If you're my age, or older, you remember the hoopla that accompanied the release of Queen's album Jazz. It's the one that includes, among other songs, "Bicycle Race" and "Fat Bottomed Girls", which were also released as a "double-A side" single record.
To promote the record and album, Queen staged a bicycle race with 65 nude young women:
As you can imagine, they had to retouch that photo (There was no Photoshop in those days!) any number of times to keep from running afoul of various local decency laws.
Fast-forward thirty-five years: Within the past month, dozens of municipalities--including Portland, San Francisco and Mexico City--staged massive nude bike rides.
I was almost tempted to find such a ride. The weather has been so hot here! That got me to thinking about one thing I can't do now that I could do until a few years ago.
You guessed it: riding topless! Actually, back when I was the "before" photo, I very rarely rode without a jersey or some other kind of top. For one thing, I have always looked better with clothes than without. (Most people do. Trust me, I know!) But, more to the point, I have fair skin and therefore burn easily. And I always found sunburn on my shoulders, neck and back to be particularly painful. That, by the way, is also the reason why I almost never rode in a tank top or sleeveless jersey.
But, one day, I just might ride au naturel. If I'm doing it with a hundred other cyclists, maybe nobody will notice. They just might compliment my bike!
To promote the record and album, Queen staged a bicycle race with 65 nude young women:
 |
| I'm in the third row, fifth from the left. |
As you can imagine, they had to retouch that photo (There was no Photoshop in those days!) any number of times to keep from running afoul of various local decency laws.
Fast-forward thirty-five years: Within the past month, dozens of municipalities--including Portland, San Francisco and Mexico City--staged massive nude bike rides.
I was almost tempted to find such a ride. The weather has been so hot here! That got me to thinking about one thing I can't do now that I could do until a few years ago.
You guessed it: riding topless! Actually, back when I was the "before" photo, I very rarely rode without a jersey or some other kind of top. For one thing, I have always looked better with clothes than without. (Most people do. Trust me, I know!) But, more to the point, I have fair skin and therefore burn easily. And I always found sunburn on my shoulders, neck and back to be particularly painful. That, by the way, is also the reason why I almost never rode in a tank top or sleeveless jersey.
But, one day, I just might ride au naturel. If I'm doing it with a hundred other cyclists, maybe nobody will notice. They just might compliment my bike!
I'm not sure I would be brave enough, even with a hundred other cyclists. Sunburned feet HURT, I can't imagine how bad more sensitive areas would be.
ReplyDeleteErin: I thoroughly agree.
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