Cyclists bare body positivity – and everything else – in Philly

Hundreds of cyclists dressed down for a breezy ride through some of Philadelphia’s main streets Saturday during the 14th Philly Naked Bike Ride.

The eye-catching annual affair began in 2009 and revealed itself as an event to promote body positivity, cycling and fossil fuel reduction. Organizers stress there’s no constraints, with participants able to go as “bare as they dare” for the roughly 13-mile journey.

The in-the-raw route changes from year to year, but typically takes bikers past iconic city landmarks.

This year’s route passed City Hall, Rittenhouse Square, the South Street entertainment area and the Philadelphia Museum of Art — the steps of which were featured in the “Rocky” movies — before finishing at Independence Hall.

“One of the goals . . . is to desexualize nudity and to encourage everyone to embrace nudity as a normal, enjoyable way of life,” the event’s code of conduct reads. “Following this policy will . . . teach all of us how to be better people in general.”

Many participants agreed, including Garry J. Gadikian, who like hundreds of other bikers, chose to adorn his bare flesh with body paint and glitter.

“It’s a very freeing experience, and definitely something that you should do once in your life,” Gadikian, who is from Atlantic City, NJ, said during a pre-race get-together in Fairmount Park.

Other participants found the naked truth behind the event: Acceptance of their own bodies.

“It’s just feeling comfortable with your own body and it’s OK to look at other people too, compare or not compare or just see how other people feel comfortable in their own bodies,” said first-time rider Christopher Jordan of New York City.