Biking in the buff

as natural part of nature

Biking in the buff is almost as popular as hiking nude. It's even more enjoyable, because you don't have to carry a rucksack – everything you need on the road can be stored in a pannier, and there's nothing disturbing your body. Today, the natury website alone initiates nude cycling tours of around 1,000 km per year. Interested naturists register with the initiator by e-mail or registration form. Cycling groups have mostly between 5 and 20 participants.

How do you get the idea to bike in the buff?

Because it is very pleasant for your skin, to put all the ballast on the luggage rack instead of carrying a rucksack.

Since the Saxon Nude Camp near Pirna was first set up in 2008, the 70 km long nude cycling tour through the Elbe Valley to the Czech Republic and back has been taking place every year – although the dumpling meal in the restaurant at the destination takes place in clothes.

Flat Münsterland, which is particularly suitable for cycling anyway, is of course often the setting for tours by nude cyclists. If there is also a bathing lake available at the rest area, we will of course use it for refreshment in the cool water.

In many cities around the world, a World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) Day is held every year with hundreds or (in London) even thousands of participants. The aim of the demonstration events is to increase the rights of cyclists and reduce the consumption of resources by cars.

The best part of a nude cycling tour is a rest – especially in the city centre of Amsterdam

WNBR in Amsterdam 2018
The small square is very crowded

Is that something for me as well? Should I just try it?

I must be ashamed of myself!

Cycling tours are quite long and can not only take you along lonely paths in the woods – you can also get onto a country road or cycle through a settlement. Don't I have to be ashamed, when I have to stand there nude at a stop sign and dozens of cars pass by?

Our answer:
As a naturist you know, that we are all creatures of God or Allah or evolution – there is no need to be ashamed of our body: It has been given to us, and we can – just as it is – only be grateful for that!

What should we be ashamed of? Why should we hide our bodies from each other? We should also be grateful for small variations, which make us slightly different:
If we all would look identical like robots of one type of production and everyone would be confused with anyone else – would we be happier?

I have nothing to hide – do you?

Hmmm: I'm too fat. I've two different sized breasts. I've so many moles. I've a surgical scar on my stomach. My penis is crooked. My buttocks are no longer firm. My thighs are fat. Oh, I have fat thighs. Well, I've got orange peel skin.

So what! None of us is perfect. Otherwise, we would be movie or porn stars. Better normal, then! Among naturists, you are simply accepted as you are!

Moreover, the shine of youth gets wrinkled and loses its elasticity with age – that's the way it is in life, and many of the fellow hikers also show traces of time. However, the value of a person in the community is not measured in hip girth or bust size, but in social skills like empathy and sympathy.

Is that really allowed?

A group of nude cyclists had an encounter with police officers in 2017 near Altenberge in the Münsterland region – they had received several phone calls and spent more than 2 hours of their duty time searching for the nude bikers. Which prompted them to ask us to inform them in advance about similar events in the future – then they could reassure callers right away on the phone: “We know, that they are not doing anything bad”.

The police officers asked for the personal details of the initiator (in case there were any further questions), but afterwards we were allowed to cycle on in the buff.

Hiking in the buff is not forbidden in Germany

Regional daily newspaper Westfälische Nachrichten reported in 2018 statements of a spokesman of the police in Münster (Westf.) and a managing officer 'Citizen service and order' of the town-hall in Senden about hiking in the buff. The bottom line of the information stated in this article is, that hiking in the buff is neither a criminal, nor – in general – a regulatory offence in Germany. This is true, as long as you only move around in nature.

There is not such a big difference between hiking and cycling, so the officials' statement also applies to cycling in the nude.

However: What is true in Germany, is not true everywhere

Law always has a limited scope: it applies in countries, in federal states, or in municipalities. So, you always have to take a close look here, because completely different law may apply in different locations

In most countries, nudity in public is only prohibited, if it serves sexual purposes. In some countries, however, nudity in public is generally prohibited and may be prosecuted as a criminal offence. There are also places in all countries, where nudity is prohibited.

Many countries (France, …) also use terms in their legal texts, of which it is not clearly defined, what exactly they mean. Here, one can only look at legal practice and see, which judgements courts have made in the past - however, legal practice is subject to change over time.

Whether you are allowed to be in the nude or not – you should find out about that beforehand. The natury website helps with information at Nudity and law concerning several countries.

What do clothed people say?

Nude and clothed togetherness at a summit cross

Reactions are practically always positive. Textile wearers, who we encounter, usually make a funny, friendly remark. Naturism is accepted. At least in Germany, there is a 100-year naturist tradition and (according to travel industry figures) around 8 million people book holidays to a naturist destination.

However, there are still occasional rejections, which you have to take into account. Everyone, who claims a certain position, causes distinctive opinions of agreement and rejection. In many cases, however, rejection of naturist activities is based on ignorance, which we can reduce by offering information.

What if one reacts weird to me?

The community is characterised by consideration and affection

In a community of nude people, everyone is much more understanding and considerate, yes: more turned towards the others. This is probably due to the fact, that you as a person being in the nude feel your own vulnerability very clearly, and you show automatically the consideration, which you expect for yourself, towards others.

So, you can be sure, that nobody will try to put you in an unpleasant situation, but on the contrary, you will be a warmly welcomed part of the community: You are in good hands in the group!

Your first step into your nude lifestyle…

…is the most challenging one! By the way, this was the case for all of us – even the most eager naturists of today have thought twice before the first time, whether they should participate and how it would work! But once the first step has been taken, the conviction grows very quickly, that you have done it right. Nobody has regretted it yet!

Concerning naktivities already happened, you might browse regarding and read some of them to get more information.

Also, you may inform yourself about scheduled naktivitiess launching a giving an overview or use the to participate yourself. Pls take into account, that some initiators use the registration form, while others simply use e.g. e-mail.