WNBR 2013

[irishboy2525]

Originally Posted by Klondike

I checked back on the bikeportland website and the official numbers are in - 8,150 bikers rode in the 2013 Portland nighttime WNBR, and this is the largest WNBR EVER!!. Apparently, it is now considered that the numbers from previous years in Portland have been inflated, while this number was carefully obtained using a video camera specifically designed to count riders. Regarding the inflated numbers, it was said as many as 13,000 rode in 2010. Other estimates in 2010-2012 have been in the 8,000 to 10,000 range. But now they are saying that in 2011 4,200 rode while in 2012, 4,500 rode. I still am curious about the 2010 number but this year they are saying that "Portland's WNBR sets record".
I think that in 2010, numbers were higher than 4,500, but the most accurate estimate I can no longer link to, so I don't know what figure they finally settled on for that year. But apparently, it was lower than 8,150. Incidently, they wanted to invite the Guiness Book of World Records people this year, but found out it would cost 8,000 dollars (about one dollar per biker!) to have them show up. No matter - they installed a camera and did the count themselves. So heres the breakdown by year

2007 - 500 estimated
2008 - 2000 estimated
2009 - 5000 estimated but likely inflated now
2010 - as high as 13,000 but now inflated. I don't know the most official count because a link containing this info is no longer up. But they are implying this number is less than 8,150.
2011 - 4,200 official
2012 - 4,500 official
2013 - 8,150! official

So thats a whopping increase this year and it is official. I'm assuming that neither the 2009 or 2010 numbers are solid. The 2009 count was a police estimate. I was there and probably numbers were in the 2000 to 5000 range.

Having attended in 2010, 2012 and 2013, my sense was that all of these rides were similar in size. That doesn't square with the official counts though, as last year's in particular was smaller. But I could not have told you that in 2013, twice as many rode as in 2012 - it just didn't seem like it. Anyway, both numbers are solid, and so I can't argue!

Klondike

I was there looked more like 10,000 to me.....

[mraeneas]

......or maybe infamous.

genevieveharvey18.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/my-wnbr-is-cancelled-and-here-are-the-reasons-why/

[Fango]

Originally Posted by mraeneas

......or maybe infamous.

genevieveharvey18.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/my-wnbr-is-cancelled-and-here-are-the-reasons-why/

It's the same Gen34 who's been trolling this thread.

Fango

[Looker81]

All shapes and sizes to admire.

[Fango]

More Portland. Love the cute girl in the last few pics who seems to be having some trouble with her bike.

Enjoy

Fango

[Klondike]

Originally Posted by mraeneas

......or maybe infamous.

genevieveharvey18.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/my-wnbr-is-cancelled-and-here-are-the-reasons-why/

I think that she would find it interesting that we do delve into the moral aspects of taking pics here. we don't just post them and walk (or wank) away. Riders do post here also sometimes. That has always intrigued me, that riders DO come here on occasion, look at the pics, talk about their experiences and share their impressions.

But the crux of the matter to me is how OCC is perceived and that somehow, we are "tainted" as though members here are fundamentally different from folks viewing these pics over at Flickr or any number of other sites. We are just normal people. And actually quite a few members here have rather astonishing intellects.

Anyway, this woman should be allowed her say and allowed to rest in peace. If she got herself in a little over her head here, which I kind of suspect, then hopefully time will heal and no one here need add fuel to the fire. In the photographer vs rider debate, I don't see defending photography to the point where open war breaks out. After all, the riders are the stars. Always have been. So if we are guilty of anything, it is simple hero worship and a desire to bring these courageous girls to the attention of others. No, we are not a photography site. The word "chick" is right there in the titles. So yeah, that is our focus but in no way does it diminish or take away from our admiration and awe for what these women do.

OK, then maybe we should rename OCC "One Click Superstar". That about sums it up for me. Does that sound like an attitude that should cause a woman to feel threatened or intimidated or devalued? You are superstars!. Am I getting my point across now??

Klondike

[Klondike]

Originally Posted by Drondo

Well said Klondike, as I implied earlier, we are never going to square the circle on this one.

However there is a logic deficit here;

We all have differing moral views and standings.

The WNBR riders exhibit their bodies and some people find that offensive, particularly those that are religious.

The WNBR draws attention to itself by being naked. Some riders draw attention to themselves by wearing cock rings, have genital piercings and highlight their genitals with body paint then go out in the most crowded parts of a city. Some of the riders are very attractive females.

Then some complain that their photos have been taken and surprised that they are on the internet.

One might think that every year, all of the riders sort of network with one another when they show up, and so no one is left with any false impressions as to what they are getting themselves into.

But since that doesn't really happen, we get the full spectrum of responses. Its not our job to inform, only snap. I don't think I will ever be a responsible photographer in the minds of every single rider! I take that for granted!
They are as variable as the photographers are. So my advice to anyone riding is this - find out what the norm of behavior/response is for a rider, and recognize when your response falls outside of that norm! Photographers should do likewise. Then you can act accordingly and realistically when things don't go the way you would like. Everyone shares in the responsibility to make these WNBR's pleasant for all. If it was not pleasant for you, that is life - you take risks and sometimes you wish you hadn't. But it is easy to blame others when that happens, and with
adequate preparation, you would hope you could avoid such things. I am sorry she had a bad experience, but her reason for going public with it I assume would be to get lots of support. However, how much support you get will depend on where you fall on the "curve" comfort wise, and maybe you are farther out on that curve than you think!

Klondike

[daveduchovny]

I think the blogger was a little naive, her problem as she describes it is that she became aware that the photos people were taken were being posted on the internet and being viewed and commented on by low-lifes. She knew people were taking photos, she just didn't think about what they were doing with them. She should have realised (and now does) that everything inevitably ends up on the internet. Especially pictures of public, publicity-hungry events.

All life is here, both on the internet generally and OCC specifically. I have a lot more sympathy for Gen's viewpoint than for some of the meat-market sexist comments you get here from certain contributors, but we're all in favour of freedom of expression, and that includes views we disagree with.

[futuresearch]

I attended the London ride this year. It was a fantastic spectacle, utterly beautiful and enjoyable.

The only sour note was the end of the ride. Literally hundreds of pushy photographers, creating an intimidating guantlet for the returning riders. My advice to any female rider would be- bail before you get back to wellington arch, unless you are an exhibitionist and are comfortable with people taking pictures of you without asking for permission. No doubt some of those photographers are legit and there to document one of London's greatest events, but a lot of them are creepy.

I have no issue with people taking pictures of beautiful naked people, but I do think it is rude to do so without permission and in the rather unpleasant manner that I saw at the end of the ride. I would also be interested to know whether anyone else saw a girl with a red and white striped bikini during the ride - she was stunning. Not seen any pictures of her on here yet. This is a good site though - seems to get the right balance of praising the beauty of nudity, without making it feel dirty. Great pictures!

[simonlintworm]

reaction to misss Gen34:

I am normally not one to partake in philosophical debate, but in this case I feel a strong desire to give my opinion. ( as Gen34 has done and since she doesn't have a monopoly on 'the truth', everyone is entitled to give his/her opinion)

What I strongly reject is the assuptions and gross generalisations Gen34 makes.

I for one have never/ nor do I intend to participate in a WNBR ride. However I applaud everyone who does and feel admiration for them. Most of the riders seem to enjoy the experience and seem to be shame-free. From looking at the pictures I gather it is a liberating experience for most riders. However, if one decides to participate one must realise that pictures/videos will be taken. If one is not aware of this, then I would indeed consider this to be naive.

But is that neccesarily a bad thing? I don't feel it is a crime to document this. The main purpose of the WNBR is to generate public interest in safety for cyclists in traffic and for the environment. So, being documented and generating exposure for these causes should be applauded as well. A WNBR with everyone looking the other way would be missing the point completely in my opinion. Yes, it might still be a liberating experience for the cyclists participating, but it would go by completely unnoticed with no interest for the issues. ( If a tree falls in a forrest with no-one around, does it make a sound?)

Miss Gen34 also seems to relate nudism to the ride, which is missing the point completely again. Nudism doesn't enter into it, because nudism doesn't take place in the public spectrum. Miss Gen34 is free to be a nudist and demand her privacy and not have her pictures taken. And if that were the case, I would be a strong advocate for that as well. Since the WNBR (though people taking part are naked) doesn't classify as nudity, but as an event to generate public awareness on the above mentioned issues, one cannot demand this same privacy or blame others afterwards for not respecting this mistakenly claimed privacy.

I do not feel bad about myself for looking at these pictures. After all, Is it really fair to blame Peeping Tom for looking at Lady Godiva?

I gather Gen34 will probably not read this, but people being linked to this site from her blog might, and I hope this puts matters in some perspective.

There is nothing wrong with participating in a naked bike ride and most members here have nothing but admiration for those who choose to do so. Gen34's assuptions say more about her anxiaties than of most members here.