Saturday, June 07, 2008

Always Wear Your Helmet


Thirty or forty naked bicycle riders and one guy in a pink tutu pedaled by on Haight Street, many wearing body paint.

This event, one of several held around the world, was a protest against oil dependency, the war it caused, and a celebration of the human body.

I have never seen so many weenies bicycles in one place.

I hope they remembered to use sunscreen.

53 comments:

katrice said...

Thank you for posting the back shots, rather than the frontal!

And I really hope (but doubt) that Exxon Mobil gets the hint!

the walking man said...

i hope the city kept the street in good repair...

Anonymous said...

Great idea! To symbolise naked greed and imperialism perhaps?

I was wondering why in the whole history of the car, nobody has ever developed alternatives that can run on different types of fuel. A crazy assumption that there'll always be plenty of cheap oil. More chickens coming home to roost....

And the irony about Iraq is that the country's producing no more oil than before the war....

RED MOJO said...

There isn't enough alcohol in the world to clean those bicycle seats now!

comfortandjoy said...

Gotta love a city where you can bike down the street nekkid and no one threatens you with a rifle from the back of his pick up truck. :)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Katrice,

You're welcome. I considered the frontal ones, but didn't really want to look at them myself.

Mark,

There was a lot of bouncing and jiggling, if that's what you mean.

I'm not sure that all bodies should be celebrated in public.

Nick,

Naked greed is very likely the idea they were trying to convey. Or maybe it was simply meant to ensure being noticed.

Biodiesel fuels from vegetable oils, electric cars, hydrogen powered engines, hybrids, and computerized vehicles are all being developed or are already here, albeit in short supply.

Mojo,

Booze or rubbing alcohol?

Comfort&Joy,

One of the many things I love about San Francisco.

I have been threatened by shotguns on porches simply for turning around at the end of a driveway in other places, which shall remain nameless.

LittlePea said...

Yay Naked Biking! I love my bike. I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the world to see me in my natural state though.

Unknown said...

Another one of those tales from the naked city....


They look so uncomfortable. I notice a lot of them are not sitting on the bike seats.

comfortandjoy said...

Heart: I bet I can name them. I bet I live in one of those places. But not for long!!!

thailandchani said...

Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! I can't imagine anything uglier than that scene! :)

I agree with Red Mojo. Ergh.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Sweet Pea,

I love my bike, too. But I have no intention of being a two-wheeled Lady Godiva anytime soon.

Sister,

Tales from the naked city... :)!!

Comfort&Joy,

I know. Soon you'll be able to ride your bike naked on these same streets.

Chani,

I'm here to help.

Anonymous said...

Mmmmmm.....hairy cracks Unite!

Anonymous said...

That looks rather uncomfortable. I showed this to my kids and they both grimaced. Somehow, I expect this will not lessen our dependence on oil!

Ian Lidster said...

Riding a bike is enough of an anatomical challenge with pants on. Nuff sed?

Rachel said...

like, ouch.

on the testicles and on my eyes.

Thanks for making my day

Miss Awesome said...

I could imagine weenie sun burns could really be painful.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Franki,

Bleccckkkkkkt.

Citizen,

Grimaced is nothing. They would have barfed if they had seen most of these guys from the front. Especially the one with a happy face painted on his weewee.

Ian,

Yes, definitely pants all the way.

Rachel,

Glad I could help. Like.

Momma,

I'm sure they are except maybe in a nudist camp.

Sienna said...

I gotta say I admire their gumption for the taking of clothes off in public and drawing attention to the oil dependency..

Our Prime Minister (My name is Kevin!) is asking people/manufacturers to invent a worthwhile non oil dependent car...he really wants Oz to come up with something good.

I really admire this cause but I would have got the shut the eyes and giggles bad.

Pam

Anonymous said...

Ohmy gosh! What an interesting sight. I should imagine it would have been quite bogling from the front! Thanks for the smile.

the walking man said...

I was thinking more of one of those tiny seats getting lodged to the point where EMS had to remove it.

furiousBall said...

those poor, poor seats

Anonymous said...

I'm with the masses here. I'm all for nudity and all for doing what one must to get a point across but -- and I am only speaking as a male here -- nude bike riding seems a little uncomfortable. Both front and back.

But bless their hearts . . .

The CEO said...

You really have to love San Francisco. It really does stand for freedom.

thethinker said...

That's hilarious... and kind of disturbing. But hey, they're trying to make a point!

I wish things like that would happen in my city. Unfortunately some happen to refer to us as the oil capital of the world.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Pam,

Your Prime Minister is already a world-class World Leader after his apology to the indigenous people of Australia.

Can the fuel-efficient car be far behind?

Rhubarb,

Oh, it was, I assure you.

Welcome, and thanks for your visit.

Mark,

How lovely.

Van,

Oh, my poor, poor eyes.

David,

I've wondered for years how men can ride bikes comfortably even clothed.

Monty,

Yes! I first called this post "Another Thing I Love About San Francisco."

Julia,

How wonderful to see you again!

And it seems as if the oil capital of the world would be the perfect place for such a protest.

ME said...

Holy hell! That is something you would never see in Idaho!

Anonymous said...

Wow. Did you see anything you liked?? I mean, there was definitely a variety. You could just stand on the side walk and say, "too thick, too small, too long...." Until "just right!"

P.S. Can you tell Nick that Iraq's oil goes to China, not us?

Echomouse said...

Oh! I wish there was a photo of the Tutu Guy! lol

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Craze,

I'm sure you're right. SF is a very special place.

Claudia,

Um, no. I think you're confusing me with Goldilocks.

Echomouse,

Me, too! He went by too fast, there were a million people on the sidewalk and in the street. But I did notice that he wasn't wearing anything under it, if that visual helps at all.

Liz Dwyer said...

Good for them since oil was supposed to go down to $20 a barrel because of the war. In the meantime, premium gas has already hit $5 here in LA. So kudos to their bravery. I'm just trying to keep the imagery of, ahem, certain body parts rubbing on the bike seats out of my mind!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Liz,

That image is burned into my brain. I will never be the same.

Gas is over $5.00/gallon here, too. It's definitely a factor to consider regarding my hoped-for summer travels.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Oh my God.

I choked on my tea as soon as your page opened.

That's so funny.

Well... whatever you gotta do to get your point across... I guess.

Was anyone arrested?

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

molly said...

You are a hoot! I got such a shock when I clicked over here and then I dissolved into helpless laughter!

Jameil said...

you should see my face. i promise you there isn't a smile on it. more like my nose wrinkled nearly beyond recognition.

Em said...

I like most naked things...but those bike seats have to be uncomfortable!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Scarlett,

Sorry I made you choke.

I could send you an email with some frontal shots, if you like.

I'm helpful like that.

Molly,

That was my reaction when they rode by. They came out of a park like race horses breaking from the starting gate and swarmed down the street. It was quite an amazing spectacle.

Jameil,

Awwww, is it ok if I play with it outside?

Em,

Indubitably. A lot of the men were standing on their pedals. I'm sure there was a reason for this.

meggie said...

Here I am, hanging out for news of the dead body next door. All I get is bare bums!!

Has there been any developement on the stench front, so to say??

I do hope those poor cyclists didn't suffer from saddle..er scrotum.. sores!

Odat said...

LOL... I can't believe you got that great shot! (not that they're great to look at, but you know what i mean) And am wondering if their arses stick to the seats? ewww.
Peace

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Meggie,

Scrotum sores must be the worst.

The stench comes and goes, so I no longer believe it's a body. I think my neighbor, the skank, just doesn't take out her garbage. I wish someone would take HER out.

Odat,

It was a very hot day, most unusual for SF. I am sure there was some sticking going on.

Maddy said...

Ah, home sweet home.
Cheers

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Dearest Hearts,

No, thank you, but how thoughtful.

;o)

I think that you are onto something, though, with your comment about wishing someone would take your skankblossom neighbor out... think literally, do you know anyone with mafia ties?

KIDDING!

...kind of.


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Unknown said...

That’s an interesting way to protest, especially if one is an exhibitionist.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Maddy,

Home sweet naked home. Cheers!

Wng,

No words? Are you ok? Do you have a temperature?

Scarlett,

No. Can you send someone?

"Come to me my mafioso ba-beee..."

St. Nick,

That would definitely be an advantage.

Texasholly said...

Hmmmmm...

riseoutofme said...

Must be wonderful to have the weather that allows bare-assed riding ... can't see it catching on in this country ... although Saturday night in the wilds of Kerry might see a few inebriated boyos doing their own version ....

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Hrh,

It's nice to meet you. Thanks for coming by.

Rise,

Drunk on a bicycle is too dreadful to imagine.

BroLo said...

WHAT DO WE WANT?

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY!

WHEN DO WE WANT IT?

[pothole] OWWWWW!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Brolo,

You were there! I didn't recognize you without your robes.

The pothole protest is NEXT week. Wear your cup.

NoRegrets said...

Holy crap! Wow, hadn't heard about this one! Glad they were wearing helmets, indeed.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I still think biking naked would chafe too much...

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Noregrets,

At least that. Thank heaven for small favors. So to speak.

SHG,

Yes, skinny dipping is much less painful.

Welcome and thank you for your visit.

Defiantmuse said...

hmmmm.
that seems like it may be rather uncomfortable?
balls flapping in the wind.
actually, I'd rather not dwell on that mental image too much :)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Muse,

Then you are forever in my debt for not posting frontal shots. I could have, you know.

Thank you for dropping in, and please come back again.