Update: July 9, 2011 — See photos from 2011 STP bike ride
If you leave a little late for the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic on Saturday and notice that your fellow cyclists are all naked, then you've accidentally joined the wrong bicycle ride.
The World Naked Bicycle Ride is also rolling out in Seattle on Saturday (more details at the link).
The 10,000-strong STP cyclists will be leaving from Husky Stadium — at daybreak for the one-day cyclists and a little later for those making the 200-mile trip in two days. In fact, cyclists that dropped off their luggage early could be leaving from anywhere in the Seattle area.
Meanwhile, the WNBR cyclists are meeting up at the beach at the Olympic Sculpture Garden park on Elliott Bay for socializing and body painting. They're starting the ride at 2 p.m. for a bike ride to visit downtown, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Capitol Hill and the International Fountain at the Seattle Center.
Good weather
The weather should be more or less favorable to both rides.
The temperature will be in the 50s under cloudy skies for the start of the STP on Saturday morning [Saturday morning update — it looks completely clear]. When the cyclists are hitting Centralia in late morning to early afternoon, they'll be cycling under full sun with temperatures in the high 60s to 70s.
Forecasters predict those morning clouds will burn off by later morning, and those WNBR riders should also get full sun with temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s. Sunblock would be recommended for those not wearing body paint.
Motivation
While some pedal the WNBR completely au natural, organizers say it's OK to wear whatever you like. While it's held on the solstice in most parts of the world, Seattle schedules it a little later.
The naked bike ride celebrates human-powered transportation, protests oil-dependency and draws attention to the vulnerability of bicyclists on the road.
Cyclists in STP also are celebrating human-powered transportation. Many also are facing the challenge of a 200-mile bicycle ride and raising money for charities. Glenn Bestebreur tells why he's riding STP.
In either case, let's hope everyone has a safe and hassle-free ride this weekend.
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