A Small Mind In A Big City: Privates On Parade.

A Small Mind was all agog at what he found as he made his way to Hyde Park Corner. A mass of people gathering around the base of the naked Achilles Statue were, were... I peered over the shoulder of a crowd of people and took my camera out to get the evidence.

Happy to offer two hands.

I looked for someone with red hands and although there lurked a rather creepy guy who tended to fidget in the wrong areas and sure wanted to have red hands, I could not find any.

Creepy guy at two o'clock.

Anyway what I had stumbled upon was the painting and preparation area for what was an unusual, but worthy protest. The London Naked Bike Ride was a continuation of a regular event first held in Spain in 2001, later becoming a world event in 2004, with the first London ride that year.

The painting of bodies was of course optional, but there was many very impressive works on display.

The main protest over the years has been environmental, with the point of human power instead of fuel power saving the planet. This years main subject was around the safety of bike riders on the roads. Although this was the main reason for riders taking part, there were other reasons closer to their hearts.

Lets have a brief interlude with another appearance of creepy guy getting a good look.

Although the Naked Bike Ride was predominantly about biking, there were other forms of human power on offer. Some brave souls seemed to be just running once the event started, which gave everything a good shake. While others were equally free, like this young lady who went the inline skate way.

However, no matter how noble the reason for taking part was. The nakedness was where it was all at, now was not the time to be shy.

It was time to let it all hang out and then everything would be peachy.

Some sights were as alarming as when a small mind passes by a full length mirror in his birthday suit.

While others were really happy to let it all hang out and not distress any eyeballs in the process.

Overall however the event was a pleasant surprise. In theory there is nothing stranger than seeing people parading naked around Hyde Park, but the situation was calm and relaxed. There was no doubt people were there for their nefarious interests. but that was worth forgetting for the reasons that those taking part were there for. They were clear what they were doing, what they were showing off, and the very personal reasons, whether they global or close to home. There is nothing starker than revealing everything for a cause you believe in. Perhaps you could say that they are exhibitionists, maybe. However there are many more creepier ways of doing that than taking part in a protest like this.

I came away from the whole event refreshed and happy, not repulsed, and also did not feel like I had experienced the event like some big turn on. It was certainly one of the strangest sights I have ever seen, and while still not one of Prince Philip's bunny huggers, I could see where they were coming from. Whether a small mind removes his pants for the next event however, remains to be seen.

A bloggy note: The images above I have censored so that first and foremost the nudity was not in your face on this blog, and secondly because although this was of course a naked event, the etiquette was not always to snap away in the body painting area. Indeed some taking part were requesting that photos were not taken at this point, which unfortunately many ignored. The policy of the event however was very much for the ride, once it had started to be filmed and snapped for the promotion of the event, therefore the video that now follows is a good part of the ride as it left Hyde Park, and of course this contains nudity. As you watch, remember why they were taking part.