Manchester

List of rides > United Kingdom > Manchester 

Welcome to the Manchester Naked Bike Ride official web pages. Please join us or help with this year's ride (2024).
Check out our official Facebook group or follow us on Twitter or Instagram. For all info about this year's ride join our Facebook event page

On 7 June 2024 we ride in Manchester's 17th annual-ish World Naked Bike Ride! Manchester's biggest cycle protest and the best Northern exposure of the year! This is a global protest that takes place in over 50 cities worldwide to:

- Highlight the vulnerability of cyclists, who are equal users of the road and should be seen (even when not naked)

- Protest against a car dependent societies and fossil fuelled climate change polluting our towns and cities

- Celebrate bikes, bodies and low-impact living

The weather can be temperamental, but keep your fingers crossed it looks OK BBC Weather.
Questions? Contact the administrators on the Facebook page.

Event Ride!

FB Group!

Please donate to the WNBR UK Fund

The UK World Naked Bike Ride fund meets the cost of insuring rides
across the UK, and provides local organisers with money for
poster/flyer printing, advertising, ride equipment etc.
Please give generously.

Next ride

Date: 7 June 2024
Time: 6pm for 7pm
Location: All Saints Park, Cavendish St (off Oxford Road near MMU) M15 6BH.

Ride details

The Ride

The ride will probably take about an hour and a half. Meet from 6pm and set off at 7pm or just after.

For last minute spare parts Hillcourt Cycles is just over the road from the park and have any spares you may need.

Alternatively Harry Hall Cycles and Bicycle Garage are 10 and 20 minutes walking from the park.

If you have any body paints feel free to bring them along and paint each other, or come already painted!

Dress code

Police have OK'd the ride, so be ready to ride as bare as you dare. If you want to go for some kind of costume really go to town, colourful and eye-catching. Be imaginative and creative. It's a lot of fun, the people of Manchester loved us last 5 years. Bring your body paints and let everyone know why your are riding and make yourself stand out from the crowd!

Photography

Manchester prefers riders rather than photographers. If you want to photograph people before or after the ride PLEASE ASK THEM. If they say no then don't, if they say yes go ahead.

We also have a semi official photographer who will be using some of his pics for the press. He will make sure that he has your full approval before taking any photos. He has been provided by Edinburgh Cycles, so if you want to get painted by their body painters you may be asked to have you photo taken.

Directions

All Saints Park is on the Western Side of Oxford Rd (A34) between the Mancunian Way overpass and Cavendish Street (the next traffic lights as you head south). Enter from Oxford Road or Cavendish Street All Saints Park

Bike Hire

If you are intending to come along to Manchester’s WNBR on June 9 and you can’t bring your bike, you can now hire one from several places so there is no excuse for not coming.
Manchester Bike Hire
http://www.manchesterbikehire.co.uk/ 198-200 Chapel Street Salford M3 6BY

Mobile: 0161 769 5050 Email: [email protected]

Please note this is a 10 minute bike ride from the start/finish

Alternatively there are some Beryl Bikes docks scattered around the city centre, for more info click here.

Publicise the ride

Please help get the word out about this ride. Circulate leaflets.

Get involved

If you want to get more actively involved in the ride, please join the Facebook group, WNBR Manchester or the event page-

Our Facebook group Event Page

If you don't want to be naked you are more than welcome to come along, either as a participant or to help out as a Marshall.

Marshals are really import to make sure that the ride goes smoothly. If you want to help marshal get in contact with us either through Facebook or via email

Ride reports

2018

Another great ride with lots of people. The weather was sunny but a bit nippy. Numbers were slightly down from previous years, but everyone had a good time. This year we shared the park with the Manchester Histories Festival, who had a stage for people share stories of events that had happened in Manchester. We did have an unfortunate event with one rider who was unable to continue riding as they were a little tipsy, but all the other riders made it round the ride.

2017

With a general election vote being called the day before the ride and rain, winds and gales starting off the week, who knew what to expect on Friday afternoon. In the end the sun came out shinning and the promised Tory landslide didn’t happen. GM Police even tweeted ‘There is a naked bike ride on Friday, the only event you need a full debrief beforehand’.

We started in All Saint’s park, our usual haunt; it seemed that this year we had more riders and a lot more watchers. Following awful events that happened 2 weeks previous, we started with a minutes silence for those that had their lives tragically taken from them, followed by a giant cheer for those that were taken part.

The ride took a slightly different route from previous years making sure that we passed all the bars and lovely people of Manchester. This year we went past the Print Works and also Victoria station, something that was planned before the tragic event unfurled. There was an unexpected hitch at the gay village with plastic barriers being put across the road to black traffic. We managed to move these quite quickly and carried on merry way.

Making our way back to the park it seemed that all enjoyed a fabulous night and the ride is getting numbers nearer to 500. We hope to see you next year and will focus on better rider security at the start of the ride.

2016

Looking at the weather report on the Monday, we were due to have heavy rain all day and night. In the end it was a bit overcast but nothing to put off the ride. We managed to get around 212 riders in all happily taking part. We followed a similar route to last year, dictated mainly by city road works and new tram lines. Manchester definitely seemed a lot quieter, although we still got rounds of cheers from spectators. Hopefully this is our one in five wet years, so that means next year will be glorious sunshine. So see you all in 2017!

2015

WNBR 2015 Taking over the organisation from Sean, we had 3 new organisers who all did a brilliant job. A fantastic promotional poster and flyers. We had body painting provided by Edinburgh Cycles and coffee provided by Coffee Cranks. With the weather going from heavy rain on Monday morning to sunshine on Thursday in the end we seemed to get the hottest day of the year if not the sunniest. The route was very different to previous years due to the number of road works in the city centre. We hit Deansgate, the Northern Quarter and Canal Street. We even had some Christians who were telling us pride comes before a fall, luckily I don't think anyone was too prideful. As ever Manchester loved us and a lot of people I spoke to read about it in Tuesday's MEN and decided to join in.

2014

Over 200 people took part his year making it the biggest yet! The weather was fantastic. A good range of people attending, proving that it is an event for all body types. Lots of colourful wigs and masks. I think we had one unfortunate roller blader who lost a wheel but managed to catch up with us! The route was a good length and all the people cheered us on. It was Sean Fitton's last year as organiser, something which will be missed.

2013

Rain, Rain, Rain! This is England. We take our chances and know that even in June it can feel like February. God seems to like WNBR Manchester though, as he stopped the rain long enough so we could complete the ride without our body paint streaking! In a change to the route we visited Pop Up Bikes and ventured onto Cheetham Hill Road. With a bit of a climb Coffee Cranks almost needed a push to the top of a steep bit of road. Prize for best Un dressed person goes to Mr Bunny Gimp mask who bounced us all the way to the end.

2010

It keeps getting better and better, and 2010 was the best year yet. Not only did we have 100 naked cyclists, we even had a unicyclist and a Rollerblader! Special thanks go to our volunteer marshals and Greater Manchester Police, who looked after us and escorted us beautifully. We even got a report in the MEN [1]

2009

The weather was perfect, the riders were exceptional and the starting point was lovely. We rode in joy and fun and lots of noise for almost the whole route and the crowds loved us. It all went a bit pear-shaped on Portland Street when some well-intentioned but sadly ill-informed constabulary stopped the ride and tried to make us get dressed. We undressed around the corner anyway, and we did get a lot of wonderful media coverage. The police later apologised in writing as the ride had been OK'd by them previously. They agreed to accompany the Ride in future as they do at Naked Rides in other cities, so there will be no problems next year.”

2008

Well ....despite pretty nipply weather that gave some of us the willies, we still managed to have a great night cycling naked around our lovely city. Thankfully it didn't rain.

We've had lots of attention from the press again with a great report from Granada http://www.itvlocal.com/granada/news/?player=GRA_News_15&void=201440 Look out for an article in Manchester evening news and a couple of other local papers, plus lots of radio coverage. It was great to have people travel all the way from Liverpool, Bolton, Blackburn and of course the riders from the York ride, we even had a runner who had come all the way from Belgium!

From applause on Canal Street, to teenagers running in excited fear, I think we all deserve a city wide cheer. Well done to all those who took part, it was a great atmosphere and I'm happy to say on final count we estimated there were about 80+ of us.

2007

Well the 2007 World Naked Bike Ride in Manchester was amazing! We had 55 brave riders join us for another hot evening cycling the streets of Manchester. The crowds cheered and photographed us and even posted videos on you tube for all to admire. We attracted a lot of interest with radio stations, the BBC, Granada, Channel M, Manchester Evening News and a nudist publication, not to mention all sorts of indie-media.

We saw the sights passing through the infamous Canal Street, our favourite and most popular hot spot! Waved our flags to the BBC, freewheeled along Oxford road to cheers of delight at Kro Bar, then down to Deansgate Locks for some celebrity support at the 'posh bars', along Deansgate past many a shocked and admiring face, tooting cars all the way, then up to the Town Hall for a moment of cobbled wobbles when we crossed Albert Square, with the breeze on our backs (among other things!) we were free to ride, with police by our side. Ringing our bells through Piccadilly Gardens, we finished with a standing ovation, before returning to our original location. We wished we could stay all naked and free, hoped that onlookers were able to see, our messages painted on backs and on bums, our hearts were still beating like happy green drums!

Media coverage

2017

• Manchester Evening News makes us into pager 3 models again!
• Not many word lots of pics from The Telegraph
• Road CC
• Lovin Manchester

2016

• Road CC Is WNBR now classed as serious cycling!
• Manchester Evening News
• we are now famous in Norway!

2015

• Manchester Evening News on night with live comments
• Manchester Evening News Ride Report
• The Pink News
• Manchester conbfidential

2014

• [2], 06 June 2014: Hundreds take to Manchester streets for naked bike ride – pictures and video
• [3], 05 June 2014: Hundreds of cyclists ride NAKED through Manchester for World Naked Bike Ride Day

2013

• [4], 15 June 201: Cyclists take part in naked bike ride around Manchester city centre

2011

• Manchester Evening News, 06 June 2011: Clothes got the bum's rush at naked bike ride through Manchester city centre
• G7uk.com 9 minute video

2010

• Manchester Evening News, 14 June 2010: Naked bikers bear up to traffic in city protest
• Manchester Evening News, 11 June 2010: Bottoms up for the naked cyclists on tour

2009

• Manchester Evening News, 15 June 2009: Naked cyclists' police 'cover-up'

2008

• Manchester Evening News 15 June 2008: Naked cyclists ride it out by Mike Keegan
• South Manchester Reporter 19 June 2008: The Barefaced Cheek by Laura Thistlethwaite archived here
• G7uk.com 7 minute video

2007

• G7uk.com 2 minute video

2006

• Manchester Evening News, 12 Jun 2006: "Naked cyclists in pedal-power protest"

Photos

General links

• Flickr group: Manchester Naked Bike Ride
• Flickr search: Manchester Naked Bike Ride

2018

• Ian Cartwright Professional Photographer captures the full view of the ride

2016

• Ian Cartwright Professional Photographer For a full view of the ride!

2015

• Ian Cartwright Professional Photographer - Don't we look good naked

• WNBR Manchester (Will need to join group)

2014

• Alison Munro (Demotix)
• Belinda Hastie (Demotix)

2011

• Klingon50 (flickr.com)
• spinneyhead (flickr.com)

2010

• JoshuaKaitlyn (flickr.com)
• Klingon50 (flickr.com)
• Yvesen (flickr.com)

2009

Add links here

2008

Add links here

2007

Add links here

2006

Add links here

Videos

2016

YouTube:

• A great informative video about WNBR Shalom Tesciuba

• A little bit tripp that's how we like it Gennadiy Tenin

• [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUwAFwD6qLk It's not just about bikes maybe come and join us next year? Martin 04010]

Vimeo

• Cycling along Oxford Road, There's a lot of us Andrew Shawcross

• More cycling hi jinx Andrew Shawcross

2015

YouTube:

• That's Manchester WNBR report 2015

• Hill Billy The ride sets off
• Hill Billy Canal Street Welcomes The WNBR

• Mike Neal Manchester Naked Cycle 2015: Cycle Cam, part 1

• Mike Neal Manchester Naked Cycle 2015: Cycle Cam, part 2

• [Coming Soon!!!Mike Neal Manchester Naked Cycle 2015: Cycle Cam, part 3]

Vimeo:

• World Naked Bike Ride, Manchester, 12 June 2015 "Assemble in the park, then into Oxford Road"

2014

YouTube:

• Bikes and Bodies WNBR Manchester 2014

Vimeo:

• WNBR Manchester SD

2008

• G7UK: World Naked Bike Ride 2008: Manchester (blog, 18 June 2008)
• ITV Local: watch online or download 17MB video file (needs RealPlayer 11)

2007

YouTube:

• Naked Bike Ride Manchester UK 08-06-07
• World Naked Bike Ride Manchester: 8th June 2007 (1 of 12)
• World Naked Bike Ride: Manchester UK 2007

Links

Website/s

• Manchester This page (official site)
• WNBR United Kingdom (This page has FAQ info and links to the other UK rides)
• I BIKE MCR - An amazing annual cycling festival and diverse events and rides in Manchester throughout the year. I Bike MCR seeks to promote cycling as a form of transport and as something fun.

Discussion group/s

• WNBR Manchester Yahoo! group for people interested in helping to organise the ride
• WNBR UK Yahoo! group for discussion of all UK rides
• WNBR Manchester Facebook Group Facebook group for the Manchester ride.

See also United Kingdom page

Location information

• Map to All Saints Park
• ViaMichelin Map of Manchester
• Entertainment and Accommodation in Manchester
• Information about Manchester
• Wikipedia: Manchester
• Wikipedia: Greater Manchester
• Wikipedia: Lancashire