Two pals are causing a stir while completing a six-day tandem bike ride – both completely naked.
Neil Cox, 36, and his friend, J Antic, 25, set off on Saturday (7) on a naked 260-mile journey from Gloucester to Land’s End, Cornwall.
The pair are both naturists—meaning they like to spend time in the nude—and wanted to see some natural beauty in the southwest of England.
Neil and J have cycled naked from Gloucester to Bristol, visited the Mendips, and stopped off in Glastonbury.
The pair have spent some nights camping and others in hotels or B&Bs, and even took some nude trips out shopping or drinking in bars while on their journey.
Now, in Cornwall, they’re on the last leg of their cycle – and say the response to them so far has been “overwhelmingly positive”.
Neil, a finance worker from Stoke, Cheshire East, said: “We did a bike ride down to Land’s End in 2022 and raised about £5k. This time, it’s been more for enjoyment.
“We’re not far from the end now and we’ve had varied responses.
“People on social media always have opinions – but we haven’t had many negative reactions.
“People in Glastonbury were overwhelmingly positive; it was a bit overwhelming.
“In Bristol, people had a casual indifference, but that’s what we want to be the case, really.
“There were times I was worried about a negative reaction, but it was all in my head.
“After we went through Glastonbury we did get dressed – but only because it was windy and chucking it down with rain!”
Neil set off with J, who is from Peckham, southeast London, on Saturday. They cycled down to Bristol before having an evening of drinking.
They went for drinks naked in a few central bars in Bristol and said the response was essentially “indifferent” – they were just left alone to get on with their evening.
They spent the Sunday working out the logistics of the rest of the route before setting off for the Mendip Hills, Somerset, on Monday.
Depending on the weather and location, they have spent some nights camping and others in hotels or B&Bs.
The following day, on their way to Cullompton, Devon, they stopped off at Glastonbury, where they had some food and drink and a wander around some shops in the town.
Neil said: “In Glastonbury, it was almost too positive. One lady even thanked us.
“Wherever we go, people do look over – I think some are just bemused about seeing two people on a tandem.
“So they find it even funnier to see two naked people on a tandem.”
Now nearing the end of their route, the pair have been pleasantly surprised by the positive reaction in person.
Neil said people on social media were less fond of their nakedness when he shared their journey on a local Facebook group.
One commented: “You may love seeing each other naked, doesn’t mean we want to. Have more respect for other people!”
Another added: “I have never understood the need of people to draw attention to themselves, without offering anything to the rest of society.”
But others jumped to their defense – with one saying, “Good on them!” and another saying it’s “good to counteract the media portrayal of bodies these days.”
Neil explained their naturism isn’t supposed to offend anyone – it’s just a natural way of living.
He said: “I don’t think naked bodies are bad or dangerous.
“It’s not a sexual thing – I have a girlfriend of 10 years, and she’s comfortable with me going on trips with other women because she knows it’s a wholesome thing and there’s nothing going on.
“There are lots of issues around body image in the world, and if we can do something to make people think all bodies are OK, then that’s a good thing.”
J said: “It’s been a good turning point for me in terms of my own body image and confidence.
“I heard somewhere that supposedly having more exposure to non-sexual nudity can have a good impact on others’ self-image.
“I think that’s always a good thing in this day and age.”
Neil added, “I feel happier and less stressed when I’m naked, and most people seem supportive of that.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
