NSFW: My favorite World Naked Bike Ride photos from the last 20 years

So much flesh in this shot from the Hawthorne Viaduct looking onto SE Water Ave in 2012. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Drama about who’s leading Saturday’s big naked bike ride aside, one thing we can all agree on is that riding bikes naked in a mass of other people is an amazing, unforgettable experience. And did you even realize that this year is the 20th anniversary of Portland’s version of the World Naked Bike Ride?

When I first came to town, WNBR was one of most intriguing events I would cover. I watched it go from about 170 riders at my first one in 2005, to the 10,000 or so riders in 2014. The ride started as a grassroots, DIY celebration of the human body and resistance to car culture and Big Oil, then eventually transcended our little community to become a Portland institution. It ended up at a scale and with a cultural footprint I doubt those initial ride leaders could have ever dreamed of.

And just like with our bodies, events like this go through growing pains. There’s the exuberance and innocence of the early years when we think we are invincible, and then reality and responsibility creeps in as the years fly by. But unlike our bodies, community organizing always renews itself and — hopefully — always gets better.

While I’m sad about how our community is momentarily split over how we manage these inevitable changes, and the way some folks are treating each other is a huge disappointment, I’m excited and optimistic at all the energy and passion there is for the important tradition of riding bikes naked through our streets (!) en masse.

On that note, and in honor of the 20th anniversary of Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride, I went through my archives to pull out my 20 favorite images from Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride (read the captions for more information on each one):

(*By the way, I’ll be out there recording audio interviews for an upcoming episode of our podcast, so flag me down if you’d like to share on the mic!)

Have fun out there! And don’t forget, I’ll be out there Saturday recording audio interviews for an upcoming episode of our podcast, so flag me down if you’d like to share on the mic.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

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Devendra Lioness
Devendra Lioness
16 days ago

Just a reminder that WNBR is not happening this year and participating in any naked rides this weekend only serves to hurt the brave volunteers who have poured their hearts and souls into this event since 2005.

John V
John V
16 days ago

WNBR is not owned by one person, and volunteers have come together to make sure it does happen. So it is happening, as shown by this post you’re commenting on.

salty
salty
16 days ago

So close! This ride happens every year worldwide continuing the legacy of protest against oil dependency started in 2001.

brave-wnbr-volunteer
brave-wnbr-volunteer
15 days ago

Just a reminder that the Umbrella version of “PDX WNBR” did not happen over the summer because the chica who runs that version decided they needed to take a year off and so nobody got to participate in that event. SO, some of the brave volunteers from recent years decided to take up the cause and hold a WNBR this coming Saturday. Speaking as someone who has attended and volunteered since at least 2005, I’m so glad that these new folks are pouring their naked hearts and souls into this important cultural institution.

LONG LIVE THE WNBR!!

COME RIDE YOUR BIKE IN THE BUFF!! IT’S GOING TO BE AMAZING!!

m
m
14 days ago

It was amazing!

Paul H
14 days ago

It what way will going on a bike ride hurt those people?

Kyle Banerjee
14 days ago
Reply to  Paul H

Apparently, public protests are owned nowadays.

If you tell people who are not activists the naked rides are protests, the normal response is incredulity.