Say No to Knobs on Bikes
It’s been a while since I last posted here on the ABS blog, partly due to site hosting issues, but mainly due to downright laziness. But I’m back; motivated to write this post by our most recent club meeting at which one of my colleagues made a most disagreeable suggestion.
It was proposed that members of the illustrious and highly exclusive Sussex Amateur Brain Surgery club should take part in the forthcoming Brighton naked bike ride. I was appalled at the very suggestion. On June 13th over 1000 cyclists will ride through the city with body parts flapping in the breeze, ostensibly to raise awareness of the vulnerability of cyclists. My fellow club member’s reasoning was that since many of us are riders of bikes we would want to support this worthy effort.
Not me! And my views were shared by all of my fellow club members, except two. The chap who made the proposal and another who spends a lot of time on Brighton’s nudist beach. They will be taking part, exposing themselves to the elements and the shoppers in Brighton’s busy city centre.
Now I don’t consider myself a prude. But I first unwittingly encountered the naked bike ride when I was in the city shopping for some car accessories during the 2008 event. I recall spotting a young lady cycling topless and wondered if she might be drunk. Then I noticed a group of naked elderly gentlemen on bicycles behind her and I realised there was something going on.
I spent some time wondering what it was that I found so disagreeable about the event. While I’ve heard it described as sleazy, immoral and indecent I don’t actually agree with any of these. I just find it unpleasant to behold. I think it’s absolutely fine for people who enjoy being naked, outdoors in the company of others to indulge their whims, but I think that imposing their naked bodies on people who don’t want to see them is simply unacceptable.
So, this year I have set a reminder to tell me not to visit the city on the 13th of June. The last thing I want to see is a couple of my colleagues from the Amateur Brain Surgery club exposing their purple mushrooms while riding bicycles.
Dr Nick wrote,
I still cannot believe your response to this issue chief. I will be out on the event and I was shocked that it was just the two of us from the club that felt the same way. I love the nudist beach in Brighton (glad you mentioned me) and an opportunity to get the tools of the trade out in public is not one to be missed!
Link | May 26th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Adam B wrote,
I think that this is great, there will be a lot of riders that you do not want to see naked but the few that look good naked will make it all worth it lol
Link | March 6th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Nikki wrote,
I am that young lady in the photo you have posted on your website. If my naked body offends you so much, please remove it! If you could be so kind, please stop “imposing” my naked body onto your readers.
Kind regards,
Nikki Broadbent
Link | June 13th, 2011 at 6:08 pm