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THE YORKSHIRE RIDE PAGES - PREPARING FOR THE RIDE

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PREPARING FOR THE RIDE - practical information (2006)

Friday 9 June 2006 - 6 pm for a 6.30 departure, assemble in the parking lot to the left of Memorial Gardens, York

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PRACTICAL INFORMATION CAREFULLY. PLEASE PRINT OUT A COPY FOR ANY FRIENDS YOU KNOW ARE COMING ON THE RIDE AND WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO E-MAIL.

Make sure your bike is roadworthy
In particular check:

• that the brakes work properly
• the tyres are sufficiently inflated
• the chain runs freely and the gear changes are smooth
• there are no obvious loose connections (check especially your handlebars, saddle, cranks, pedals)
• as far as possible check that your wheels run true (don't wobble from side to side when moving)

What to bring with you on the Ride

• Obviously your bike (if you have not got a bike, you could hire one).
• One or more bags to carrying your clothes and other bits & pieces. Bags attaching safely to your bike are best as they do not restrict your movement, make your back sweat too much or obscure any slogans you have written there. If you do not have a pannier, saddle, rack or handlebar-bag, use a back-pack that attaches securely to your body and leaves both hands free.
• A basic tool kit specific to your bike including a spare inner tube and/or other means of dealing with a puncture.
• A working pump.
• One or more water-bottles filled with a (non-alcoholic!) drink of your choice.
• Front and rear lights in case it is dark by the time you are getting home.
• Some snacks to keep you going until your next meal.

At the assembly point/start of the Ride
Note, the assembly point is not the actual "Memorial Gardens" as printed in the leaflets, but the parking lot just left of the Memorial Gardens. Please arrive in good time to decorate your bike, paint your body, store your clothes etc.
We will be following as far as possible the PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY of the London Ride (this is reproduced below at the end of the message). We will not have a roped off "privacy zone" as such, but we will try and improvise something similar on the day. If anyone would like to take charge of dealing with photographers, please make contact with me off-list.

During the Ride
We will have a ride leader and a back marker. We also hope to have one or more stewards in the middle who will hold up the traffic at junctions when necessary in order that to keep all the riders together.
For everyone's safety, please observe the following advice:

1. Do not stray from the Route or the other riders
2. Do not race ahead or overtake the ride leader, especially if you do not know the way
3. Try not to drop behind the back marker
4. Be aware of pedestrians. York's streets are inclined to be very busy with tourists, even outside the core shopping hours applicable to the pedestrian zone.
5. On shared use pathways, keep to the side marked as a cycle lane. If no such lane is marked, be prepared to stop if necessary if pedestrians (or their dogs) get in your way.
6. Follow the normal traffic rules given in the Highway Code, stopping at red lights etc. unless directed to clear a junction by a steward who will temporarily hold up traffic on your behalf (such a tactic will only be used to keep the group together).

Police
The North Yorkshire Police have been fully informed about the Ride, its timing, the route, the purpose of our demonstration and the fact that many of the riders will be nude. They have not raised any objections (except for a few minor route changes). The police will support the ride with 5 cycle-mounted officers. A cycle mounted paramedic will also be on hand.

We are pleased that the York police have elected to support the ride in a manner similar to that of the London police.

Creativity
Decoration of your bike and your body is strongly encouraged. If you have any body paints, please bring them along. Leaves and other greenery are also useful for draping or twisting around body. There are lots more ideas on the main WNBR website:
http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/res_high/index.html

Bring bells, whistles, horns etc. to make a pleasant noise.

Please avoid banners, flags or flagpoles that may get caught up in your wheels, cause difficulty when mounting or dismounting or cause a nuisance to other riders. In particular avoid anything with a sharp point. There is a way of attaching flexible bamboo poles with banners above head height, but unless you have previous experience of this (plus a strong pannier rack, lots of gaffer tape and some ingenuity), it is best not to attempt it.

If you wear a mask, make sure it does not restrict your vision of the road or the other riders around you.

Slogans
Here are a few possibilities to think about/choose from. Copy freely or invent your own:

MY ENERGY'S RENUDE
WARNING: HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLE AHEAD
JEREMY CLARKSON GO HOME!
SWEAT NOT OIL
I CAN ONLY GO ONE WAY - I'VE NOT GOT A REVERSE GEAR (thanks to Mr Blair for supplying that one)
ONE LESS CAR
UNE AUTO DE MOINS (One Less Car in French for any Francophone tourists around)
NUDE DOES NOT EQUAL LEWD
TWO WHEELS GOOD (but tricycles welcome too)

At the end of the Ride
At the end of the Ride, when entering Museum Gardens, you MUST dismount and walk your bike to the dispersal point/chill-out area which is towards the Hospitium building near the Riverside Walk.

We hope to have some free refreshments available for every rider completing the Ride.

Remember - ride proud, ride safely and have fun.

See you all on Friday.

Ride on!

Tony and Jesse of the York WNBR Collective

e-mail = yorkshire [AT] worldnakedbikeride [DOT] org
phone = Jesse at 0781 458 7361

"Ebor eco-riders do it nudely."

THE LONDON RIDE PHOTO/VIDEO POLICY (revised May 2006)

A - PHOTOGRAPHERS BEHAVIOUR
Photographers must behave in a respectful, friendly and reasonable manner at all times. If you make any rider uncomfortable, you will be required to leave the assembly area (or ride).

B - AT THE ASSEMBLY AREA (both BEFORE and AFTER the ride)
1. Always ask for consent before photographing a rider.
2. Don't photograph people undressing or dressing.
3. Don't photograph anyone within the roped off "privacy zone".

C - DURING THE RIDE
1. If possible, ask for consent if your photo will show a rider's frontal nudity or face.
2. Always ask for consent when taking a close-up photograph.