Organizers of Portland’s Naked Bike Ride, reluctantly cancelled this year’s event.

“There was just too much to do,” organizer Zeb Benson said. “We just couldn’t get it all done, so we cancelled.”

Benson, is the owner of “This Bud’s For You,” a local marijuana store. When asked for examples of what it takes to organize a naked bike ride, Benson listed the tasks.

“You have to pick a park to start in and then a place near a bar where it ends. Then you post the route.”

Then Benson thought for a long time and eventually added, “And pick a starting time.”

Those who look forward to riding naked expressed their disappointment. Long-time participant Daphne Grower represented many of the participants.

“All that dieting wasted,” Grower said.

When asked what the event was about, Ned Stoneman said, “It’s about getting naked, Dude!”

Then after getting smacked on the head by a companion, and whispered instructions, Stoneman clarified.

“Getting naked and riding is, like, a protest against using fossil fuels, and a, a, a, statement-like thing about body positivity or something. So it’s legal.”

When asked if planning for next year’s event had started, Benson took a deep drag on his freshly rolled cigarette, held the smoke in his lungs, blew it out, and then said, “We’ll get to it.”