Photos by: Kelvin Vinod
Story by: Surin-V
Welcome to the most classiest ride in the world....
....So classy it'll make you wonder if you're lost in a universe where everybody suits up and rides around in nothing but classic bikes.
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| (Picture from website) |
The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride started with only 2 500 riders in 64 cities, the numbers then jumped to 10 000 riders from 145 cities a year later. This year, the number rocketed to an unbelievable estimation of 20 000 riders from 220 cities!!!
This is not just a ride. All these riders suit up for one cause, and that cause speaks aloud from their suits to rides. The Distinguished Gentlemen's ride was founded in 2012, inspired by a photo of Mad Men's Don Draper astride a classic bike and wearing his finest suit. The theme was chosen as such so it would stand against the biker stereotypes.
Growing year by year in staggering numbers, this year's DGR raised raised $ 1 605 007 (as per website) for prostate cancer research. Prostate cancer kills an estimation of 1 300 men a day and it's least shouted about. So here they are, standing up for the rest of the men around the world.
For two years consequently I had a chance to participate in this international charity ride, with my partner in ride, Kelvin.. Our ritual was simple, I ride while Kelvin pillions and snaps pictures.
Held last Sunday at Stadium Merdeka, bikers began to gather as early as 7 a.m. All breeds of bikers such as bobbers, baggers, customs, kapcais, choppers, vespas and cafe racers, and more joined in with their suits for the classy fun.
Bikers came in gangs, friends, colleagues, alone or even families, whether it was couples, father-son, father-daughter, mother-son, and the left out mother cz the daughter was riding with the dad. These kids were as young as 4 and instead of Sunday morning cartoons, they decided to join their dads and mums for some fun in the sun.
As the sun rises, the mass gather
and here we see a biker in the making
The Naked 13 Cafe Racers brief the riders and warm em up
Vespas ready to rumble...
and then here is our ride... the Cycle World Malaysia Scooty. Such a meanie.
FIRST STOP: Dataran Merdeka
The ride kick started at Stadium Merdeka and the gentlefolks made their way through town, stopping at the iconic Dataran Merdeka, Pavilion, A & W PJ and finally at Jalan Semarak. Throughout the journey, they managed to attract massive attention. Imagine nearly 500 bikes owning the streets. Luckily this year we had traffic control, which made the convoy a lot easier and organised.
Riders stretch out and loosen up at Dataran Merdeka
A picture for their upcoming rock album... (just kidding)
The ladies' man
A cover photo for Esquire
It's okay to be over dressed here
Literally two "horsepower"
NEXT STOP: Pavilion
Let's jam the streets with our good looks, so they said
Let the reign begin
Fuelling up the tummy
The riders then rode to Jalan Semarak where the event met an end. Gifts and appreciations were given but sadly I couldn't stay around to get a picture of that but tune into Cycle World Malaysia for those updates.
THE JOURNEY
The journey was extremely unique. Despite the insane weather, the riders kept their calm and smiles although they were burning and sweating inside. But that's the biker brotherhood is all about: we don't care what, how, where and who we ride with, as long as the road keeps going, we ride!
Here's some shots of our heroes in action:
THE MACHINES
The best thing about DGR is seeing variety of machines owned by the gentlefolks. Each machines somehow speaks the owner's style. Modding it creatively, either from scratch or slight tweaks that suits them.
Can you believe this was actually a Modenas Jaguh? Yup, believe it.
and these ladies go around shouting a message
Coz rust is not a crime
Finally the beast that caught my eyes, Taymen's custom monster. The details on this bike is just unbelievable! It felt like something that was whopped out by the Orange County Choppers.
The event ended about 1 pm with lunch. Estimated about 500 suave ladies and men took part in this unique ride and raised almost RM 16 000.
Congratulations to the organisers, Naked 13 boys on their great job in organising something so noble and exciting at the same time.
For more pictures visit the link below:
and tune into Cycle World Malaysia for the coverage.
Before I end, let me present to you the sexiest gentleman of them all,
*drum rolls please*
and here we have it folks
the stylish female heartthrob (warning all ladies)
who didn't ride a tricycle:
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