Women's Body Painting: April 2011

Monday, April 4, 2011

Sydney Body Art Ride

Bike? Check. Helmet? Check. Shoes? Check. Undies? Check. Smile? Check.

And that's all you need to take part in the Sydney Body Art Ride.

Event manager Jake Lloyd Jones came up with the idea a few years ago while working as a researcher for The 7.30 Report on ABC television.

"We were sitting in the office one day and we dreamed it up and it grew into this big thing," Lloyd Jones says.

"We're promoting healthy sustainable living and the main focus of that message is to ride your bike to work instead of driving a car."

His organisation lobbies government and councils to improve facilities for cyclists. The money raised goes to the Children's Cancer Research Institute.

That's the serious side.

The fun part involves cyclists stripping down to their smalls or swimmers if they want to and using their bodies as canvases. Participants paint their own designs or pick a colour and become a member of a human-rainbow team. Riders leave the University of NSW at noon, heading towards Maroubra beach.

Anyone wanting to take photos must be polite and ask first. Riders are advised to save their pick-up lines for the after-party: "Just because someone smiled at you doesn't mean he or she wants to talk to you."

The group must travel slowly because helmets, shoes and briefs don't provide much protection in the event of accidents. Participants are advised not to take too many clothes off.

"We haven't had anyone completely naked turn up, but no doubt the police who escort the ride might take them aside for a chat," Lloyd Jones says.

Lloyd Jones no longer works for The 7.30 Report but many former colleagues remain keen supporters. Can we expect to see host Kerry O'Brien wearing his smalls and a smile on Sunday?

"He's on our celebrity supporter list ... but I'm not sure I actually want to see Kerry naked on his bike."