KEY POINTS:
Boobs on Bikes attracts three types - the proud, the curious and those with convenient excuses.
They waited in their thousands, standing up to eight deep on Queen St at lunchtime yesterday until pornographer Steve Crow came into view in a black Bentley convertible flanked by two topless women.
For a moment bemused looks gave way to a grin and the odd hoot and whistle - one girl let out a "wow" and a giggle as the first pair of breasts appeared - but then many of the onlookers' demeanours went blank again.
The most unusual sight? An army tank on Auckland's main street carrying two bare-breasted women.
The most predictable? The building site overlooking Queen St lined with construction workers, hard hat to hard hat, looking on as the parade went by.
The parade was predictable, tending towards the trashy rather than the titillating. There were a few surprises though - Not all the crowd was male and not all the boobs were fake. One pair flopped in such a manner that it could only be as nature intended.
With ageing tattoos, jiggling bellies and white trousers on show, it was hard to see why some found it worthy to leer at.
Motorbikes came to a stop as the traffic backed up outside Smith & Caugheys, the drivers revved the engines, bystanders coughed from the fumes.
The topless women came past on motorbikes, in cars and even a few on motorised trikes, with most waving and smiling to the crowd.
Senior Auckland Grammar School students - who have only a half-day in class on Wednesdays - seemed relatively unimpressed until Naked TV presenter Lisa Lewis, tanned and wearing just a pair of bikini bottoms, went past on the back of a ute.
"She's a bit of all right," said one.
Despite regulars saying numbers watching were down this year (and questioning if the shock appeal was wearing off), there's no doubt Boobs on Bikes can still pull a crowd, estimated at about 100,000.
WHAT THEY SAID
"Some people say it's not a good thing, some people say it's alright - it's entertaining I think."
Richard Rusli, 27, Auckland, hotel worker
"We just thought we're in Auckland, it's on, we should have a look at it. As for whether we support it or not, I don't know ... Vicki Blackler, 47, Invercargill, retailer
"I don't think it would go down this well in Invercargill. It's too cold down there. Southland might be more conservative."
Paul Blackler, 43, Invercargill, crew leader
"It's more like a smorgasbord for him [baby son Bentley]. We were just shopping and we got caught up in the crowd."
Joe-Ann Day, 26, Auckland
