what part of "No" don't you understand?

[ComputerNecromancer]

Ok, Saturday night was the big ride of the Portland branch of the World Naked Bike Ride.

Now, a lot of folks on the side of the road (and sometimes crowded a ways out into the road) will stick out a hand to sort of "high five" riders. If I'm close enough and stable enough I'll do it. And if folks pull back a bit as I approach, not my problem.

That bit about stability is important too. If you are at the wrong speed or the bike chose to get a bit wobbly just then you can get dumped. Saw it happen to a lady in front of me at one point. Barely managed to avoid riding over her. She got up and rode on though.

Anyway, at one point I was about 10 feet behind and 5 feet closer to the curb than one woman who was wearing a big white "puffy" skirt (lots of layers of white chiffon). And otherwise naked.

This woman stepped out from the curb and tried to get the lady in the skirt to high five her. The lady declined. Perfectly understandable. Some folks don't like having that sort of contact with strangers.

But the (more than a bit drunk I suspect) woman kept insisting after being quite clearly told no. And followed the lady for about half a block. With me having to avoid running over her.

Sorry, but we *ain't* there for your jollies folks. It's nice to get some of the attention. And not so nice to get some of the rude comments. But the ride is more for the riders. And a statement.

[PepperElf]

i've never heard of this bike ride. i can only wonder .... if those hard bike seats hurt even more if you're bare-arsed. i know they're painful enough even with clothing on.

[ComputerNecromancer]

i've never heard of this bike ride.

Well, I admit that I didn't hear about until they covered it on the news 7 or more years back. Wasn't until 4(?) years ago that I heard about *before* it happened.

This was the third year I rode.
I'm in this pic from last year:

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/bik...n/photostream/

Needless to say the above is very much NSFW

i can only wonder .... if those hard bike seats hurt even more if you're bare-arsed. i know they're painful enough even with clothing on.

Unless you are wearing padded bike shorts (yes, they exist) they'll feel much the same.

Some seats are more padded than others. And if you don't bike a lot, or are heavier, then you probably want the "old fashioned" wide seats rather than the narrow "racing" saddles.

Padded seat covers are available. I use one.

But the seats tend to hurt less if you bike more. This was a 6.7 mile ride and took my friend and I a bit under an hour.