Seattle Forrest

I got up early and biked over to the Solstice Festival at the Independent Republic of Fremont. It was only getting started, which is the best time to explore, say hi to the pirates, tell the people on stilts it's going to be windy, and see what's going on. Eventually, I got hungry, and enjoyed a veggie burger at a restaurant with a view of the action. When I left, the sidewalks were more crowded than Manhattan, and the parade was just about to begin.

The only problem, was that I was trapped. The bridge I planned to take home was closed, and the pedestrian walkways were impassible. And my plan B route was standing room only. So I talked people into parting and letting my out into the street ... when I got there, I was surrounded by naked people on bikes. And they were going my way. So, for about a mile, I rode with them. One of my new friends yelled "Hey! He's not naked!" Someone in the 'audience' called for me to take it all off. But modesty prevailed. They did a U-turn, and I kept on my way, went through the Beer Gardens at Gas Works Park, and made it home. There were only a dozen or so more naked bikers along the way.

I felt like I forgot something.

No pics. But you can ask Google Images or Wikipedia about the event. It's not just naked people on bikes; they're painted up creatively. I'd link to a few pics, but I'm pretty sure that'd be breaking some kind of rule...

chasm54

Fantastic. Next year, don't leave home without your body paint.

Rhodabike

Sounds uncomfortable. Chafing can get bad enough with a good pair of shorts on.

ziggydcat

Wonder where they keep the Cliff Bar?

CliftonGK1

I like riding my bike.
I like being naked.
These are mutually exclusive events.

txvintage

This could be framed and hung on the wall.

Seattle Forrest

I wonder if the saddles need washing afterwards?

I also wonder how many photos I'm in, with a caption like "... and this was the one idiot with clothes on."

nanan

Nice...

For a person of my build, oof, I think my thighs would be on fire after a few hundred feet.

Wogster

Yeah not only that, but think if you crash, all your friends are going to be saying "you got road rash, where?"

Neil_B

Note to self: do not purchase used saddles from Fremont.

Neil_B

Yes, I can see a little cross-stitch panel framed on a wall......

wxduff

+1 for them thinking about bike security. No need for a bike lock after someones seen you doing that.

cyclokitty 

I always miss events with other people naked. Rats.

Neil_B

I never get invited to them.

Grillparzer

Personally, I think there is enough ugliness in the world without my taking off my clothes and contributing to it.

Seattle Forrest

You should come to Seattle next June.

Somebody sent me these kinda/sorta 3D pics from the event: https://www.start3d.com/en/4662885878/0008?auth=72016379 You'll notice I'm not in them.

wild animals

I was visiting your fine city but, dang, we never made it all the way to Fremont. I saw a lot of painted people, but they had clothes on.

Neil_B

I looked at a couple of those photos. They remind me of a bad avant-garde art film, or pretentious soft-core porn. This isn't a bike event, it's a bunch of exhibitionists using bikes as a prop. Just like the so-called environmentalists do.

I'm afraid I'll never get to Seattle. And that's for the best. When my conservatism meets the Seattle bike 'scene', the reaction between the two would be so cataclysmic it would make an eruption of Mount Ranier seem like a Mentos dropped into a Pepsi.

wild animals

The food is good!

Seattle Forrest

You're right, Historian; it's not a bike event. It's a celebration of the apex of summer, and bikes are some of what's involved. There are also pirates and live music. It's too bad you won't make it out here.

DoubleTap

No paint on the taint for me.

ukulele59

Looks like fun. yay summer.