but how can you not? From the Oregonian, KATU, KGW, Facebook and others, these haters are practically self-parodying themselves with childish levels of judgmental absurdity.
From racist xenophobia, to car-centric selfishness, to blatant sexism, to Christian fundamentalism, to outright calls for violent attacks on cyclists, the following recent screen-captured comments illustrate Portland’s harbingers of hatred.
Prepare to facepalm.
Ugh. What’s wrong with people? Do they hate fun on such a deep level they must deride others they perceive as enjoying their own lives? Are they so self-inhibited that the mere reporting of activities they’re afraid to participate in launches them into fits of CAPS-LOCK fury?
In all likelihood, yeah, they are. And they fucking suck for it.
Speculating on how such individuals became so bitter and hateful probably isn’t worth your time, unless psychoanalyzing regressive character flaws is how you get your kicks. For the rest of cycling society, best to laugh it off, strip off our clothes, and fill the streets with bike-sexual sin.
Regardless of your ability or body type, the World Naked Bike Ride welcomes you with love and acceptance. Below are some of my own images taken over the years. For details on what to expect if this Saturday’s WNBR will be your first, click HERE.
See you in the streets!
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World Naked Bike Ride
Stay Wild loves bikes, getting naked, having fun, and protesting the bullshit! That’s why we’re riding in the World Naked Bike Ride. You should too! Saturday June 7th, 8pm, Normandale Park (5600 NE Halsey), Portland, Oregon More info here: http://pdxwnbr.org/ Video by Alin Dragulin: http://www.alindragulin.com/ Music by Summer Cannibals: http://summercannibals.bandcamp.com/
Reta Lane and Spook89 pretty much sum up the problems with the country.
As for Keep Portland Weird, I’m sorry Austin deserves that title, Keep Austin Weird. LOL
Agreed, Austin coined the term, they own it.
Exactly. That amazing 5 blocks of outrageous Austin totally deserves a phrase they coined. No one can ever use anything that ever belonged to anyone else originally ever again. Let’s all go to Ikea now!
I’m not sure how this even came up. Nowhere in this article did I use that phrase.
I am offended by your photos, there are far too many attractive young women in them who are not completely naked.