Naked cycle ride in my town today

[JustlookingNotbuying]

We have a naked cycle ride through our local town this afternoon.
Apparently, it’s a protest against car usage.
This has been a thing for several years now (with a hiatus over the last two years).
About 4 years back my, (at the time), 10 year old dd pointed these people out to me when we were walking near the town one day. We stood there whilst a load of (mainly) middles aged and older men cycled past completely naked.
I have no issue with body image and my kids have grown up not to be ashamed of their bodies/nakedness etc but I don’t think it’s on for naked strangers to be cycling past young children with everything on show.
I am all for protesting and especially global warming/climate control issues but wouldn’t it be better to be done in a more fun/carnival-type way where they can involve all ages and the protesters could stop and talk to people and express their concerns, hand over leaflets with tips and advice to reduce car use etc? This seems a bit pointless, I mean, who would want to stop and chat to naked 60 year old Bob about his concerns over global warming while his cock and balls are sat there flopped over the bike seat, no thanks!
I don’t know if this is a country-wide protest but it’s coming to another nearby town in a few weeks.
Has anyone else seen this in their town? Do you have any thoughts about it?

Why is it that a lot of advice is if you don't like it you look away.
There are a lot of disturbing people and acts in society. Do we just look away from them too?

I agree with you OP.

We recently had a naked man and woman on a tandem bike in Perth and in the comments section on the article someone put, “Have you seen the seats on those things? One pot hole and their holes will be well and truly potted!”

Do you find nudity disturbing @PortMac ?
Is it shameful and needing to be locked away?

Theres always a lot of women who take part in the Cardiff one.

One of these bike rides passed me a few years ago. I just laughed. I didn't look away, and nor did I see any genitalia. When sitting on a bike seat and cycling, the person's legs tend to hide anything, and it's not like the passers by are really up close to have a stare.

Totally missing the point. Not that I need to justify myself but no I don't find it shameful but well done for the patronising tone.
I'm talking about other acts in society that are disturbing.
I'm sure I don't have to list examples.
I'm saying why do we all have to look away and pretend it's not happening.

Also WTF is happening on MN that everyone is up for a fight?

Cycling with clothes on tends to leave one with a sore arse, can’t imagine how comfortable cycling naked would be and in this heat! Gross

Chaffing and skidmarks...yuk

Meh, total non issue. Can’t see how a bunch of naked people on bikes is particularly offensive in any way. As long as they’re not being sexually suggestive/explicit, they’re just people with bodies protesting something that’s important to them.

People say dont look but the first time I saw them I was dragging myself back from the supermarket hungover. A parade of cyclists turned into the end of the long rode I was walking up coming towards me, beeping horns and yelling and drawing attention to themselves. Your natural inclination is to look fgs and what I saw wrinkly old wangs was enough to make me nearly throw up in the street in my hungover state. I had no idea they were a "thing" nor that it was on that day.

I am 50 myself so not young and most certainly not ageists. I used a 60 year old man as an example simply because that is about the average age of these people in this protest. Just simple stating a fact ageism doesn’t enter it. If they were predominantly 30 year old women that would have been my statement but they are mainly middle age to older men in this thing!

I can't get worked up about this. None sexualised naked bodies shouldn't be something you think you should shield your children from, otherwise the first time your child sees a naked body of a person not from their household is probably pornography.

It's vile.

PutinIsAWarCriminal I am not getting worked up about it but I am passionate about issues such as climate control and it seems such a senseless waste of time, for all they are doing is drawing attention to their nakedness. This time of theirs could have been put to much better use to help educate people. The whole climate control protest is washed away. No one say ‘oh do you remember those people naked cycling through town? Let’s ditch the car and get on out bikes instead’ Very few people are going to do that they are just going to discuss the group of folk without clothes who passed through the town,,laugh and forget about it. It’s ridiculous.

Jesus, imagine getting stuck on the plastic seat, or if tfl style fabric hot hot and prickly. 😲
Anyway, I think it should be people’s choice when and who’s genitals you see, and why should the unwilling viewer have to change their route? And sorry, if you don’t think imposing your bits on to other people's vision isn’t sexual, why do they do it? It’s a power play, like all flashers indulge in. You want to raise awareness, a T-shirt is fine.

Oh brill, they're all doing kids a favour by being naked now. Two birds one stone, saving the planet and acclimatising kids to nakedness, one skid mark at a time. They're the real heroes.

I doubt everyone would be so cool if dislikeable people used it as a tactic. Naked fascist skin-head protest anyone? Naked anti-abortionists yelling outside abortion clinics? Just, y'know, bringing a bit of attention to their argument, you're not ashamed of nudity are you?

God, can you imagine the chafing and blisters from rubbing naked sweaty skin against a saddle in the heat today?!? There are going to be some sore bum cracks tomorrow.

I think the posters who are saying it's only bodies, we've all got one and they are nothing to be ashamed of are overlooking a crucial thing.
Firstly if it's all so good and high minded, where are the naked women? Don't women cyclists care just as much about climate change?
The fact that these protesters are overwhelmingly male makes me question the motivation of at least some of them.
I have just finished reading a long and unpleasant thread with far too many examples of male exhibitionism in 'unisex' and even female changing rooms. It has made me wonder if these protests might include some sort of crossover behaviour.

How is anyone forced to look?

Why are they grotty? Is it just because they're old?

I'm sure you could think of lots of worse things if you put your mind to it.

OP - I think you live near me too

I can. A size eighteen woman in crop-top and Lycra on a hot day is worse than a slim naked cyclist of either sex.

Different people find different things offensive, a rare naked ride for a good cause is not anywhere near the top of my list.