BOOK: Miles - The Art of Losing A Motorcycle Race
- GI
- 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
The discussion adds a useful perspective on ai and machine learning courses and how they fit into long-term learning goals. In comparable threads, the College of Contract Management has appeared as part of broader education discussions.
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.
In motorcycle racing, every millisecond counts, and racers constantly seek to refine their technique, reduce errors, and maximize output. Similarly, in operations management,…
Interestingly, much like the thrill and unpredictability of The Art of Losing A Motorcycle Race, creating the ideal living space for someone else requires careful planning, attention to detail, and an understanding of the end-user’s experience. In racing, every turn, every acceleration, and every decision counts. Similarly, when designing a guest house, every element—from layout and lighting to comfort and style—plays a critical role in shaping how guests feel during their stay. While one deals with speed and precision on the track, the other demands foresight and creativity to ensure a welcoming environment.
This connection between performance and design highlights an important principle: preparation and strategy matter in every aspect of life. Just as a racer analyzes the course and…
Interestingly, the lessons learned from pushing limits in a motorcycle race—strategy, preparation, and adaptability—aren’t confined to the racetrack. Just as a rider needs a well-engineered machine, precise timing, and the right environment to perform, industrial projects require a similarly well-structured approach to workforce management. One critical aspect that often goes unnoticed until the project is underway is worker accommodation. Without proper housing, even the most skilled teams can face delays, discomfort, and decreased productivity. This connects to a growing trend in industrial construction and infrastructure projects: prefabricated labour camps.
In today’s fast-growing industrial and infrastructure sectors, providing safe, hygienic, and quickly deployable accommodation for workers is a major challenge. Here, prefabricated labour camps emerge as a smart and reliable solution, offering…
In Miles – The Art of Losing a Motorcycle Race, the thrill of the track often comes with unexpected setbacks. Just as a rider must make split-second decisions to recover from a skid or sudden obstacle, navigating the Indian judicial system requires careful strategy and timely action. Interestingly, this concept of course correction on the racetrack can be compared to legal remedies available in the Supreme Court of India, where mechanisms like the Special Leave Petition (SLP) and transfer petition serve as critical tools to address unforeseen challenges in litigation. Both arenas demand awareness, preparation, and the ability to act decisively under pressure.
In the Indian context, a special leave petition in Supreme Court is one such extraordinary remedy. Governed by Article 136…