Rideout Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2023

Discussion in 'Rideouts, Trackdays, Touring & Spotted' started by RevPaul, Apr 14, 2023.

  1. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    714
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    I know the DGR can provoke a rather Marmite response, but I’ve just signed up for my second year (with friend Colin on his new BSA Goldstar) for the Chester ride.

    I had a great time last year and hopefully the weather will be sunny and the company good.

    Who else is riding and where?:cool:
     
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  2. learningtofly

    learningtofly He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!
    Subscriber

    Sep 25, 2018
    2,137
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    Hertfordshire
    Yes, I'm signed up for London. It's my second DGR - I somehow managed to win a Hedon helmet in my first one.
     
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  3. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    714
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    Well done:cool:!

    Doubt there’ll be any prizes for me but I’m sure it’ll be fun. Will you have your T120 by then? It’d be a great way to break it in.

    Enjoy the ride:).
     
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  4. learningtofly

    learningtofly He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!
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    Sep 25, 2018
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    It’s going to be very touch and go… problem more likely that I won’t. It would be amazing if I did though.

    I imagine the Chester ride is lovely. I love that city.
     
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  5. MICK LEONARD

    MICK LEONARD Well-Known Member

    Oct 31, 2022
    64
    68
    SOUTH COAST UK
    Yes i've signed up for my first one this year at Bournemouth. Its a good cause and hope will be a bit of fun too. Hope plenty more of you Triumph boys are signing up and flying the flag (and its sponsored by Triumph as well) .
     
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  6. Geoff Butler

    Geoff Butler Never too old for Biking!

    Apr 5, 2021
    626
    143
    Hampshire & Powys
    I started a similar thread on the "other" forum a few weeks ago ;)

    After the Solent DGR shambles last year I will be taking part in the Bournemouth-Poole DGR this year like @MICK LEONARD

    I may use my T595 or the RD350LC, not sure yet. :cool:
     
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  7. Tosgha

    Tosgha Noble Member

    Jul 31, 2018
    322
    313
    worthing
    Doing the West Sussex ride. Just ordered a tweed suit to go full dapper this year!
     
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  8. MoreT

    MoreT Noble Member

    Jun 12, 2022
    333
    313
    Hampshire
    Have fun.
     
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  9. Wassers

    Wassers Active Member

    May 27, 2016
    135
    43
    Berkshire
    I'm signed up for the Brooklands Ride.

    This will be the 4th DGR for me although I wasn't able to take part last year due to my own prostate issue :confused:.

    All good now though.
     
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  10. Geoff Butler

    Geoff Butler Never too old for Biking!

    Apr 5, 2021
    626
    143
    Hampshire & Powys
    Thinking about getting to DGR and not the ride itself, I have a 50 mile ride to the start if I avoid Motorways and I don’t want to ride that distance in just a tweed jacket, just in case! :dizzy:

    How do you folks balance the dapper look vs. adequate protection?
     
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  11. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    714
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    A little bit of a stretch, but I choose an old Frank Thomas classic 1920's aviator style Brown Leather jacket (Not the full spitfire sheepskin!). Worn over smart shirt (with bow tie), brown check waist coat, sand coloured chinos (Revit Alpha have very discrete armour, you'd really never know) and highly polished brown Chelsea style boots and a Bell Bullitt helmet with black and white Union flag.

    At the pre and post gatherings I just leave the jacket with the bike and I think I look plenty dapper enough. Once on the ride who's gonna complain about the leather jacket?

    Enjoy the DGR:cool:
     
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  12. learningtofly

    learningtofly He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!
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    Sep 25, 2018
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    I’ve struggled to find an answer to that myself. I think this year I’m going with a leather trucker-style jacket with a shirt and tie underneath and a smart pair of jeans. At least that offers a bit more protection that a Harris Tweed!

    Shoes are a challenge, as all my leather shoes are too expensive to ruin on the gear lever, and motorbike boots aren't going to cut it.
     
  13. Wurzel Chris

    Wurzel Chris Member

    Apr 9, 2019
    66
    18
    Somerest
    I'm doing the Bristol DGR to show off new exhaust so a bit of added noise.

    4th DGR for me...Brogues, long socks, plus fours, shirt, tie and tweed jacket...working on the hipster beard but may just have a shave.

    Not exactly protective but it's a good cause and there is something quite cool, even if a bit slow at times, riding in a big noisy group.

    Have a great safe ride all involved.

    Hitchcox.jpg
     
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  14. Tosgha

    Tosgha Noble Member

    Jul 31, 2018
    322
    313
    worthing
    I live very near to the start and the ride is slow and pretty short. Main risk is the return route where I take to the main roads at higher speed. I always wear boots and gloves. Have considered getting one of the back protector undergarments but otherwise just tweed and lots of t-shirts for warmth.
     
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  15. Woodtickgreg

    Woodtickgreg Senior Member

    Dec 23, 2022
    269
    113
    Eastpointe, Michigan
    Riding the Detroit Michigan dgr. It's actually starting in Pontiac Michigan this year, thank God as Detroit is a sewer. Dress pants tucked into my riding boots, dress shirt, suit coat, suspenders and a bow tie, tan riding gloves. My girlis riding pillion and dressed the part too. I'll have my gopro mounted to my helmet chin and shooting some video.
     
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  16. Woodtickgreg

    Woodtickgreg Senior Member

    Dec 23, 2022
    269
    113
    Eastpointe, Michigan
    My Betty and I at the Distinguished gentleman's ride. Awesome weather, low 70s and sunny, perfect. 20230521_100315.jpg 20230521_100322.jpg 20230521_100324.jpg 20230521_104217.jpg 20230521_104242.jpg 20230521_104244.jpg 20230521_104327.jpg 20230521_104329.jpg
     
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  17. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    714
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    A little bit late but here's a little of what happened in Chester.

    Lovely day and Colin and I (suitably dapper on our modern classics) took the long way round from Northwich to Triumph Chester because the M56 was closed for bridge replacements and the Chester Half Marathon was on, adding more traffic to the usual tourists you can expect on a fine sunny day in Chester.

    The riders were well behaved if a little enthusiastic in their responses with the throttle to anyone who waved or sounded their horn in support of the ride. Riding at walking pace in the sun, in narrow streets, in woollen dapper gear, in a pack of 100 or so bikes (many of whom had decatted their bikes and removed baffles) left me rather nauseous and headachy :dizzy: and very grateful for the end point; a local retail park Costa and a much needed frappe to refresh and cool down.

    Ride was well organised, except that we weren't told about a route change which meant that Mrs RevPaul waited in the perfect spot for a photo of a hundred or so bikes that never turned up (I could only ring to apologise afterwards:confounded:).

    Here's some pics
    IMG_3166.jpg

    Arrived at ~10:00 for a 11:30 set off, plenty of time to drink a coffee, chat with other riders and check out what else had turned up.

    IMG_3165.jpg

    Fake moustaches were available so my Street Cup had to join in with the style (hope it will come off, I haven't tried yet).

    IMG_3167.jpg

    All sorts were there and I'm glad to say no snobbery about whether riders were on classics or modern classics, the dress code was more important and everyone had made an effort.

    IMG_3169.jpg
    Back in the day riders of my generation (including me) aspired to one of these:cool:.

    IMG_3171.jpg

    Count the cylinders carefullyo_O, according to the builder /owner the new capacity was 1120cc (I think). I found myself alongside or immediately behind this beast for most of the ride, which may explain my headache and other symptoms during ride.

    IMG_3175.jpg

    Drinks:yum and a chat a the end of a good ride.

    IMG_3177.jpg
    Colin and I made our farewells and set off for home via the Four Ways café for a late lunch, mine being a "Rossi Wrap" (breaded Chicken and salad with sweet chilli sauce in a Tortilla Wrap) with fries and side salad mmm:yum.

    There were loads of bikes at J&S/Four Ways: Britain's riding season finally seems to have arrived:).

    Enjoy your rides:).
     
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  18. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

    Aug 8, 2018
    7,285
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    New Zealand
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  19. Geoffrey Whittington

    Mar 14, 2021
    2
    0
    Enterprise, Alabama
    My second DGR and the first for my son. What a great group in Birmingham Alabama. The first two are gopro vids from the road guard point of view. The last is an awesome video from Mike ADV about his first ride with us. I'll drop the video links here:





     
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