BOOK: Miles - The Art of Losing A Motorcycle Race
- Dec 19, 2024
- 2 min read
Book review by Gary Inman
Malle London began as a maker of stylish motorcycle luggage, but have expanded into apparel and, undoubtedly what they are now more well known for, freewheeling motorcycle happenings. They organise long-distance Malle Rallies, both in the UK and Europe, and a beach race, but are best known for the Malle Mile. Ten years in, Malle (Ma-Lay) have created a book to commemorate their best idea.
The Mile is an annual run-what-you-brung festival of participation motorsport. It's aimed at classic and customs (and best when that is strictly adhered to). Launched in 2015, they had held five before I attended my first in 2020, but I haven't missed one since, and was glad to have made it to the final Mile held at Kevington Hall, before the move to Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. If I can make this about Sideburn, for one moment, the Malle Mile is the privately-educated cousin of Dirt Quake, which introduced these kind of dirt shenanigans and inappropriate bike racing to the UK in 2012, expanding into the alpine Snow Quake a few years later.
While Dirt Quake ran out of steam, Malle's inherent style and enthusiasm has seen the event grow into a wonderfully relaxed jamboree, with a huge stage for live bands, plus quicks like early morning yoga and wild swimming, without losing the focus of why people attend, to ride and race from morning till night. While far from mainstream, it has crossed over and is certainly no longer the preserve of the hip - and in doing so, helped secure its success. It has now cemented itself on the UK motorcycle event calendar.
This 256-page hardback is a history and celebration of the Miles, the people and bikes that have competed there. It's a supremely photogenic event, and the large format hardback is principally a photobook, with some essays dotted throughout. If you've attended Malle events, and enjoyed them, the book's targeted at you. If you're in it, even better.
Available as 'regular' hardback for £48 or special edition for £128 from MalleLondon.com
This sounds like such a compelling and honest take on racing—focusing on the art of losing rather than just winning makes the story feel deeper and more human. There’s something powerful about reflecting on setbacks and what they teach us, especially in a sport built on speed and risk. It reminds me of standing before a big nandi statue—solid, grounded, and symbolic of resilience through challenges. Definitely adding this to my reading list.
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Interestingly, the lessons learned from The Art of Losing A Motorcycle Race extend far beyond the racetrack. While losing a race might seem purely about chance or skill, there’s a deeper connection to the principles of efficiency, precision, and measurement that drive success in many fields. Just as a racer analyzes every curve, gear shift, and split-second decision to optimize performance, organizations and managers must scrutinize tasks, workflows, and processes to achieve peak productivity. This connection to understanding work measurement becomes clearer when we consider that both racing and industrial operations rely heavily on structured evaluation and systematic improvement.
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