News Feature

It’s still more than three months before NYC gentlefolk will don suits and mount their mechanical steeds to raise money for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health issues at the annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

But local organizers – a team lead by locals Mike Higgins and Allister Klingensmith – are already gearing up for the Sept. 30 event with a request for participant feedback on the 2017 ride and a call out for volunteers.

“We need help with ride logistics, merchandise sales and general feet on the street coordinators,” a recent email to past participants says. “Committees will be created to help organize and manage different aspects of the day. Let us know how you want to help!”

Potential volunteers and interested local sponsors should contact ride organizers at: higgins@77stories.com

Last year saw NYC boast a group of more than 1000 riders and a final fundraising tally of $155K, good for top North American city and third in the world behind London, England and Sydney, Australia.

A gentlemanly ride from 2017 — Rahoul Ghose

We need help with ride logistics, merchandise sales and general feet on the street coordinators. Committees will be created to help organize and manage different aspects of the day. Let us know how you want to help!

New York also claimed top individual fundraising honors in North America, with Vincent Nicolai placing fourth in the world with $26,614, and the fourth-place team overall … the NY Classic Riders raised $60,195 and were topped only by three event sponsor teams – Triumph, Movember Foundation and Zenith Watches, all three of which drew worldwide members.

Worldwide the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride raised $5 Million in 2018.

NYC’s goals for 2018 include raising the fundraising stakes to $250K and making the ride a bit more manageable with rider participation for the police-escorted route capped at 800.

Several ideas to increase individual fundraising efforts are being bandied around, Higgins said in a recent convo with NYC Motorcyclist, including sponsor-funded incentives (prizes) for the city’s top riders. This would be in addition to the prizes DGR offers from official worldwide sponsors Triumph Motorcycles, Zenith Watches and Hedon Helmets.

The route for 2018 will also likely see less highway and more city streets to make the event more of a parade. Also hopefully look for another DGR banner creation by Colossal in the city.

Stay tuned to NYC Motorcyclist for more details as information is released. We are also working on a feature with DGR creator and Aussie moto aficionado Mark Hawwa, which should be up in July.

Hawwa, who alternates rides each year, was in Milan in 2017, and last did a US-based event in 2015, when he rode with the Los Angeles crew. For 2018 he will be in New York City.

To pre-resister for the DGR visit: gentlemansride.com ... or follow the events's worldwide Instagram: .
An NYC-specific ride Facebook page should be up soon.

Credits: Ground Footage: Xizmo Media | Drone Footage: Anonymous