Have you ever endeavored upon a naked bike ride?
In Philadelphia each year, thousands of people take a crack at it.
And this time around, the proud pedalfest’s of particular import.
Last year, the whole thing was canned due to corona.
From the official website at the time:
We hope that you’re healthy and well. 2020 has been an interesting year so far, and we were hoping that we’d be farther along in the reopening process to make it feasible to hold this year’s event. Unfortunately, due to rising COVID cases, Philly’s transition to green has been halted.
After much debate, we feel that canceling this year’s event is the most responsible thing to do.
Still, the group held to hope:
“We hope to see you next year, hopefully under better and healthier circumstances.”
“Keep up your (socially distant) riding,” they offered, “and be safe.”
And now, as they say, we come to the payoff.
Per a new entry on the site, the 2021 Philadelphia Naked Bike Ride will indeed occur.
On August 28th, a bit of hope will be dangling for all to see.
The ad promises “an astonishing spectacle!”
And it’s all for a good cause:
[The event is] a free, no-registration-required ride, with thousands of naked (or bare as they dare) cyclists, riding together to promote fuel conscious consumption, positive body image, mutual aid, and cycling advocacy!
So strip down to your bare necessities, hop on your Huffy, and have at it.
But organizers still want to do the “most responsible thing.”
Therefore, per this year’s rules, all participants will be required to wear a mask.
That’s right — while other orifices can air out, you’ll need to keep your nose and mouth muzzled.
This year’s (12th) ride’s being touted as “The Mask Edition.”
It’s certainly not the first time COVID edicts have curiously intersected with sweat and skin.
Last December’s case in point:
State Tells Wrestlers to Get Sweaty and All Over Each Other, Just Don’t Shake Hands
But in the instance of the bike ride, perhaps the perplexing policy is wise — some people showing their body may prefer not to show their face.
Either way, here’s a bit of PennLive’s coverage of 2019’s affair:
It was a new day and a new route for the Philly Naked Bike Ride, an annual tradition 11 years strong in which nude (and barely clothed) cyclists take to the streets of the City of Brotherly Love to promote body positivity.
Hundreds came out to participate in the ride, which started in FDR Park before heading over to the trendy East Passyunk neighborhood, up to City Hall and over to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Planner and pedaler Wesley Hanna raved over the raw ride:
“It feels like a big rolling party. What makes the ride special for me is the fact it brings all the different bike crews in the city together.”
“We all come together and we pull this thing off and we get to invite an enormous amount of people in the city and we show them where we ride on a daily basis,” he said. “We’re showing people something really awesome here.”
“The naked bike ride,” the outlet explained, “is really a celebration of Philadelphia cycling. It just happens to be done naked.”
And it just happens to be coming soon.
Hopefully, everyone will be pumped; and no one has a blowout.
Particularly due to the pent-up frustration of last year’s lockdown, I bet a bevy of in-the-buff bikers will be will be giving it a go for the first time.
And of course, it isn’t for everyone.
Not every biker will have a ball, but surely many balls will be had.
-ALEX