In pictures: 10th Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride takes place in Cambridge

There was a strong turnout for the 10th Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride to be held in Cambridge.

The annual charity fundraiser involves well-dressed motorcycle riders taking to the streets in towns and cities all over the world.

The popular event was initially inspired by a photograph of Don Draper from TV’s Mad Men astride a classic motorcycle while wearing a suit.

It raises funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men’s mental health on behalf of Movember, the Distinguished Ride’s charity partner.

Men die on average six years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. Globally, on average, one man is lost to suicide every minute of every day. That’s half a million men every year.

This year’s Cambridge route saw the smartly-attired riders start off from Hot Numbers Coffee Roasters and finish at Northstowe Tap & Social.

Edward Stow, host and lead organiser of the Cambridge ride, said: “We had 278 participants registered – 275 on bikes and three pillions.

“And as of Monday, the Cambridge ride raised just over £28,000, although fundraising is still open to 1 June.”

Edward, who each year presents one of the dedicated participants with an award for Most Distinguished Rider, continued: “This year it’s been 10 years we’ve been doing the ride in Cambridge. The first ride was 2016.

“The Gentleman’s Ride as a charity event has existed since 2012. Since 2016, we have raised around £258,000, in Cambridge alone.”

Edward notes that 1,037 rides, in 108 different countries, took place on the day.

“You’re looking at over 128,000 riders globally, for this year,” he said.

He says that people came out to support the riders “in some of the villages particularly”, adding: “It’s getting really tricky to go through the centre of Cambridge these days.

“So we’ve had to migrate away from a city centre ride, where we used to have some really good engagement, and become more inclusive of some of the necklace villages.

“And in the villages particularly there were people out – especially down near Fowlmere and Newton as that’s our exit route out from the Roastery.

“That’s increased over the last couple of years, and then this year we got a lot of people waiting for us in Histon, Cottenham and Willingham.”

The sponsors of the Cambridge ride are Wrights Mower Centre, Hot Numbers Coffee Roasters, and Northstowe Tap & Social.

Edward speaks of the very positive atmosphere on the ride, adding: “It really brings together a lot of different types of rider.

“The ride itself is based around classic and classic-style motorcycles, but because everybody’s dressed smartly, it’s a real leveller.

“You’ve got over 270 people all very engaged, and the level of connectivity between the participants is a really good thing to see.

“And I think that level of fostering good conversations and discussions amongst men particularly, who are not good at talking to each other at the best of times, is a really positive thing.

“And generally it’s very, very well received wherever we go.”

For more on the Cambridge ride, visit gentlemansride.com/rides/england/cambridge.