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?

I agree with you OP. There's nothing shameful about normal, naked bodies, but it is inappropriate for people to cycle around naked in public IMO. Genitals aren't shameful, but they are private. An appropriate way for children to see that all sorts of bodies are normal is at a beach or swimming pool, where genitals are covered. As a PP said, I also think people should be able to choose whether they wish to see someone's genitals or not.

Then don’t go into town - save your eyes lol!

shreddednips Yes, exactly this, I have no issues with the human body in any shape or form and my teens are very comfortable with their own bodies. However, we as a nation are contradicting ourselves for one moment we are teaching our children that their genitals are private but on the other hand it’s ok to show them off in public places, how is that not confusing for little children?
And yes, we should have choices when it’s in public places. If someone is a naturist that’s absolutely fine when it is in areas designed for that purpose but the average person going about their days probably doesn’t want to see the sweaty arse crack of some protestor. I personally don’t pop round to my friend’s house and they open the door naked, so why would I want to see a strangers body in my local town centre?

I suppose it depends if they have their asses in the air in the manner of Geraint Thomas in a stage of the Tour de France or more spodding along on a bike that might have a basket on it.

I've seen it before and believe me it's more like the second version. And nobody had Gaz Tom vibes. And it was all over in a pale blurry flash. Quick as you like.

It's going to pale and sweaty and tbh quite funny. To my childish mind anyway.

But good on them making sweaty arses of themselves if it highlights climate change. And noooooo please don't bring a leaflet over and chat to me.

Can't imagine the practicals on a day like this.

Why would it make people use cars less?

People don't make major lifestyle adjustments based on the nakedness of cyclists.

Actually the more I think of it the more I don't care a dot.

There are so many worse things to see at the actual flick of a switch in our own homes.

Whilst I'm not gagging to get an eyeful of a sweaty cyclist of any description I think the whole event brings a bit of colour and humour to the everyday.

Personally I think they just like doing it. Climate change is an excuse.

I am so baffled by this thread.

First, women are in these protests all the time. Cf last year's ride in London (trigger warning, since it seems to be needed: naked bodies of both sexes on bikes): https://www.timeout.com/london/news/in-pictures-the-world-naked-bike-ride-swept-through-london-081621 or https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3636831/Now-s-going-make-saddle-sore-Hundreds-cyclists-ride-naked-London-protest-against-car-culture.html

Second, while I happen to think it's lame and a bit pathetic (ooooh, shock me!), it's not, actually, shocking. It's a non-sexualized naked body.

Finally, do people really need to see danger everywhere? Including in a very boring, very anodyne, slightly try-hard, well-announced naked jaunt in the street?

yanbu if i wanted to look at a sweaty bollock sack in 25 degree heat id look at dh's.

yanbu if i wanted to look at a sweaty bollock sack in 25 degree heat id look at dh's.

🤣

Including in a very boring, very anodyne, slightly try-hard, well-announced naked jaunt in the street?

It made me laugh anyway.

It's a naked ride to raise awareness. It appears to have worked

Yes, because we are all talking about the climate here.

Nancydrawn this thread isn’t about it being shocked, it’s about the fact it’s pointless and does not draw much attention to a very serious cause.
And yes, there are women participating but it’s was predominantly men when I they cycled passed dd and I. And I don’t doubt for a minute that most are nice, law abiding citizens but when you are walking down a street on your own with your 10 year old dd and about 100 naked (mainly men) go by, it’s a very strange experience.

Twats

I'm more likely to drive so I can easily escape naked cyclists, if anything

Is absolutely vile and just an excuse for dirty perverts to expose themselves under the guise of doing it for the “good”

Just because you disagree with something doesn't mean it should be banned. I disagree with barbecues but I don't think I'd get very far trying to ban them. At least with naked cyclists you can look away with barbecues you can't escape the smell .

I personally am always astonished at how much time mumsnetters spend talking about other peoples genitals

So, the nakedness is to attract attention but to notice the nakedness is astonishing? Okay.

No let's be honest you were being ageist.

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!

Why should people have to change their plans to avoid seeing naked people?

Why should people have to change their plans to avoid seeing naked people?

Exactly. Nudity in public is socially unacceptable...the reason is irrelevant. I expect to go about my business in public without having to see other people's genitalia. It's rank

I agree. It's grim.

People have been doing absurdist protest for a very long time. The Yippies exorcised the Pentagon. Dadaism was a form of protest--people were shocked shocked about Duchamp's 'Fountain' (a urinal) and his display of foam breasts. The point is to get attention (which this has) and to disrupt the ordinary (which this did). Obviously it is not as rational as, say, writing a white paper or gathering signatures for a petition, but that's not the only way to protest.

If I had to pick between people gluing things to priceless Constables or having a naked bike ride, I know which one I'd choose.

Sorry but have many of you seen this?

You really don't get see much in the way of genitalia actually. 😁

it's mostly pink limbs and squashed arses. And they woosh past. On bikes.
The beach will be worse today.