Naked cyclist Neil Peter has faced abuse and threats but he still loves living life in the buff, The 33-year-old self-confessed naturist says it hasn't always been easy but after telling his family of his lifestyle he had 'little left to fear'.
As a naturist Neil, from Cheshire, he spends his time without clothing in a non-sexual way both in private and public. And while he has often been seen around Yorkshire, most recently in Sheffield, he is currently going much further afield as one of four people carrying out a charity bike ride across the length of the country.
Neil, who works with large banks and insurers, explained to YorkshireLive what was the driving force behind his lifestyle. And he said it was never really a choice to start with.
He said: “I don't feel like I decided to be a naturist. Even from a very young age I'd enjoy being naked, and would do so privately when I could. For me my desire to live naked is stronger than my feelings around gender identity or sexuality/sex drive - it's hard to express but I guess it's just another aspect of everyone being wired differently"
Neil said he made a decision to be 'more open' in his naturism which had made a big difference. He said: "That came about gradually through the understanding and encouragement of my non-naturist girlfriend, and the support and acceptance of my colleague and friends. A big step was telling my family and work - once they knew I felt like I had little left to fear."
Often, naturists find solace in their practice. They find relating to connections with nature, improves well-being and mental health - as well as stripping away social hierarchies.
Neil spends a lot of time being active, despite having a bare wardrobe. He takes part in adventure sports, and remote expeditions all over the world and he said that in doing this, he is able to strip off those aspects of day-to-day life that can sometimes be a hindrance.
He has also spent time trying to advocate for the naturist lifestyle. He's met a lot of people (mostly non-naturists) during his travels who are often pleasant and curious but he says it can be tiresome having to explain why lives in such a way.
He said: "I've also met loads of great people through being a naturist. These meetings haven't been through naturist circles, but rather just curious people I've spoken to whilst out naked - most likely none of these conversations would have happened if I were dressed and it's been interesting.”
“I'm not really trying to be an activist in what I do, but I appreciate some will see it that way. Really I just want to quietly get on with my life, and it can be a little tiring at times trying to justify my lifestyle and manage reactions."
Neil and a friend, pianist and music teacher, Hannah, are currently doing a naked tandem ride from Lands End to John O'Groats at the same time as another pair - Colin and Sadie - do the same in the opposite direction. They are doing it to spread the 'rewilding' message which aims to help set up practises which help nature look after itself.
But they also hope they are helping others learn and understand more about their life-choice. Neil said: "If anything I hope my lifestyle gradually makes things easier for other naturists.
"Naturists have also suffered abuse from the public. I've had physical threats made twice, and verbal abuse one.
"Recently a car deliberately drove into Colin and Sadie who are currently doing a charity naked bike across the UK, and at Coventry World Naked Bike Ride this year a man was knocked from his bike, suffering a broken elbow, by masked moped riders.
"A lot of naturists won't 'come out' publicly for these and other reasons - clearly no one should face assault or abuse simply as a result of being different.”
A fundraiser has been set up to raise money for rewilding which you can donate to here.
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