Quote:
Originally Posted by vision0096
Sorry mate I really disagree with what you're saying. I did the London ride this year and it was probably one of the most fun experiences Ive ever had. It was really friendly, all the riders were chatting and laughing with each other and I will admit that the women looked wonderful. But at the end (and at the beginning to some extent) the photographers were really aggressive. As we finished I was almost taken off my bike by snappers rushing up to photograph any naked women coming in. Consequently most women who'd been totally happy naked most of the afternoon, whipped out a tee shirt and put it on within seconds of finishing. There was a difference with the people in the crowd on route cheering and taking photos and the letchers with cameras at the end, acting like they had never seen a pair of tits before. I would suggest to anyone who would like to do one of these rides especially London, start the ride clothed, stop 200m down the road, take off their clothes, do the ride and put something on before finish. And if anyone is so desperate to see a naked women, do the ride themselves naked.
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The biggest problem seems to be crowding during the body painting, crowding during the onset of the ride, and crowding as riders stop at the end to dismount. In Portland, the crowding as the ride departed was so bad (not just photographers but all spectators) that it made the bikeportland headline the next day. A woman shouted at people to move back.
Anyway, the crowding involves not just photographers but all spectators. But I do know that at Fremont, girls especially do not like coming to a halt and immediately being descended upon by cameras. It is actually dangerous too as they have other obstacles to negotiate like rail tracks.
So I agree it is a problem, and photographers need to pay attention to what riders say. However, I don't agree necessarily that those taking photos en route are OK while those at the end are letchers. That is way too simplistic, especially when you consider that its at the end where posing sessions often take place and where many women seem most anxious to pose.
I have seen guys stick cameras in girls faces while they are slowing down and on their bikes. This is really rude and if there is one thing I came away from this year in Portland its this - riders need space. They do not want to run over you, and you don't want to be the cause of an accident. Every year in Portland, riders bite the dust. Some are drunk. Some are just distracted. Then add some photographers to the mix and it can get really chaotic.
Its good that we get input from both sides. I agree to some extent with both you and 27cow, but not entirely with either of you. I will be thinking about this as I head to Fremont, where it looks like the whole photography issue may be reaching critical mass at the painting party. Photogs will need to be careful. They have gone into much bigger detail in spelling out rules for everyone, and so clearly there is concern among the riders. They are pretty much going to try and halt any photography of half painted riders this year, for example. The irony though at Fremont is this - whenever they try to restrict photography, they end up creating "funnel points" which can be especially dangerous. Funnel points occur when you have essentially prevented photography everywhere else and so guys just descend on the one or two areas where they still have access to nudes. If I were a rider, I would beware of funnel points, and maybe be a little more agreeable to opening up the rules and restrictions a bit.
Klondike