The northern rivers boasts three participating towns in next weekend’s annual World Naked Bike Ride, up from two last year.
First off the rank will be Nimbin, which holds the region’s record for the oldest ongoing ride (nine years) on Saturday morning.
It will be followed by newcomer Lismore on Sunday morning.
And a weekend of textile free cycling can be topped off in downtown Byron Bay on Sunday afternoon.
See our photo gallery of the biggest ever Byron bike ride here.
Nimbin organiser James explains the purpose of the ride is to ‘face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians plus all the negative effects of oil, cars, war, consumerism and non-renewable energy.’
He adds, ‘The ride is not expected to be difficult for any riders. We do a few laps of the main street to rapturous applause from the assembled throng.
Undress code
Most of the participating riders meet up beforehand and paint their bodies to create a vibrant display on the streets.
A bizarre Tweed-Byron police requirement of a few years back, that riders were specifically required to paint their genitals, is not expected to be repeated after a number of cyclists chose fluorescent colours to make their, er, point.
The official (un)dress code for the ride is ‘Bare As You Dare!’ Whether you choose to be fully clothed, partially clothed, costumed, painted or completely naked, the decision is entirely yours.
Says James, ‘This ride is immense fun. The joy, exhilaration and confidence you will get from it will warm your heart for years to come!
48,000 pageviews
Meanwhile, Byron Bay organiser Debra is excited and a little nervous after discovering that in the past week almost 48,000 people have viewed the Byron Bay WNBR Facebook page.
Expecting a crowd, she said this year the group will meet at Butler Street Reserve, on the west side of railway line, rather than at the station as in previous years.
Where to meet
Nimbin: Saturday March 11 – meet at the Bush Theatre at 10am to paint up, with cycling starting ‘sometime later’. ‘We don’t run to a clock in Nimbin,’ says James.
Lismore: Sunday March 12, meet at 10am at Lismore Community Gardens, corner Brewster and Magellan streets, for paint-up. Ride starts at 11.00am sharp.
Byron Bay: Meet at Butler Street from 1.30pm onwards for body art. Ride starts at 3pm sharp.
For more information check out the Nimbin, Byron and Lismore WNBR Facebook pages.
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