‘People spontaneously strip off and join us’: nude cyclists send message you don’t need to be buff

Riders cycle through Melbourne as part of the World Naked Bike Ride. Since its inception in 2004, the event has taken place in more than 70 cities and towns globally. Photograph: World Naked Bike Ride Melbourne Inc.

This weekend in Melbourne, expect to see hundreds of cyclists with a striking difference. Instead of the usual Lycra-clad peloton, these riders will be getting their kit off in a day of nude protest to draw attention to rider safety and visibility, diversity of body image and a celebration of low-carbon transport.

Dearne Weaver, a 61-year-old community worker from Canberra, says when she first attended Melbourne’s World Naked Bike Ride in 2019 she was worried it might be too male-dominated – but she was pleasantly surprised.