DGR 2017

https://www.gentlemansride.com/

Sept 24th is the date that has been selected for this year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.
It is a worldwide event that promotes men’s mental health, and raises money for prostate cancer research. The ride is put on to support the Movember Foundation, which according to the Gentlman’s Ride website, is the largest funder of prostate cancer research.

The Ride takes place globally on the last Sunday in September. Over the past few years it has gone from a “men’s” ride to a “folk’s” ride. The bikes and dress are not a free-for-all run-what-ya-brung sort of deal. In fact, they are very niche. Like super niche… and mandatory.

I never knew this before today, but the style that the ride emulates is based on Don Draper from Med Men. That is a t.v. show set in 1960s New York, so you can imagine the day-to-day attire that the martini and cigarette laden business men would wear (when they weren’t banging their secretaries having their assistants check them for prostate cancer).

Bikes are also suggested for the ride, and sport bikes, ADV bikes, and Touring Cruisers appear to be off limits. After all, Don Draper wasn’t rockin’ no Gixxer!! Cafe Racers and vintage/classic bikes take top priority, but this years ride guide also suggests vintage-styled choppers, street trackers, bobbers, and “modern classics”. That modern classic thing excludes Harley-Davidsons, even though most people will say they haven’t changed since the 1950s. In reality, Royal Enfields have hardly changed since the 1950s. I digress.
If you need more info, you can check the style guide here.