Going naked isn't always an option. Taking part in the ride isn't the best way to cover it, despite what you might think, if your intention is to snap as many of the people riding as possible. Mainly because you're having to concentrate on riding a bike etc and it's not easy keep going on ahead and catching people as they pass by, repeat and rinse. This is borne out by the fact that the best shots every year mostly don't come from those actually taking part - well, not the pics that are ever made public anyway. IMHO you need to do one or the other - ride or take pictures. Doing both is a struggle.
I personally have never had any bother in London. I think the riders can tell the serious snappers from the pervs - usually it's pretty obvious. Brighton can be tricky. Riders were always fine till last year but then even members of the press were being declined shots - it was obvious someone had been brainwashing them. But personally, I had no problem other than a very brief snipe from one of the feminazis over my 'intrusive' lens. Plenty of people happy to pose and semi-pose. I always talk to people and can't ever remember a rider having an issue at the time because I was clothed.
Regarding the lack of stuff on Flickr, this was inevitable with people being called pervs for covering the rides, and getting stick for not hiding anything they might take behind a password and only shared with a select few in private places. Cardiff 2017 was a perfect case in point - I don't remember seeing anything at all from that one, when in previous years there was loads of good stuff out there.
Speaking to various organisers at assorted rides, they are always in favour of respectful photos of a decent standard as they help promote these events. This doesn't seem to filter through to many of the marshals - predominately the Brighton lot, who just don't seem able to distinguish a pushy perv trying to take creep shots of unwilling and uncomfortable riders, and those who are just there to cover the ride and who are behaving in a sensible and civilized manner.
I predict that less and less stuff will appear in the open, be it on Flickr or elsewhere. I know of at least three photographers, pro and semi-pro, who took a raft of frequently superb shots last year but have never made them public. It's a shame that such talent and its product goes to waste.
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