CYCLISTS are getting ready to bare all in the first naked bike ride in Chelmsford.

Organised by the World Naked Bike Ride committee as an environmental protest against car cultur e and a celebration of the bicycle and the body, the ride will be the first of its kind to take place in the city – it has previously taken place in Clacton.

While many choose to take part completel y naked, ride manager Rob Brown, 49, a naturist fo r more than 30 years, said others wore bikinis , underwear or shorts and should just “bare as much as you dare”.

He said: “I love the freedom of being naked. There is nothing shameful in the human body, we are all the same.”

Despite a common misconception, it is not actually illegal to be naked in a public place.

Mr Brown added: “Under Section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, an offence is only committed if a man intends to cause alarm of distress by exposing his genitals, so there is nothing illegal with what we are doing.

“It’s just fun and we normally get a very positive response, people cheer, take photos and we’ve even had cyclists who are not actually taking part strip off and join us during the ride!”

The ride will take place at 2pm fora3pm start o n Saturday, June 27, next to the boating pond in Central Park, Chelmsford.

Visit worldnaked bikeride.org for more details