Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride

“When the Italian magazine Riders asked me if I would consider doing a reportage on the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride in Milan, the first thing I had to do was find out what this event was actually about. This worldwide motor bike gathering has been taking place since 2012 and, even though it’s called Gentlemen’s Ride, it is open to both men and women. In deliberately elegant clothing, riders of classic machines meet in countless cities around the world to go on a drive together. Even though fun is at the forefront of the event, it also has a serious background: participation is free, but the riders are expected to find sponsors to collect money for prostate cancer research. Last year, close to 1.5 million dollars came together around the world.

The meeting point in Milan was the Piazza San Babila directly behind the cathedral. The atmosphere was very special. Wherever you looked you saw highly polished motorbikes with finely-dressed drivers, some even sporting moustaches or monocles. The feeling as I drove through the city alongside the 700 participants was indescribable. I myself opted for an old Triumph Scrambler to do the tour. My camera, a Leica M2, also had a retro-look.“