(Photo © J. Maus)
Just a few days left until Portland’s annual skin-only cycling soiree, the World Naked Bike Ride. Last year, an estimated 5,000 took part (more than doubling the 2008 total), making it the largest naked bike parade in North America (if not the world?).
If recent growth trends continue (see graph below), organizers say they could get well over 10,000 riders this year. Sound like fun?! If you plan to roll out on Saturday night, here are some things to keep in mind.
But first, here’s a look at the ride’s skyrocketing growth 😉 :
The meeting spot is at the vacant (ODOT-owned) lot at SE Water and Taylor (map), just north of the Hawthorne Bridge. Also, it’s BYOB this year and make sure to keep your beveraging inside the lot (you will likely be cited if you drink on the street).
Also, for the first time ever, the ride starts at 10:00pm, not midnight as per usual tradition.
The other big difference this year is that there’s no Dance Party before and after the ride. It’s a huge and costly (remember the stress after last year?) undertaking to find an affordable space for thousands of naked people, so organizers eschewed one big party and instead have set up several after-parties.
Official after-party locations are at Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th), Backspace (115 NW 5th), and the food carts at SE 12th and Hawthorne.
If this is your first time, read this very helpful entry on the Shift wiki site. Also take a look at Shift’s World Naked Bike Ride page for an FAQ and other details about this year’s ride. To get a feel for what it’s like and read lots of comments from others who have done it, see my reports from 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005.
And for good measure, here’s the slideshow from last year’s ride (NSFW depending on where you work):
From personal experience, I can say there’s simply no other ride quite like the Naked Ride. Whether you go all the way nude or keep a few things on, whether you do it for politics or fun or both, it’s something you won’t ever forget.
Hope to see a huge crowd Saturday night!
UPDATES:
More tips to keep in mind from the folks at Shift (followed by updated list of after parties):
– meet starting at 9 in the empty lot on the 1100 block of SE water street
– bag check will be available (dropoff ONLY before ride, pickup ONLY after ride)
– BYOB, alcohol allowed ONLY inside of the fenced lot!
– don’t block water street or taylor street to car traffic before/after the ride, please!
– ride will start at 10 with a musical sendoff
– route is 12 miles
– ride will return to start point
– meeting site and bag check will close at 1AM – head to an afterparty!
More after parties have been confirmed:
– *Dutch will lead a ride to a mystery outdoor destination to party all night. Nudity allowed, all ages, BYOB. departs from ride start/end point after ride.
–Whiffies Fried Pies at 12th and Hawthorne welcomes riders to party (and chow) down at their cart utopia. ALL AGES
–Ante Up: free dance party featuring DJ Dotor Adam, DJ Ronin Roc and DJ Nature at Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th). 21+ FREE BEFORE 11/$3 thereafter
–Ante Down: free down tempo afterparty featuring DJ Skinny Miracles at Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave. ALL AGES
–Beauty Bar: 80’s/90’s dance party featuring DJF and DJ Rhienna 111 Southwest Ash Street, 21+ FREE
–Matador – naked friendly and drink specials! can hold ~100. 21+ FREE
–East End – expecting us, can hold a couple hundred. 21+ FREE FOR WNBR (there’s a cover/show otherwise)