The Annual Worldwide Ride For Men’s Cancer And Mental Health Marks A Decade

The worldwide Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is marking its 10th birthday in grand fashion this year, in spite of a continued international pandemic. As countries around the globe try to return to some semblance of normal while still fighting COVID, the DGR plans to renew their global campaign to bring “dapper riders” together to enjoy a day ride and raise funds and awareness for men’s cancer and mental health causes, via the Movember Foundation.

We wrote on the new 2021 DGR date and format in November, and gave some background and insights on this unique, worldwide ride. Check that out HERE.

Triumph Motorcycles has partnered with the DGR for 8 years now, and is upping their participation this year. Says Paul Stroud, Triumph CCO, “We at Triumph are proud to be the main partner for the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride for the 8th consecutive year and are also delighted to be celebrating the 10th-year anniversary of the initiative overall. Our relationship with the DGR is an incredibly important partnership – raising funds and awareness to fight prostate cancer and support men’s mental health is important to both Triumph and riders. As ever, progress to raise awareness and support is even more effective when it’s a lasting partnership where we can improve and evolve our collective activity year on year.”

The new 2021 promotional poster. We need a print of this for the shop.

This year, the Brit brand is donating four bikes out of their “Modern Classic” collection, one of which will be a custom 10-year DGR Thruxton RS, to the four highest fundraisers from across the world. To qualify for these or any of a number of other prizes (Belstaff jackets, Hedonist helmets, etc.), ride participants who enter the “Gentlefolk Competition” must fill out a profile on the DGR site, then donate to their own page, the page of a fellow rider, and raise at least $250 (USD) for the campaign.

In keeping with the pandemic guidelines of countries and cities around the world where rides will be taking place, the DGR will contain a mixture of COVID-safe, Route Only, or Ride Solo events. If you’re interested or planning on getting involved locally, check in on their site to find the locale nearest you, and check out their specific event guidelines-

www.gentlemansride.com

Forget “riding dirty.” Ride dapper.

Mark Hawwa, the Founder and Director of the DGR, recently quipped, “It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago, a few dapper men and women mounted their classic bikes and rode in the first ever Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. We’ve made so many incredible connections and met so many inspiring people over the last decade; and one of the connections that we’re most proud of is with Triumph Motorcycles. Since 2014, our partnership has paved the way for classic and vintage styled riders to mount their steeds, look distinguished, and ride for men’s health. This year, we are not only celebrating 10 years of DGR, but 8 years of our partnership with Triumph Motorcycles. We look forward to collectively raising over $30 million (USD) since the event began, and riding dapper for men’s health – whether that’s in a COVID-safe event, or solo – we’re in this together!”

We here at Road Dirt have long loved the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Several of us have ridden in events over the years, we’ve covered the ride for the past four years, and our senior editor Rob is himself a three-time bladder cancer survivor, who lost a lifelong friend to prostate cancer back in 2012, the first year DGR launched. The cause is dear to us, to say the least. Plus, we love Triumph, not gonna lie. One of our favorite bike brands.

So let’s all dig out the tweed and bowties, strap on our suspenders, lace up some fine patent leather shoes, and join in the DGR Dapper. A great cause to ride for, and a great time to enjoy some social distance seat time with like-minded “gentlefolk.”