Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, Southern California

[JBBenson]

I am trying to do the "Distinguished Gentleman's" ride this year.

 

Sunday, September 27th, 2015

 

Who wants to represent?

 

We could create a team.

 

 

[Scud]

The event sounds fun.  Prostate cancer is bad.   A cure would be good.  

I just registered at https://www.gentlemansride.com/ - because you can't see the details of the ride till you register. 

 

It says they leave at 11am and go from Pasadena to Downtown LA. I need to be at LAX by about 2:30 to catch a flight to Chicago. I am interested, but perhaps a bit logistically challenged as I will need to bring some baggage. Won't be able to stay for the after-party.

 

I guess our Guzzis would belong in the "Modern Classics" category, since the "Cafe Racer" category description starts with "light-weight".  

 

If I can't figure out my logisitics, I'll sponsor you.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I'm doing the Canada Langley ride if anyone would like to sponsor me.

 

 

Sent from my shoe phone!

[czakky]

Can we sponsor online? Link?

[Kiwi_Roy]

Yes you can find a rider to sponsor quite easily

 

https://www.gentlemansride.com

 

Then enter the riders name or handle at the top, it works quite well with even a partial name like benson or scud

 

or even matson :-)

[czakky]

Consider yourself sponsored!.. Let's stop this disease that has doctors doing terrible things to us men!

[Scud]

Here's a link to my page:  https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/scud   ...just in case anyone feels like sponsoring.

 

@JB - I created a team on the DGR site, called V11LeMans.com.   So far it has one member, me.  Looking forward to meeting you there.

[LowRyter]

well thanks Tim

[Scud]

For the record, I spotted a red V11 LeMans on the DGR site:

 

http://fortheride.com/goings-on/hello-chaps/

[JBBenson]

My weekend obligation went away, so I will do my best to make it on Sunday:

 

http://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/jbbenson

[JBBenson]

The day started hot. Then things got hotter.

 

Start at City Hall, Pasadena, CA

 

 

JB at the start, still looking fresh. That didn’t last long.

 

 

Scud at the start, looking natty. This is after a 1.5 hour ride to get there. Seriously, he looked just like this even after the hot and sweaty event. How does he do it? Must be the Öhlins suspension.

 

 

Scud hunted for other V11’s, and found this red & grey Sport, which kept stalling when we all pulled out.

So embarrassing! I pretended I didn’t know him.

 

 

During the ride, we fully explored the potential of first and second gear of the V11. A ton of Triumphs. A few two-strokes, zipping around like angry insects. Yahoos on Harleys. Some things never change.

 

The end party, downtown L.A. . Parking was not thought-out very well. But, who cares? Everybody squeezed in. It was fun. 

 

 

I am expecting a better showing of Guzzis next time. In all black, like the Mob.

[czakky]

Takes a real man to dress well, ride a large air cooled bike, burbling along in first gear and all this in southern cal. Impressive, many frosty beverages deserved.

[Scud]

Thanks for posting the pics. Fun day - foggy start in San Diego this AM.

 

The queue at the start was eye-candy. 400+ bikes and almost all of them specialty, vintage, or customized. Maybe 6 Guzzis - not sure I caught them all. All the bikes starting at the same time... thunderous. The ride through LA was well coordinated by police escort. It looked like a river of bikes - no stopping. In crowded places, such as Hollywood Boulevard, people were cheering and a lot of them had their phones out to take pictures.

 

I felt kind of outlaw running so many red lights. Then I imagined being a car driver, stuck at a green light while waiting for 400 bikers to roll through the reds. The red-light traffic cameras were flashing pictures as we waved (in a gentlemanly way) for our citation photos, which I imagine will not be sent to us.

 

Grabbed a 1/2 beer at the finish - then my saddle bags (which I dropped this AM at the finish point) and zipped over to LAX, where I had a proper pint. Wore the bow tie on the plane to Chicago (where I am now).

 

Hope to be able to participate again next year.

[Scud]

The day started hot. Then things got hotter.

 

 

Scud at the start, looking natty. This is after a 1.5 hour ride to get there. Seriously, he looked just like this even after the hot and sweaty event. How does he do it? Must be the Öhlins suspension.

 

 

A little known feature of the Öhlins components is that they provide a Scandinavian, subarctic wind while riding.

 

Here's another photo of the start in Pasadena:

 

 

This was better than most of the bikes shows I've been to. Two S&S powered Morgans, vintage sidecars, 1930s BMWs, 1970s Nortons, Royal Enfields, etc.........    

[docc]

I've wanted to do-up a round-fin Guzzi/Morgan forever. The perfect gentleman's kit.