I am going to combine 2 of my passions in a few weeks! Cycling and nudism, plus some body paint thrown in!! Praying for more of the recent weather for Saturday June 8th (date of London WNBR)
Looking to amass a posse of body painted female Spirited Bodies in particular; we’ll arrange a meeting place to get painted up and hit the road together. Naturally we would love our male friends to join us too but women tend to be shyer so the call is first to them, so they know a safe and friendly space awaits.
Some of our women friends who do not actually want to ride will help with the painting and join in the picnic. If you want to join us in any capacity, get in touch. I think the ride starts at 2:45 – 3pm, depending on where you start (there are a few designated starting points) and finishes by 5:30pm.
Being painted can be a way to be in disguise if you do not want to be recognised. Equally you could wear a mask; and full nudity is not a requirement, this is simply a clothing optional event. Being in various states of undress is totally cool. I will probably wear some shoes for protection but I think that will be all. I may look to adding an extra layer of comfort to my slightly torn bike seat however, unless I choose to rollerblade! Skate boarders also welcome, in fact the event aims to be as inclusive as possible in various ways – what WNBR is about
WNBR organisers make it clear that it is only ok to be nude once the ride has officially started (due to reasons of dealing with authorities), but obviously we need to factor in painting time and arrange a space for this. It is also important to be able to carry your clothing with you whilst cycling.
There are many guidelines for the ride on sites like http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/ and http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/ plus similar groups on Facebook.
You do not need to sign up, you may simply turn up. This is a political protest about pollution, and human dependence on non-renewable energy resources, as well as a way for cyclists to create a sense of solidarity, reminding other vehicle drivers of their presence. Then there is the nudity about reclaiming the body, celebrating the body together, outdoors in our public streets of cities around the world.
I avoided the ride in years past thinking of the pests, but recently have been connected with naturists, especially naturist women. I realise the importance of my role as a woman who is comfortable with my nudity and happy to be identified. There will never be more women enjoying their bodies more if women like me don’t make a point of showing off about it! We can work towards normalising our status and getting equal female representation in all the best possible places.
Pictures show a harmonious male and female model combination; they are from a life class Lucy and Santosh recently paired up at, The Prince Regent pub in Herne Hill on a Wednesday evening run by Lisa Brown.
Spirited Bodies 
Sounds great fun! I’d love to do it one year, though won’t be in the country for this one. I’ve been wary of all the photographers in previous years too, but your conclusion seems the most positive way forward! Good luck with getting a group together 🙂
Thank you Jon 🙂
Hi,
I like you article on naturism and body painting connected to the London Naked Bike Ride.
I did the London Naked Bike Ride last year, but in a Ricksaw! Cheating I know, but in the Ricksaw you are a lot safer from prying eyes and cameras, and physically safer than being naked on a bike!
I am still planning to do the ride this year in the ricksaw, but would like to have some body painting done this year.
Is it possible to get some body painting done with you? I am willing to pay!
Regards,
Huw
07411 711949
Jameshuw@yahoo.co.uk
Hi Huw, Thank you and that is great to hear about the rickshaw alternative that may appeal to people who are either not up for cycling or prefer not to be seen. I will let you know about the painting nearer the time, and feel free to nudge me on that. Many thanks for your comment, hope to see you. Best, Esther
Here is a meeting point for the ride; https://www.facebook.com/events/360574334052248/
and a preceding social occasion; https://www.facebook.com/events/448629968545915/
I do not encourage women to sign up to naturist events publicly as sometimes they get hassled. We will make our own arrangements privately
Hi Esther,
Here are the details for the Ricksaw that I hired last year:- http://www.ecochariots.com/
Hopefully this will be useful to people who might be shy or nervous using a bike!
Regards,
Huw James
07411 711949
Jameshuw@yahoo.co.uk
Thank you Huw, most helpful
hi james. i am also looking for someone to paint my body. have you find any good info on this?
i will appreciate your help 07588570744
Thank you for this, Esther, this is an enormous help to our event. I am the point of contact for bodypainting for the London ride.
The World Naked Bike Ride is probably the world’s largest protest of any kind, insofar as it takes place almost at the same time in 50 cities around the world. Also it is the only protest that is exclusively peaceful and fun.
Apart from campaigning for less dependence on carbon fuels, we are at the forefront of the fight for greater safety for cyclists.
In effect the nudity is a tactic and has only mutated into the third tenet…. that of body freedom and acceptance. Who will take notice of 1,200 cuclists in Zuckerberg-grey t-shirts? …….but naked bodies? People look!
That is where the bodypaint comes in, because the message it conveys is engraved in the spectator’s mind along with the nudity that distracted them.
The bodypaint is an organic component of our Bike Ride and I have been for a few years dubiously entrusted with co-ordinating this and the stewarding for the London even.
My first point in summary is that we need you, personally, at the Marble Arch start. There are always laymen willing to paint, but expertise as a mentor to the slapdashers makes all the difference.
Secondly, we have conceded to authorities that we do not strip fully naked until half-an-hour before the start at the Arch. But we have some inconspicuous locations in the park itself where the rules may just be bent a little, away from the public eye, so long as the numbers at any one time are not too great.
Thirdly, If people do not want to come into the heart of London, we have four other starts at Regents Park, Clapham Junction, West Norwood and Granary Square (near Kings Cross)
I would be more than obliged if you could really get hands-on with this and help me and Nigel Currie (who is the dedicated bodypaint co-organiser) and if possible use your contacts to get more to vontribute colourfully to this campaign.
Please join our group, the London Painters, on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheLondonPainters/permalink/240747039383830/
We are looking to co-ordinate things from there on the simple premise that, for all its myriad faults, FB is used by 90% of people online.
I hope that you are able to give away some of your time to help the rest of us make something of this.
ThanXXX and regards
Will Golden
willy-nilly@ntlworld.com – (personal)
wnbrlondon@ntlworld.com – (WNBR-specific)
Hi everyone , this is my third ride and loving them all! there is only one thing that goes wrong for me each year and that is BODYPAINTING. I want to look at my best this year so if anybody can help by informing me about a place where i can get this done ( willing to pay).
Please please please. i will appreciate your help. thank you
07588570744
Hi Damian, thanks for getting in touch. There will be some people happy to help paint others for a small fee. Do email me… estherbunting@gmail.com
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