THE coordinator of the first Daylesford World Naked Bike Ride defended putting bums on seats after the ChillOut organising committee last week distanced itself from the nude ride.
Dunach cyclist Andy Stretton, who coordinated the first Daylesford World Naked Bike Ride during the March Labour Day weekend, said the ride was an annual, worldwide event that drew attention to bicycle riding.
"If people want to start making complaints I think it's pretty silly," he said.
"It's celebrating bicycles and a car-free lifestyle.
"We thought it was absolutely sensational. We had cheers left right and centre."
But not everyone was as thrilled.
The ride was held on the same weekend as Daylesford's ChillOut Festival.
ChillOut's committee last week publicly announced that complaints about a naked bike ride in Daylesford had nothing to do with the ChillOut festival.
"All official ChillOut events are listed on our website and in our official festival guide, and are scrutinised by the committee to ensure they comply with our festival's values and local laws," said ChillOut president Michael Brady.
"The Daylesford World Naked Bike Ride was not part of ChillOut 2011, nor did the organisers of the ride seek to have their event included in the ChillOut program.
"The fact that the two events happened on the same weekend was purely coincidental.
"We aren't prudes and we have no complaint with the World Naked Bike Ride.
"But we need to be clear that this was not a part of ChillOut 2011."
World Naked Bike Ride is an international clothing-optional bike ride in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport.
Full nudity is not compulsory and some choose to cover intimate parts.
Mr Stretton said if ChillOut wanted to distance themselves, it was fine, but March 12 was the day world-wide when the naked bike ride was held.
"I don't see why we can't hold the event during ChillOut next year," he said. "It's a free country. I think ChillOut should adopt it."
Mr Stretton said one important element of the ride was to raise awareness of the vulnerability of riders on the road.
"Human skin is vulnerable against two tonnes of steel," he said.
"It's a non-sexual thing and I think it's an incredible thing to bring people's awareness."
He said it also highlighted the environmental issues associated with our car-dominated society.
Mr Stretton said six riders participated in the Daylesford event and of them just three went fully naked for the ride through Dayesford's main street.
"We phoned the police beforehand and spoke to them about the event," he said.
"They were all aware of the event and what was going to happen."
He said in Melbourne 150 people participated in the ride and all over the world there were thousands.
"People love it," he said.
"They clap, they scream out and cheer".
Hepburn Shire Council last week said it had received no complaints about the ride.
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