My first WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE experience.
World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) – just what the title suggests… riding a bike naked! An event that takes place in over 70 cities and 20 countries all around the world! On Sunday 10 March 2019, I participated in my first ever WNBR right in my backyard in Byron Bay! And WOW…what an amazing experience! I’ve done a lot of nude activities…but this event has been an absolute highlight!
WNBR’s slogan:
WNBR IS ON! IT’S TIME TO PUT A STOP TO THE INDECENT EXPOSURE OF PEOPLE AND THE PLANET TO CARS AND THE POLLUTION THEY CREATE.
World Naked Bike Ride took off in 2004. Whilst WNBR represents a number of worthy causes such as bike safety, body positivity and the environment, WNBR has its primary roots in raising awareness about cycling and bike safety to advocate for lessening our dependency on fossil fuels. As the event has grown and spread all across the world, people are banding together in a show of unity to also stand up for social nudity and body positivity. In essence, I suppose many are riding for a cause/s which they hold close to their heart.
This was something I had heard about for the last few years. I’d seen pictures and thought, ‘Ye, that looks like fun’…but hadn’t really seriously considered it until this year!
Well, whilst the pictures look fun and colourful and liberating…they don’t even tell half the story! Nor do they convey the feeling of freedom, empowerment and liberation that one feels when partaking in the ride!
Nudity and society co-existing in a wholesome manner… Us riding through the colourful streets of Byron Bay, Australia.
It is a public event in which participants “bare as they dare”…making it a clothing-optional event in which you can wear as little or as much as you like…you can ride a bike, a skateboard, rollerblades or a unicycle…it really is up to you.
A lot of people cover themselves in body paint for the event, theming themselves out and painting all sorts of liberating and empowering messages onto their body…soon to be a mobile naked billboard of sorts. Some people kept their underwear on and just went topless…most stark naked…covered in body paint and all sorts of creative, quirky and colourful designs.
I had decided that I wanted to go for a ‘fairy-unicorn-mermaid’ kinda look…So, the day before the bike ride, I successfully hunted down some glitter…BIODEGRADABLE, plastic-free glitter of course!!
SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2019:
Sunday morning, a couple of my friends and I made our way down to Byron Bay, making sure we got to the bike hire place before all the bikes had gone (cramming 3 bikes into my car just wasn’t happening!). I scored myself a fun little turquoise ride with a basket…the perfect accomplice for my themed look. Prior to the bike ride, which started at 3pm, we spent the morning frolicking naked at Kings Beach.
Frolicking around at the stunning Kings Beach.
After some beach time, we headed back into town, picked up our rides and made our way to Butler’s Reserve where we were advised to meet prior to the bike ride at 1.30pm. Upon arrival, flocks of people were in the midst of applying body paint and getting into the spirit.
THE ATMOSPHERE ALONE GOT ME ALL RAMPED UP FOR THE RIDE! SEEING A HEAP OF NAKED PEOPLE SPRAWLED AROUND THE FIELD, PLAYING MUSIC, SOCIALISING…THERE’S SOMETHING PRETTY SPECIAL IN WITNESSING THAT ALONE.
Well, I was ready to lather myself in some glitter! My friends and I found a spot down the back of the field, amongst the trees and in the shade.
Action shot – me glitter-glamming myself up prior to the ride… And yes! You can get biodegradable, plastic-free glitter these days! WOO!
I painted on myself a glitter g-string and covered my nipples in some more iridescent glitter. In nothing but some glitter, sneakers and a helmet… I was ready to go! We made our way toward the front of the field where hundreds of naked people gathered in front of the official WNBR poster to get some photos from the official organisers of the event.
Everyone gathering at the front of the field before taking ride.
At 3pm, as a community of nudies banding together in the name of body-positivity, cycling, bike safety, freedom, equality, liberation, awareness and whatever personal messages and significance that this event held for each and every one of us, we took ride. With a police escort, we made our way onto the main street of Byron Bay, Jonson Street. Heading down toward main beach and along some of the Esplanade, proudly ringing our bells, tooting horns and cheering…we let them know that we were coming! The streets came alive on a spectacular level! Blooming with colour, diversity, unity and intention.
WOW…WHAT A LIBERATING AND AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
I’m used to doing all sorts of things and activities naked..but riding a bike naked through the main streets of Byron Bay with around 200 other people, spectators, sharing the road with cars and other cyclitsts…and all without the fear of being arrested or fined for public indecency…now that’s a liberating experience!
I suppose there’s also that feeling of being given the rare opportunity to do something that you would otherwise love to experience as acceptable and normal, but would realistically be fined or arrested for. With it being such a public event that is so bold in its message, another highlight was witnessing the reactions of the spectators and some of the unsuspecting general public.
From what I gaged, spectators were super supportive of the event, cheering and clapping as hoards of naked cyclists passed them by. People taking their phones out to record and take photos. People yelling out messages of encouragement and admiration, delighted at the bravery and commitment of the courageous participants. The feeling of comradery was ever-present; banding together for a cause that’s greater than just the delight one feels when riding in the buff.
If you are considering doing the event, of course there must be the understanding that it is a public event with spectators, so be prepared to have people recording and taking photos on their phones. If that is a concern for you, I know some people strategically applied body paint, wore hats etc to remain a little more incognito. So there are ways around that aspect…and it is SO damn worth it.
With the sun beaming down, the warmth of its rays prompting beads of sweat to tickle my skin, I would stand upright as I peddled my bike, feeling the breeze caress every nook and cranny…Ahhhh… what a feeling!
The only downside for my personal experience…I got sunburnt! I forgot to apply sunscreen! So keep that in mind if you do decide to do a ride in a city that has some SUN!
After two laps of the designated course, we all made our way back to Butler’s Reserve to celebrate our efforts and share in one another’s experiences and elation. Taking photos and having a laugh…all in the nude. It was such a pleasure meeting some of my tribe who follow my blog on social media too…what a blessing! After the event wrapped up, sure enough, everybody begun to put their clothing back on to make their way back to ‘normalcy’…Not me though!
BEING THE BORN REBEL I AM AND IN GOOD, OLD JESSA-FASHION, I DECIDED NOT TO PUT MY CLOTHING BACK ON TO MAKE MY WAY THROUGH TOWN TO RETURN MY BIKE…JUST HOPING THAT THE FAÇADE OF MY GLITTER G-STRING MIGHT ACTUALLY FOOL PEOPLE.
My friend and I with our matching, painted on glitter g-strings.
With my two friends on the lookout for the police, we made tracks. I mean, the bike ride had only just finished anyway! If I got pulled up, I would simply respond with “I forgot to put my clothing back on after the ride! Whoops!” We took some of the back streets to play it safe. How damn liberating this little mission was! A little naughty too, I know. Sure enough, we made it back to the bike shop where I then proceeded to put my clothing back on…only after a photo of course! Success!
Sneaking in a quick photo upon arriving back at the bike hire shop…still naked!
A sneaky snap of me being a rebel…I don’t think anybody noticed?
What an honour to take part in an event that has a multitude of significant messages worth making a stand for. Since the event, I have had countless messages, via my blog, from spectators commenting on the fact that it looked so liberating and fun…which it ABSOLUTELY was! Many expressing that they just wanted to join in.
SO, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A WNBR AND ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT…I SAY DO IT! ABSOLUTELY! IT HONESTLY WAS A TRUE NUDIE HIGHLIGHT FOR ME.
For some, this may have been their first time going publicly nude, a gateway to social nudity. This event may have been the catalyst for them to desire incorporating more social nudity into their personal lives. Perhaps stoking a fire of self-acceptance and body-positivity…motivating them to help in the movement to normalise nudity.
Being an active member in the nudist community, for me the normalisation of nudity is a movement I hold close to my heart. The messages of self-acceptance and body-positivity are topics I feel passionate about and are a lot of that which I base my current work on. The importance to respect our Earth and protect our environment are also morals I uphold in my daily life. Personally, this event represented various messages of significance for me.
If you would like to find out more about the event and see whether there is a WNBR taking place in a city near you, visit http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/
World Naked Bike Ride…What could it mean for you?
Much love,
The Nude Blogger
Xx
