I just came back from my first-ever Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Why haven’t I been there before? Why haven’t I spent time there every year? It’s unbelievable how amazing and wonderful this event is, and how incredible people I met there. People with whom I truly feel a strong connection, people who are so down-to-earth and similar to me, all while being passionate about motorcycles, a certain lifestyle, and the need to give back.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is an initiative that originated in Australia and takes place on a single day each year in hundreds of cities worldwide simultaneously. Its purpose is to fight prostate cancer. It is also a campaign led by the organization Movember, raising awareness about the prevalent issue of depression among men, which tragically leads to over 500,000 suicides annually! If you want to know more, please Google Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride and Movember; it will open your eyes!
My energy level skyrocketed after today’s gathering, after the DGR event. I am so electrified, so excited about what I witnessed there, the people I met, and how we spent this day that I can’t put it into words. I truly can’t describe it adequately. It was magnificent!
I have a theory… The event organizers devised a brilliant way to find like-minded people across the globe. They created an event gathering owners and enthusiasts of classic motorcycles and scooters, gathering individuals crazy enough to dress elegantly, wear their best clothes, and ride together in a parade to support a very important cause.
I am convinced that if it weren’t for the choice of this relatively niche social group, the event wouldn’t have been such a success. It’s the mindset of people who love classic motorcycling and their level of eccentricity that ensures the popularity and results of this action year after year.
In 2023, this year’s DGR took place on May 21st, Sunday. In the city of Poznan, nearly 200 participants registered. Almost everyone showed up several hours before the start at the STEVE MOTO SHOP, which co-organized the noble event in Poznan.
This year alone, I’ve attended several motorcycle season openings, also rallies under various themes—charitable, club-based, themed gatherings, and trade shows. But what I experienced here, at the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Poznan, is incomparable to anything else.
As I mentioned, it was my first DGR. One of the recommendations is to wear appropriate attire. The name Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride says it all: a shirt, tie, bowtie, jacket, and leather shoes.
Initially, I felt a bit uncomfortable.. On one hand, I’ve dressed like that for weddings, formal gatherings, or the opera, but never to ride a motorcycle? It didn’t feel natural. I stepped out in front of my house, packed my gear in the saddlebags, and checked if my neighbors noticed me. Of course, they did. Their looks were unmistakable—what’s this weirdo up to?
As soon as I arrived at the starting parking lot, there was an undeniable sense of instant friendship among the people who had come with a specific purpose: to support and promote men’s physical and mental well-being and embrace life to the fullest. It was like stepping into a scene from a Hollywood movie, a life that we often only get a taste of, filled with friendship, a shared sense of purpose, and joy in simple pleasures—enjoying a cup of coffee in good company, admiring the beauty of motorcycles, listening to live music, dancing, and, of course, the thrill of riding a motorcycle!
Together, after couple of hours of getting to know each other, we embarked on a scenic route through the city, making our way to Posnania Shopping Center, where a lively celebration awaited us—food, a contest for the most beautiful motorcycle, best-dressed woman rider, best-dressed man rider, and a concert by the Boogie Boys band.
The Boogie Boys tore the place apart. They played like wild men, emanating an energy that could rival a steam engine! The dance floor was filled with ecstatic dancers, and the shouts and jumps shook the ground for miles around the stage! It was truly magnificent!
It was impossible not to be impressed by the fact that this event, which aims to raise funds for prostate cancer research and raise awareness of mental health care, was, in itself, a therapy and a remedy for weakened spirits and the often accompanying social exclusion.
I want to express my gratitude to all those involved in organizing the DGR worldwide, and I thank everyone who has participated in this event at least once. You are truly extraordinary, changing the world, changing people, and bringing hope… See you in 2024! I’m already counting down.
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mega to jest super wypad i filmik 🙂