Why Didn't You Attend Naked Ride?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mattbikes1 on June 21, 2010 at 6:13pm

I like many who may not have attended had to work. Sorry.

Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on June 21, 2010 at 6:23pm

I was at a wedding that night but doubt that I would have shown up even if I wasn't (though I wanted to try it). Age held me back. How is a man in his 50's precieved at a thing like this? Honest question. Would he be looked at as a freak or be accepted? I feel OK about being on Critical Mass rides and have found bike riders and Chain Linkers pretty positive. But Naked Ride???? What do you think?

Permalink Reply by Old Tom on June 21, 2010 at 6:28pm

Let me get this straight; now the people who aren't screwballs are supposed to explain why they're not?

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 6:29pm

You wouldn't have noticed the age difference at all. We have riders of all ages and body types. It might be the least judgmental crowd I've ever had the pleasure of being in. ;-)

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on June 21, 2010 at 6:29pm

I have a strong feeling this will just end up falling off the board cause people hate facing there own weakness but maybe getting called out will get you off your duff for next year!

It sounds like you'll be disappointed if it doesn't.

But anyways, I thought Chicago had the world's largest naked ride? What happened? Exactly how poor was turnout this year? I've seen reports going on and on about what a wonderful ride it was this year. Were those people all lying? Has attendance been a downward trend? If so, is Portland causing that somehow? Or is it because Chicagoans are becoming "weaker" year over year? Or are we becoming lazier and choosing to be "on our duff" rather than on a mandatory bike ride?

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 6:39pm

Attendance was at about 1500 which for us seems to be the average at this point. it was a fantastic ride and fun as always.

I'll be very happy if it stays on the board but other that matt's answer about work I don't think there are many reasons to skip this event. You can skip the debauchery, you can ride clothed with security, you can ride naked but you should be riding!

My reasons for peoples non-attendance trend toward religion. Catholics and Protestants make up a HUGE swath of the city and they get brow beatin' into feeling bad about nudity.

Or maybe you are right Chicago was 13th fattest while Portland was 6th fittest. Our fat ass city just couldn't manage the ride cause they all had hoagies in their mouths.

Why didn't you come Howard?

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on June 21, 2010 at 6:44pm

Why didn't you come Howard?

None of your business, sorry.

Two questions though:

1) Do you think the estimate of 11-13,000 for Portland is accurate?

2) Do you think you can improve future attendance by cajoling, shaming, and insulting people into "getting off their duffs?"

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 6:45pm

So your perspective is that riding to protest oil use makes you a screwball? Riding for bikers rights makes you a screwball?

Interesting perspective but i think you've missed the point all together.

Old Tom said:

Let me get this straight; now the people who aren't screwballs are supposed to explain why they're not?

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 6:49pm

Well thanks for chiming in ;-)

H3N3 said:

Why didn't you come Howard?

None of your business, sorry.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on June 21, 2010 at 6:53pm

Gabe said:

So your perspective is that riding to protest oil use makes you a screwball?

Is it really a ride to protest oil?

The pre-ride instructions were pretty specific that riders should adorn themselves with protest messages "for maximum first amendment protection," not for the purpose of protesting anything.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on June 21, 2010 at 7:03pm

Darn, I was worried some might not love the Portland news.

Portland can now boast not just biggest in the U.S. (which we were in 2008 with 1700), but possibly biggest WNBR on the planet. Not too shabby to be among runners-up to that. I actually like that their lead is so vast that I don't have to worry about beating it.

After they boasted 5000 last year, my main conclusion was that a key is that they've become formally integrated in the city's bike summer equivalent. Sanctioned, on civic calendars, treated like a fest. I'm working on that here, and consider it likely eventually.

We de-prioritized growth in 2009/2010. Things like the messages, safety, capacity, reducing printing, took priority over sheer numbers. I've guessed about 1200-1400 the last two rides.
Demographic differences also seems valid. A friend joked that Portland's number means something like half the city rode in it. Interesting contrasts also exist in Critical Mass turnouts across the nation.

In Chicago I'm pretty convinced the NUMBER ONE effector is weather. Our turnout seems at the whim of the forecast, which typically predicts wet, but then goes clear. Among future plans are to reiterate that fact to riders ("it always sprinkles a little"), to have some awnings, or in seriousness, move our ride weeks later. It is after all still pretty cool here in June.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 7:09pm

Yes, it's a protest ride. You want to paint your body with whatever protest slogan you like. Since you've been on the ride and seen the body paining I know you already are aware of that. ;-)

If a police officer decides to make an arrest (as happened in Madison) and you are naked on the ride it's a sign you are part of the protest. If you are naked on the ride and you have "Fuck BP!" as was popular this year, it's more obvious. So when one of the lawyers from the NLG represents the person that was taken into custody it becomes clear to the judge or jury that the person was a protester and not just out causing trouble.

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