Gearing up for an annual cycle minus 90 per cent of gear.
More than 60 domestic, and potentially international, cyclists will pedal into Tākaka on 1 March for the 21st World Naked Bike Ride.
From children to the grand old age of 78. No key or yard glass for this anniversary cycle, just the standard birthday suit.
The annual event, also held at Waihī Beach, Waitati and many global cities, rings positive body image, eco-friendly travel and a message for motorists to always be aware of cyclists.
Organiser Bryan Badger, who hasn’t cycled with kit on in “so long”, says the naked presence was rarely a pain in the backside for passing motorists because “it’s Tākaka”.
“Most of the people around Tākaka and the outlying areas have got support from their side and cars don’t mind, they’ll wave to us and clap and cheer, toot the horns, but they never toot the horns out of frustration because of our speed,” he says. “The awkwardness of being naked is never really relevant. If people have an awkwardness with cycling naked, they don’t usually take part. It’s not a numbers game, and there’s no money involved, it’s just making an awareness to the public of why we’re doing the ride, nobody’s going to stare at you if you’re naked, after a while you begin to think you’re the normal people, which we are.”
Bryan says riders will doff their clothes at the Tarakohe start line and have the option to decorate their bodies with paint before setting off to Kiwi Spirit Distillery at Motupipi.
Riders who dare to bare can join the peloton at the start line from 1pm. He says, there will also be an opportunity this year for a second strip, with a naked beach walk to Taupo Point from the Wainui carpark at 3pm on 2 March after lunch at noon at the Mussel Inn.
