Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride: Watch out for Dapper Dans on two wheels this Sunday

The ride-out commences from Dublin Triumph at 11.30am where the team will have refreshments on and always offer a friendly welcome to all brands of motorcycle and their riders.

The concept for the ride was first mooted by a Sydney-based rider way back in 2008. The idea then was simply to dress ‘Dapper’ and ride a bike with some like-minded individuals around the centre of the city.

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) allowed riders of some pretty cool machinery to link up, ride together and raise both money for and awareness of some of the things that the men in our lives need.

After a few years of the Sydney ride-out, the event was adopted in a number of different cities. By 2012, the DGR was taking place in no fewer than 64 cities across the world, with a little over 3,000 riders taking part.

At this point the ride-outs had gained quite a lot of attention and, as a result, the team joined forces with the Ausralian prostate cancer foundation. All of a sudden the numbers jumped with 11,000 riders taking part in 145 cities across the globe the following year. Not only that, but they also raised €400,000.

By the following year, the run was supporting prostate cancer charities across the planet and the number of participants increased, with 20,000 riders taking part in over 250 cities globally. So did the funds raised, with more than €2min the bank as far back as 2014. Since then, the event has continued to grow with a record of a staggering 116,000 riders taking part in over 2,500 cities with a little more than €29m raised to date.

As the event has evolved, the team has partnered with Movember, of moustache-growing fame. This allows the DGR to better distribute the funds raised to a host of worthy causes, including prostate cancer clinical research in addition to health services for the same condition.

Now there is also a dedicated investment in men’s mental health services and suicide prevention programmes. Quite importantly, the team at Movember also makes sure that the funds raised locally are used locally.

Here in Ireland, the event has taken hold with events in Clonmel, Cork, Donegal, Drogheda, Tullamore and Dublin. This year there are over 400 riders registered to take part around the country. Since 2014, the event has partnered with Triumph motorcycles globally and as such the dealership in Dublin is hosting the biggest event in Ireland again this year.

Ladies on bikes are more than welcome to attend, as are riders of other brands and types of motorcycle. Donations are not mandatory, but you are very much encouraged to drop a few euro off at the link on www.gentlemansride.com. There are some pretty cool prizes up for grabs when you do.

Meanwhile, the store opens at 10am for coffee and breakfast bites and the ride commences at 11.30. Dress dapper and we’ll see you there!