Distinguished Gentleman's Ride brings out the bikes and bowties in Annapolis

The DGR "strictly" limits entries to "vintage inspired" motorcycles.

 The line up of motorcycles in the parking lot of the VIN909WineCafe in an historic section of Annapolis, Maryland didn't include a Royal Enfield or any really vintage bike. But the spirit was strong.

A gorgeous new Indian and a sporty looking Triumph Scrambler were the closest to any "retro" look while 30 or so others were what I suppose cafe racers would have looked like if the genre had been invented today instead of 60 years ago. They looked stripped for racing, with blacked-out motors. 

A luxurious BMW, one tall dirt bike and a couple scooters rounded out the entrants in Sunday's Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. The group would be just the right size, one rider told me: not too big for comfort. 

Modern Triumph Scrambler displayed classic touches.

I nodded: the VIN909WineCafe is in the historic Eastport section of old Annapolis, where streets are so narrow automobiles must dodge around one another when they meet. Just getting out to open road would challenge any pack. 

The riders themselves turned out in full Distinguished Gentleman style. As modified for the near 90-degree heat, that is. 

One dashing young man managed to look completely appropriate in short pants: "The heat," he explained. The short pants showed off the tattoos on his legs which, combined with his playful smile, seemed the perfect touch.

Short pants were never more becoming a gentleman.

Still I had to admire the grit of guys who wore bowties and suit jackets, somehow managing not to sweat.

"I brought a blazer," a man in shirt sleeves told me, but no way was he going to wear a tie. I suggested he just sling the jacket over his shoulder in some debonair fashion. 

"Or strap it to the bike!" he responded.

Justin Moore, executive chef at VIN909WineCafe, led the ride.

The Annapolis ride was hosted by Justin Moore, executive chef at VIN909WineCafe. Hosting the ride wasn't really a promotion for the restaurant, a farm-to-table establishment with a deep wine list and 4.5 stars on Yelp. It's not even open at that hour.

"It's me," Justin said of leading a DGR ride. A big challenge was settling on a route and wrestling to get it right on a Google Map, he said.

Printed-out route maps for the riders showed so many handwritten notations they might have been drawn by a 16th-Century pirate. Which, again, seemed perfectly appropriate for the crew of happy warriors who gathered to ride Sunday morning.

A map a pirate might draw, for a region that saw its share of pirates.

The Annapolis ride benefitted from a sort of bidding war among several riders to raise the most money for the DGR causes. There was a prize for the top fundraiser but it was clear this contest was driven by friendly competition, not hope of reward.

I live in Florida, and that's where my Royal Enfield motorcycle resides, so I wasn't riding in the Annapolis DGR.

I wanted to see a DGR gathering and so had signed up just to watch the riders set off. It seemed, by the time of departure, that they already had accomplished their good deed for the day, by giving to charity and getting together with strangers to talk motorcycles.

Top fundraisers Sheldon Richardson, Mike Burcham and Gary Wilson.

The ride "goes right past my home," one scooterist told me, with a grim. "If it's too hot I'll just go home."

His no-fuss scooter, pink shirt, shorts and flip-flops made their own cheerful statement. Perfect for a gentleman on a hot day.

Perfectly dapper in attitude as well as dress.

Demonstrating the gentlemanly art of never breaking a sweat.

White shirts, ties, vests and flat caps. Done.

Check out Mike Burcham's YouTube channel LifeOfBurch.

Dressed for the occasion.

Classic all the way around.

What clothes go with a Royal Enfield for the DGR?

In 1951 Royal Enfield pictured a gentleman in dress shoes, suit, tie and socks.

Dapper, I'm not, usually. But with the 2018 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride set for Sunday, Sept. 30 my normally careless appearance while riding my Royal Enfield comes to mind.

I'm already looking better in general this year, thanks to a Father's Day gift from my daughters: new boots.

For the DGR I have a tweed jacket (true, a bit too hot for Florida). Footwear was the problem.

Almost anything would be better than the athletic shoes I used to wear on the motorcycle. The bright colors and swoopy graphics on those things clashed with my tastefully classic Royal Enfield Bullet.

Most athletic shoes don't even offer the support I like. They're cut down on the sides to expose the ankles. Human ankles weren't designed to hold up a tilting 400-pound motorcycle very long at a stoplight.

Boots were the obvious answer, but dedicated motorcycle boots seemed a bit too much (see above reference to ambient temperature in Florida).

In the past I would don my hiking boots, when needed. These are intended for the trail, not the highway — more tread than a tank, and nearly as heavy.

Tough as they look, the hiking boots recently suffered a failure, with the soles delaminating from the leather uppers. Luckily we were hiking close enough to civilization to borrow some duct tape to hold them together temporarily.

The incident inspired the girls to give me a gift certificate to REI Co-Op, the outdoor gear supplier. Their thought was to replace the hiking boots, but there was no need for that: I had Gorilla Glued those back together when I got home.

Instead, with my wife's help, the REI on-line catalog revealed a handsome set of black boots said to be:

A. Light in weight, and...

B. Civilized looking in tread.

The boots soon arrived and I was delighted. Compared to my trail boots, these felt like ballet slippers. The ankle support was terrific. In fact, so great was the ankle support that it appeared clear I'd have to struggle to get my feet into the boots.

New boots don't feel clunky operating the controls.
Even the neutral finder doesn't complain of mistreatment..

But no! A small tab on the side of each boot proved on examination to be the tang of a zipper. I can get into and out of these boots without untying the laces.

They'll be my standard riding wear from now on. But I think I'll go with dress shoes for the DGR.

Rain doesn't wreck Fort Lauderdale 2016 DGR

Pretty passenger takes cover in scooter sidecar for the 2016 Fort Lauderdale DGR.

After a rain delay the 2016 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Distinguished Gentleman's Ride departed from Triumph of Pompano Beach Sunday morning, Sept. 25.

The world-wide ride, for cafe racers and vintage motorcycles, supports prostate cancer research and male suicide prevention. Donations to the cause are still being accepted.

Rain went on for an hour, delaying departure, but no one gave up.

My Royal Enfield and I registered for the ride but, when the time came I found that some fettling was needed and it looked like rain. Putting off the fettling meant a good chance of breaking down in the rain storm that was obviously approaching.

So, feeling like a complete poseur, I drove to the starting point in the car. It was still great to see all the old bikes and the many young people — and the young at heart — who love them.

BSA Lightning shines in the rain.

Ancient Indian displays sign of past glory.

Helmets and gloves, the iconic biker gear.

Safety lecture: Follow the guides' marked helmets.

It almost looked like a cavalry charge. Discipline prevailed.

Dapper and undaunted, the riders roar off.

The one they left behind: Bill finally got his Matchless started
but didn't get far. I gave him a ride home to fetch the van.

DGR riders are encouraged to dress dapper; it's a "tweed ride" and there were plenty of flat caps and bow ties in evidence. Here's my video of the ride getting underway.

Vintage motorcycle riders invite your Flying Pea

Riders posed with vintage motorcycles are missing only a Royal Enfield.

I admit I was only going to make fun of the organizers of a vintage motorcycle ride Sunday, Nov. 15 near Los Angeles. I found it amusing that they invited participation by any rider of a Royal Enfield "Flying Pea."

But then I read the rest of their announcement and realized it's a lot funnier than the little jab in the ribs I'd planned to deliver.

Here it is:

"We will start at Riverside Plaza, 3540 Central Ave, Riverside (Cold Stone Creamery). We will travel West along the 91 Freeway using Magnolia. We will invade the Tyler Galleria Mall surroundings. (Rather than raping and mugging we will use our horns to create havoc and instill fear in the innocent citizen shoppers.)

"Once we have instilled fear and panic we will retreat South on Tyler to Indiana (East) so I can pick up my dry cleaning and do some brief grocery shopping.

"Next we will continue East on Indiana to Harrison. After a sharp right turn (South) on Harrison we will turn left (East) on Victoria. We will continue approximately eight miles to University and turn left (West) to Heroes Brewery.

"At this point we can enjoy a good meal and throw peanuts at each other. Some may choose to have beer competitions but I don't recommend it since we will ride back to the Plaza (three miles) afterwards.

"The route is about an hour. If we ride to the top of the parking structure at Tyler Galleria we can line up the cycles and take a really cool picture overlooking the city...

"All that is REQUIRED is that you ride a 1910s-1950s cycle. (Tribute/Replicas are fine.)

"The purpose of our get-togethers is to enjoy the nostalgia of early motorcycling: The good ol' days when cycles didn't have plastic, fuel injection, computers or modern technology."

Wish I could be there. I also wish I had a Royal Enfield Flying Flea to ride.

Royal Enfields looking dapper in Rochester DGR

Royal Enfields take their places for 2015 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.

Royal Enfield motorcycles ridden by dapper looking riders took part in the 2015 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in the Rochester, N.Y. area.

"The Military model with the 'DGR '15' pedestrian slicer is a 2008 Bullet, and the other is mine — a 2000 Bullet," wrote participant Scott Wakefield. He sent the photos you see here, which were taken by John Frame and Rich Odlum.

Somehow, black and white just looks more vintage.

"We had 58 riders, raised over $6,200, and were the largest ride in New York, outside of New York City," Scott noted.

The Rochester ride left Java's Cafe at 16 Gibbs St. at noon, and finished up at Barbetorium, 333 Park Ave.

I suspect they had better weather there than I experienced on my Royal Enfield in steamy Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Proud to be a Royal Enfield.

The distinctive nacelle.

The Rochester, N.Y. route, in blue.

My Royal Enfield distinguishes itself at the 2015 DGR

That's my 1999 Royal Enfield on the right, serving as a clothes rack.

My Royal Enfield Bullet and I made it to my local Distinguished Gentleman's Ride through my home town this year. The Enfield didn't overheat.

I did.

Even late September in Florida is too humid for wool jacket, tie and flat cap. During a stop at a beachside pub I took off the jacket and hung it on the handlebars.

I spotted only one other Royal Enfield on the ride; a new Battle Green C5. I parked next to it, hoping to make a good impression.

You are always properly dressed on a Royal Enfield.

The rider of the new Royal Enfield rewarded me by looking over my unwashed Enfield with its duct-tape customizations. Observing this, I glowed with pride. Did them myself, I did.

Not until the rest of the riders pulled up did I realize that my Royal Enfield would be positioned at the curb essentially where the smokers would congregate. Fortunately for all, my Bullet behaved well, and did not explode.

Ever conscious that my motorcycle dislikes starting when other people are watching, I waited until the majority of riders had left before I attempted to kick my Royal Enfield to life.

Scooter sidecarists wave farewell.

To my satisfaction it started on the first kick and, then, just as I prepared to mount, died utterly.

I had forgotten to turn on the fuel tap.

One more kick and we were rolling — toward home. We abandoned the ride early, just as we had joined it late. We're anti-social, my Royal Enfield and I.

But we enjoyed seeing all the distinguished gentleman and ladies and their motorcycles. Hope you like the pictures.

Blue bike, blue glasses, red lips.

The well shod gentleman.

Ducati looking fast while standing still.

See where the rear-view mirror is? C-o-o-o-o-l.

Something about polka dots.

Are motorcycle selfies even legal?

Going...

...and coming, with class.

Proper headgear is a must.

And a fine time was had by all.

Video of Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in New York City

Royal Enfield rider Robert Nightingale dons gloves for the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.
Click here to see the video.

This delightful video of the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in New York City comes courtesy of Robert Nightingale, who rode a Royal Enfield.

Nightingale is one of the designers for MALLE London, "makers of considered and purposefully designed tool bags." Their bespoke "tool bags" (there's room for your laptop) use 100 per cent British welded brass fittings, and premium bridle leather. They're priced to match.

Riding a Royal Enfield while looking great.

These might serve as a backpack, or a pannier for your Royal Enfield, but you'd more likely wear one as a shoulder bag, with your best suit.

So they'd be perfect for the Distinguished Gentleman's ride, right? Nightingale writes that travel put him in New York instead of London Sept. 28, so he joined the local ride.

MALLE London "toolbags" are too good for tools.

A Royal Enfield Bullet serves as a prop for the fashion photos on MALLE's website, including one shot of a bag presumably being used to carry actual tools. Unlikely. But a great shot, nevertheless.

Watch the video.

My Royal Enfield ride with a Distinguished Gentleman

My Royal Enfield and my distinguished self pose together at the railway station.

My Distinguished Gentleman's Ride Saturday introduced me a distinguished gentleman indeed: the fellow who helped me get my Royal Enfield running so I could get home.

David McParland spotted me kicking repeatedly with no results and pulled over in his car. Once we'd confirmed the Enfield had gas and compression in the cylinder it was just a matter of figuring out where the electricity had gone off to.

I'm a dunce about electricity but David had a meter and the know-how to determine that the battery wasn't up to snuff. He rigged up cables from his car battery and we got the motorcycle running. It was then a simple matter of riding home non-stop.

Being helped like this really renews one's faith in the human race.

I'd ridden to the Boca Raton Train Museum to get a shot of myself in my dapper duds. I posed alongside the historic rail cars parked next to once was the Boca Raton, Fla. station of the Florida East Coast Railway.

Yes, I rode alone. But I did donate to three other rides, so I felt I deserved to get a picture of myself out of the deal.

September in South Florida is really too warm and humid for a tweed jacket and a tie. Consequently I was bathed in sweat even before the Enfield decided it didn't want to take me home.

I'd have been a lot sweatier still if David hadn't come along when I needed him. Even as it was, he got grease on his hands and nothing but my thanks for his trouble.

A distinguished gentleman indeed.

Bunty's advice on 2014 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

Distinguished Gentleman's Ride is Sept. 28 in the U.S. and worldwide.

Have the footman gas up your Royal Enfield, trim your beard, button all your buttons and register for the 2014 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride Sunday, Sept. 28.

This distinguished (peculiar?) ride is described as "an international event for Classics, cafe racers, bobbers, trackers, customs, modern classics, classic scooters and undefinable 2/3 wheeled machines." It raises money for global medical research to fight prostate cancer.

(Distinguished ladies are more than welcome to ride, but organizers describe the ride as "a piece of theater as much as it is a ride," so an appropriate motorcycle and appropriate attire would be most appropriate for both sexes.)

The first Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in 2012 drew 2,500 riders. This year 20,000 are to get expected to get dressed up and ride.

Check the website to find the ride near you. None near enough? Sponsor your own.

Don't know what to wear? Consider this advice, graciously provided in 2012 by Maj. Bertram "Bunty" Golightly, distinguished authority on all things distinguished:

Maj. Golightly.

"Blasco old chap, some of us are already distinguished gentlemen and furthermore a 'gentleman' would never ride a ghastly cafe racer — 'deed not! As riding a motorcycle is akin to riding a horse — quite so, Bunty has always deferred to traditional wisdom and insists that guests who are invited to hunt with the Blotto Hall pack of Bullet Hounds adhere to long established etiquette — don't yer know.

"Suitable attire would be 'ratcatcher' (for informal occasions and summer jaunts); flat cap or other tweed cap or brown bowler. Tweed jacket and tan breeches with brown boots (highly polished) or brogues. tattersall shirt with collar and predominantly green or brown patterned tie.

"A more formal occasion would necessitate the wearing of official hunt jacket (normally scarlet for foxhounds, green for harriers or just black with a suitably colored collar as an alternative), black silk hat (top hat) or a bowler, black boots (highly polished) with brown tops. White shirt with white stock (somewhat like a cravat) white breeches. Tan or white gloves.

"Members of the armed forces would be allowed to wear their number two dress uniform with breeches and boots and service peaked cap, it is not customary to carry a service revolver unless anti-hunt saboteurs are expected to be present — haar haaaaaar haaaaaaaaaaaaaar!! Americans please note that automatic weapons are frowned upon as being ungentlemanly, one prefers to give the buggers 'a sporting chance' — eh what.

"Inclement weather might necessitate the donning of a trench coat and waders — mmn indeed.

"Dressed in this manner a gentleman would not embarrass himself or his host and friends when indulging of social or sporting occasions upon a motorcycle.

"One hopes that this little message will prove of some assistance to those not blessed with an innate sense of sartorial elegance.

"Good Luck to all...!

"I'll drink to that.

"Bottoms up!

"Your servant,

"Maj. Bunty Golightly MBH, Defender of the Kickstart, Companion of the Royal Floatchamber."

Riding a Royal Enfield as a Distinguished Gentleman

A Distinguished Gentleman prepares to ride his Royal Enfield through Sydney.

It's disgraceful but we all do it. Any time a favorite shirt or pair of jeans picks up a stain we tuck it away to use "on the motorcycle."

That's fine if you mean "to wash the motorcycle." But we've got to resist actually wearing those comfy but saddle sore clothes to ride.

It's really for the best, especially now that there is The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.

Motto: Live Tweed. Ride Dapper.

Reader David Blankenhorn pointed out that the 2013 video of the Sydney, Australia ride is on Vimeo now.

A Royal Enfield awaits the Sydney, Australia ride.

"Even though the Enfield is the obvious bike of choice for the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride I spotted only one in the official Sydney, Australia ride... which is the mothership of the event," he wrote.

I think I spotted two Royal Enfields, but see what you can see. It's a delightful ride video.


The organization says it is still editing a second video combining the 145 rides in 110 cities in 38 countries around the world that took place in 2013. More than 7,000 dapper riders participated. The event raised more than $275,000 (Australian) dollars for worldwide medical research into prostate cancer.

The website explains:

"It is about classic bikes, retro, cafe racers, bobbers, flat trackers and customs. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride can be held in any city of any country. We attempt to keep it to these types of bikes to ensure the event stays small and true to its roots.

"In 2014, we are aiming for 150 cities across the globe with a total of 8,000 people riding, raising awareness for men’s health issues and raising funds to distribute to charities worldwide.

"If you would like to organize a ride for DGR in 2014 please email ride@gentlemansride.com "

I didn't participate last year. Blankenhorn challenged me to lead a ride this year.

"I trust, Sir, that you will endeavor to ensure that Enfielders are suitably represented in next Yr's DGR festivities… perhaps even starting a ride in Fort Lauderdale, or participating in the one in Orlando," he wrote.