Mileater Report – 2018, by Paul Worthing
Arrivéesummer/autumn2019
Chomping through a year
48
The 2018 Mileater year was memorable for the extended period of fine weather that many of us had the pleasure to experience: it is not often that we get such a continued spell of great conditions in the UK and this made for some idyllic days in the saddle. Once again, Mileater entrants have shown themselves to embody the spirit of our sport and have been out there, riding the miles in not only the dog days of summer but throughout the whole year, often plugging away through grim winters and stinging frosts. A total of 48 entrants began the year and a full quarter of these submitted their distances through Strava or other activity-logging websites. In total, entrants rode more than 250,000 miles over the year, and there were 11 riders who rode over 10,000 miles. The average mileage was 7,178.6 miles which was slightly down on last year’s total. As we move into a PBP year, what effect will this have on the distances ridden in 2019? The 2018 winner of the Mick Latimer Trophy is, once again, Peter Baker who rode 20,211 miles marking his eighth consecutive victory. The women’s winner is Judith Swallow who rode 17,676.76 miles. Here’s a selection of entries from the Mileater Diaries, plus some notable images from the year. Congratulations to all riders who completed a full Mileater year: “At last, a little longer run before cheese on toast.” – Robbie Calder. “Saturday Gang Xmas Ride Out Lunch. From Gargrave to Bolton-by-Bowland, freezing cold and wet day. Black ice on the way back.” – Barry Peace. “Chequers: Big gathering, warm night, deer, hedgehog, loads of cats for some reason.” – Tom Deakins. “Warm but very misty, could only just see the base of the cliffs at Freshwater from Compton Bay” – Hilary Ann Searle. “Went on a trip to Yorkshire to see family. Came home with a tandem bought from a nice man on eBay.” – Michael Kennedy. “Clumber to Humber 200km – This
was a hot day! With temps of 27/28 degrees for most of the day. I drank seven litres of water... just a short spell of cramp... an enjoyable route!” – Mike Smith. “Home-work, work-home. Homework, work-home.” – Stuart Day. “Ran over a rabbit. Swerved to avoid the deer. Wildlife out to get me tonight.” – James Woricker. “This was the year of my new Flying Gate, built in Shropshire by Lis Beaumont. Sadly I bent the frame later in the year but is now re-straightened and ready for 2019.” – Bob Donaldson. “Scratch the surface of any ageing cyclist and you will find evidence of Peter Pan; the boy who wants to play for evermore and takes no notice of the tick-tock from the Crocodile of Time. I have noticed that tick-tock increasing in volume in the last couple of years and yet I carry on.” – Graeme Bartlett.
