Distinguished despite the rain,
… morning. Westlake heads to Cambridge and the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
HALF WAY THROUGH THE RIDE I get the first whiff of a curious combo – damp Harris tweed and Castrol R. I’m crammed into a Cambridge side street with hundreds of others, sitting on our bikes as a traffic light problem is resolved somewhere up ahead and the rain pours down. My waistcoat smells like old labrador.
The ancient buildings on either side seal in fumes and noise so it feels like we’re bathing in a 1950s motorcycling soup. Passers-by wave jovially, all wearing the same expression of amusement and disbelief, presumably wondering why 300 men in vintage suits are happily sitting on motorcycles in the rain on a Sunday morning.
The answer is the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR), a global run that raises absurd amounts of money for men’s health charities (mostly prostate cancer research and mental health). It was started in Australia in 2012 as a way for the classic and retro biking communities to have a laugh and do something positive, and it’s grown ever since – in 2018 there were 114,000 riders in 102 countries who raised $6.2m. Back in Cambridge the traffic light issue is resolved and we’re off, a fresh cloud of Castrol R parping from the Gilera trailie in front. I’ve borrowed a new Enfield Interceptor for the ride, and it’s perfect, blending in with the classics while having all the advantages of a nice new modern bike, such as brakes, power and reliability.
There are marshals guiding us along the route, but it soon becomes clear they’re not needed. The classic motorcycle contingent left the meeting point first and the trail of oil is plain to see on the wet roads. Just follow the rainbow slick.
By the time we reach the centre of town everyone is comically wet. It’s been a while since I’ve felt rain trickling down the inside of my trousers and filling up my boots. Riding beside me is a bloke on an early Speed Triple who’s dressed up like a welltailored 1930s gamekeeper, complete with luxurious moustache. We look at each other and laugh. As charadee rides go, this is right up there.
You can register for next year’s run at gentlemansride.com
‘… in 2018 there were 114,000 riders in 102 countries who raised $6.2m’