Naked cyclists brave storms

Starkers riders cheered in High Street as Exeter gets a little behind

"Mine's bigger than yours!" shouted one teenage boy as the first naked cyclists turned from the High Street into Princesshay. But far from taking the bait, the riders turned the other cheek, gave a thumbs up, wobbled a bit and rode on to smiles and cheers.

After an absence last year, the World Naked Bike Ride took to the streets of Exeter on Saturday, starting at Trew Weir, heading for the City Centre, around the shopping areas and then into Exeter Castle, where once prisoners had been stripped and humiliated. 

There was no humiliation at the weekend, only, in the words of the organisers a "peaceful, positive and fun protest" partly at the vulnerability of cyclists. Some wore little more than a helmet; others forewent even that saftey precaution but adorned a poncho to keep off the rain - from the upper part of the body at least. The rest were soaked to the skin rather quickly.

"Come as bare as you dare," organisers had suggested whilst inviting participants to avoid "stark raving nudity." To this end, some riders kept their boots on.

In the 1974 chart-topper, Ray Stevens yelled: "Don't look, Ethel" whenever The Streaker appeared. Times have changed. Outside Gap in the High street, one man in his thirties called to his partner, inside the store rifiling through the racks for skimpy clothes, "Quick, Trace, you've got to see this." Trace seemed unimpressed by what she saw. "They're all old," she protested.

Police cyclists (disappointingly clothed) bookended the group of about 25 naked riders. The event flashed by peacefully.

World Naked Cycle Ride day is 16 June. Exeter's got a little behind.