March 13 Is a Good Day For Cycling

If you reside in the southern hemisphere and are planning to hop on your bike for a ride tomorrow, take your clothes off. No, really. Don't be surprised if you do see a mob of naked cyclists on the road because tomorrow, March 13, 2010 is one of the main dates for World Naked Bike Ride, a day of body painting, butts, boobs, and bikes. People joining this ride "face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians as well as the negative consequences we all face due to dependence on oil, and other forms of non-renewable energy."

Living in the Philippines, I'm certain there is no lack of support for the cause they're advocating; I've joined rides which call for the same reforms. But let's face it; no one's going to organize a naked bike ride anywhere in our 7,107 islands (okay, maybe in some of the remote ones pwede pa). Save perhaps for the Oblation Run, any naked form of protest would be shut down even before the first bike is out the gate, seeing that even fully-clothed large group rides that have anything political to say are frowned upon in the streets of Manila (mostly by irate motorists). Not that I'm complaining about not being able to ride my bike naked, but it would be nice to know that I have the option, and that I could call a few thousand people to join me just in case we all feel like it. That said, this would be a fantastic event to join with my dream peloton.

Now, if like me you can enumerate plenty of reasons off the top of your head to NOT ride naked (first, can you imagine the potential chafing in your nether regions?!) then you'd be glad to know that the biggest group ride in Manila will be open for registration starting tomorrow, March 13! Yes, people. The Tour of the Fireflies is fast approaching and the 12th edition Firefly jersey has a bad-ass, show-your-Pinoy-pride design:

Actually, after last year's experience of losing my friends in a crowd of 7,000 cyclists, most of whom were wearing the same thing, I told myself I wouldn't be wearing the official jersey for this year if I can make it to the tour. But this one is just too kick ass not to have and wear, and I have a feeling that more people will be shelling out the P350 (no price increase!) registration fee for this keeper.

This year's slogan is "I Vote to Bike", a good reminder for everyone that the presidential election is up soon and that we should use our vote to ensure a better future for the Philippines. Fingers crossed. To find out more about this year's Tour of the Fireflies and the Firefly Brigade, visit their website here, and their Multiply site here.















All images taken from the Firefly Brigade websites