Lyall Hyde

I'm Riding for Men's Health in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

So, it started off that I was not going to be able to ride this year's DGR, due to my bike suffering a crash not long after last year's run and taking a fair while to get sorted in between work commitments/finding parts etc. 

Then the work calendar was saying "Not this year you don't",  but on Sunday the 18th of May 2025, I'm riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember.

Men die on average 6 years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. So, before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I'm asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can for this meaningful cause and to help the men we love, live happier and healthier lives.

If you've read this far I thank you for taking the time/placing an interest in this blog.  This is a very personal fundraiser for me as I lost my father to cancer and saw the struggle he went through trying to reconcile his ailment with his persona.  Going from someone who was a bike fanatic all his life to having to give up riding as the treatment (back then), robbed all power from his legs, causing him to fall over when coming to a stop and putting his feet down, was something that broke his heart and spirit.  He'd always wanted one last bike so I built him one (a very angry old CB750 Nighthawk with plenty of mods) and gave it to him as a surprise.  It was the only time I ever saw tears on his face, such was the joy it gave.  He loved that bike knowing it was likely his last and he held on to it until he passed, starting it up every now and then just to remember the good days when he was feeling the blues bite hard.  See pic in the gallery....it's hard not to smile when giving that ol' horse some stick.  That bike is now back with me, waiting for another makeover to get it back to what it was.  As time has passed I've seen my best mate battle this cancer and through enacting a different mindset has achieved so much more towards full recovery, a situation I wish my father had embraced.  

Through continued research and understanding/acceptance of the situation instead of a belief that you are no longer a man because of the disease, I truly hope no son or daughter has to ever go through this with their father, watching the toll it takes through flawed internal beliefs.  

Thank you for reading this far and I hope my personal experience helps someone change their own mindset for the better one day. 

Happy wheels to all