'I first came across the London naked bike ride in June 2008 when I came out of a pub on the Charing Cross Road to see 100s of cyclists, almost all of them nude, and most of them men, waiting patiently for the traffic lights to change colour.'
Can you imagine being at the pub on a Sunday morning, finishing a leisurely brunch, then walking outside to the site of hundreds of naked men on the street. I'm sure for most FH readers, it would be a dream come true. Most of us, who follow the male form, would likely have known about the date of for the WNBR. (World Naked Bike Ride) Many however, don't follow such things as closely as so many of us do.
When photographer Andrew Bowman stepped out onto Charing Cross Road, a visual journey commenced. Over this past summer, I've loved featuring Andrew's photographic scrapbook, as well as his stories from attending and participating in London's WNBR. In July, I featured Andrew's visuals from the 2012 ride, (HERE:) and in August, his images from 2015. (HERE:) With summer coming to a close, I wanted to take one last ride around the streets of London, this time featuring Andrew's shots from the 2013 event.
Most World Naked Bike Ride events are scheduled during the months of June and July. There are rides that go later in the year, especially in countries in the Southern Hemisphere, but because it's an international event, most races occur within the timeframe of the early Southern Month. Given the rides are about promoting a cause, there are some location. that do 'special event' rides. The San Francisco organization for example, has had held special Post Equinox rides in late September.
As I've previously mentioned, two of the WNBR themes that I love to explore are public nudity and the cmnm and cfnm elements. When we think of visuals of public nudity, as well as images with both naked men, photographed with clothed men and women, we usually think of planned events. Public beaches, strip clubs, bachelor and bachelorette parties. Events we attend, expecting, and eagerly anticipating, seeing a hot naked man.
Andrew's images, as well as his experience of walking out of that pub, had me looking at the cmnm / cfnm elements completely differently. Although many spectators are aware of what to expect, there are also many who get a visual surprise. Given the ride runs through so much of the city, there are people, who get a visual surprise.
Some of Andrew's shots show, some spectators, may not have expected to be surrounded by skin when they headed out that morning to the grab a bite at the cafe. If you focus on the rider with the back sack in the images just above and below, you'll see what I mean. In the image above, if you look behind the naked rider, there are many people lined in rows along the street, obviously there to enjoy the sites of day.
If you check out the image image, our back sac wearing rider is standing by an outdoor patio, in part, filled with people who may not have been expecting to see so many naked bodies as they dined. Sure, I know many are there to watch, but many don't seem to be paying as much attention, and are more focused on conversation, their drinks and their lunch.
It had me thinking how erotic truly unexpected nudity can be. Some on the patio certainly knew what ride they were waiting for, but not all of those dining on the patio, seem to have expected so many random rears riding and roaming by. I'm not sure all them found it as hot as I, but as lover of visuals incorporating cmnm themes, I certainly did. In addition to the hot naked bodies, part of the joy of unexpected nakedness is the expressions on the faces of those who encounter it.
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