World Naked Bike Ride Guide: Official after-party details, tips, and more

Mini Bike Winter Party-31

Catch the Sprockettes at a
pre-party in North Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is this Saturday night and there are some late-breaking developments to share.

The big news is that locally-based craft beer icon Bridgeport Brewing has stepped up to be the sponsor and host of the official WNBR after-party.

I asked Bridgeport why they’d put their legendary and esteemed brand name next to a naked bike ride. Here’s what they said:

“Being that BridgePort is Portland’s oldest craft brewery – it only made sense to pair an iconic brand with an iconic event. Food carts, great live music, stellar beer and proceeds to benefit Shift — this is what Portland is all about.”

And here’s a flyer they’ll release tomorrow:

Gotta’ love it.

The Bridgeport party will be outdoors under the Hawthorne Bridge at SE 2nd and MLK Blvd from 11:30 pm – 2:30 am. There will be Bridgeport on tap (with some proceeds going to Shift to help pay for WNBR), music from DJ Gulls, and food from Koi Fusion, Golden State, and Whiffies.

Bridgeport says the City has granted them a street closure permit with the condition that folks wear bottoms. That’s right. To get into this party, you’ll need to put on your pants on. Shirtless is OK (and I assume that means for men and women).

If you’d rather keep all your clothes off and still party after the ride, there are four other “naked friendly” unofficial after-parties planned:

    Crystal Ballroom (Lola’s) (1332 W Burnside)
    21+, free, naked-friendly, and a “big sweaty dance party” says the flyer.

    Matador (1967 W Burnside)
    21+, free, naked-friendly, drink specials, pool, photobooth (!).

    Weird Bar (3701 SE Division)
    21+, free, naked-friendly, DJ, karaoke. A PDX Pride party.

    Mystery Ride (led by North Freak and Dropout bike clubs)
    Meet at 11:30 pm north of Vera Katz statue on the Esplanade. Ride to an unofficial, free, all-ages outdoor rocking party, BYOB, “goes all night.”

But wait, there’s more.

If you want to get excited and inspired before the ride and help raise money for the awesome Sprockettes so they can go on tour in August, they’re hosting a pre-WNBR-party and benefit show at 6:00 pm on N. Failing Street between Vancouver and Williams.

WNBR has a theme this year. It’s Carnivale! Think feathers, beads, Brazil, Mardi Gras, etc…

WNBR organizers know their stuff. They’ve pulled this ride off for many years and suffice it to say that a ride with thousands of naked people has some unique challenges. With that in mind, they’re distributing a list of rules with some common sense reminders:

For more tips and information about the WNBR, check out this link. After missing the event last year, I’m really looking forward this.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Paul Tay
Paul Tay
12 years ago

ROFLMFAO! Gotta put yer pants on fo’ da dang doggone aft-partaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Gaaaaaaaawd, I’d hate to be da Pants Nazi fo’ da evenin’.

Spiffy
12 years ago
Reply to  Paul Tay

I wonder if a banana hammock counts as “bottoms”…

Schrauf
12 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Absolutely. Hell, maybe even just a few stickers or body paint…

DT
DT
12 years ago

Wow, holy organization, Batman! I’m super impressed that there’s this much official involvement from the city and local businesses. Amazing how this event has grown up over the last several years….

Esther
Esther
12 years ago
Reply to  DT

The event has only ‘grown up’ through the hard work and dedication of a core group of volunteers including Chris, Kate, Carl, Steph, Lily, Stephen, Meghan, Halley, Dutch, and others I’m sure I’m forgetting, who have worked with the city, county, Portland Police, fire marshalls, and private sponsors, getting permits, music, and space rental, planning the route, organizing volunteers, decorating, making art, setting up lights and fencing and rugs and infrastructure, planning for the garbage & recycling….

SPEAKING OF WHICH, WNBR is still apparently in need of volunteers. Can you imagine the work that Kate is going to be doing cleaning up after 10,000+ people? Volunteers are still needed to sign up here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEhoRjc5amVsUXV1UHBIWnpiU3AyTFE6MQ There will be pizza, donuts, and coffee!

P Finn
P Finn
12 years ago

“Where your pants”…that’s what they’ll be saying a’ight…

Hop Czar
Hop Czar
12 years ago

Hear ye, Hear ye… The Hop Czar is here to clear this up. The city says “you gotta wear bottoms” – I say – even a lil bit of bottoms is ok. Banana Hammocks? Go for it! A couple of well placed pasties? Fine by me! Come get your party on under the bridge people! Free admission and $3 beers – Czar approved.

Carl
Carl
12 years ago
Reply to  Hop Czar

Long live Hop Czar! (and $3 beer! and banana hammocks!)

Randall S.
Randall S.
12 years ago

WHY IS IT ALWAYS COLD FOR WNBR?!! I mean really, a high of 62? And that’s in the middle of the day!

Time to break out the embrocations, I guess.

TheCowabungaDude
12 years ago
Reply to  Randall S.

I used embrocations last year and it was perfect. Plus, my skin had a sweet smell of nutmeg to cover the odors floating from my exposed ******.

Gianni Faresin
Gianni Faresin
12 years ago

Still looking forward to the day when cycling is mainstream enough that this won’t exist.

SilkySlim
SilkySlim
12 years ago
Reply to  Gianni Faresin

Ha! I think the barrier being challenged here is a nudity/decency one – bikes are just the vehicle.

ianni faresin
ianni faresin
12 years ago
Reply to  SilkySlim

Interesting distinction, and probably spot-on. Still, as someone who’s been riding (daily commuting as well as racing) bikes in Portland since the 90s, I’ll admit to being annoyed by the freakshow aspect that some associate with bike culture here. Like you said, maybe bikes are just the vehicle, rather than the focus. Frankly, I think bikeportland doesn’t get a lot of that and has contributed to the misconception, but whatever. That’s a longer conversation.

dan
dan
12 years ago

A big pffft to Bridgeport sponsoring the afterparty. They are now owned by Gambrinus Company, and have been for 10+ years. Gambrinus is a San Antonio-based company that thinks it’s a good idea to do things like gut the original Bridgeport brewery and pizza house and turn it into a soulless tourist trap high end bakery / fine dining establishment (with lousy food and service). Sponsoring the WNBR afterparty isn’t nearly enough for them to get on my good side; they could invite me over to the brewery for all the beer I can drink every day this summer and I still wouldn’t forgive them for what they’ve done to Bridgeport.

Besides…a pioneering Oregon microbrewery is now owned out of San Antonio, TX?!? To misquote that old Pace commercial, “San Antonio! Get a rope!”

wnbr noob
wnbr noob
12 years ago

Great ride, worst after party DJ’s ever.

John Lascurettes
12 years ago
Reply to  wnbr noob

He did seem incapable of mixing didn’t he? And his transitions were horrible. Still, I was dancing and that’s rare.

Hop Czar
Hop Czar
12 years ago

Man – what a night on Saturday! In the meanwhile – we need your help recovering four dance lights swiped from the DJ area.

They are Astera AL-7 spots and they belong to one of our wonderful vendors that worked so hard to throw such an awesome party. These lights are useless without their proprietary recharging system and remote programming system so there should be no reason to hang on to them.

If you or someone you know might have one of them, PLEASE get it returned as soon as possible, absolutely no questions asked. Return the fixtures to the offices of R-West at 1430 SE 3rd Ave., on the 3rd floor.