The Year: Reawakening the Legend of Cycling's Hardest Endurance Record

by Dave Barter

In 1939 British cyclist Tommy Godwin cycled 75,065 miles in a single year. Think about that for a second: that's an average of over 200 miles each day. And it's a mark that still stands after almost eighty years. In The Year, Dave Barter resurrects the legend of the year record - a challenge nearly as old as bicycles themselves - and the cyclists who pushed themselves to establish and break it. Barter uncovers the stories behind these riders who would routinely cycle over a hundred miles a day in the race to set new records: Americans such as John H. George who recorded over 200 'centuries', nineteen double 'centuries' and three triple 'centuries' in the late 1800s. The British advertising executive Harry Long, whose annual tallies of over 20,000 miles in the early twentieth century led to the founding of the formal cycling year record, and Cycling magazine's Century Competition. The Englishman of French descent, Marcel Planes, whose 1911 record of 34,366 miles stood for over twenty years.Not forgetting the legends of the job-seeking Arthur Humbles, the one-armed vegetarian communist Walter Greaves, the 'keep-fit girl' Billie Dovey and the staggering mark set by Godwin who left a youthful Bernard Bennett trailing in his wake. Meticulous research through the annuals, archives and news stories of the bicycling world is backed up with insights from the families of these legendary cyclists, as well as Dave's own analysis of the riders' years in numbers. There is no more difficult challenge in cycling. The Year is the definitive story of these phenomenal cyclists.

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction

242 pages, Hardcover

Published October 13, 2015

Reviews

[Mr Matthew Alan Swainston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read but probably only really of interest to those who cycle. There’s some cycling books that might describe faraway places in great detail or have inspiring tales that make you immediately rush out to buy a new bicycle but this entirely about a small number of riders who have attempted to ride the most miles in a single year. As someone who does cycle it was a real eye opener, what people were achieving 70 years ago on primitive machinery compared to what we enjoy today without any of the science around nutrition that we also take for granted. If you know anyone who brags about cycling a lot then give them this book; it might quieten them down!

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1939 British cyclist Tommy Godwin cycled 75,065 miles in a single year. Think about that for a second: that's an average of over 200 miles each day. And it's a mark that still stands after almost eighty years.

Immaculately researched, this is a well-written history of the year record. Cycling fans - and enthusiasts of human endurance - will enjoy the ups and downs of the challengers, from the record's 1930s heyday to the very recent attempts at reviving the once-forgotten record. Can the advances of technology and equipment outweigh the disadvantage of busy modern roads?

[Stewart Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging from beginning to end, would make a great film.

Starts with a taster to draw you into the exploration of cycling history. Then gets you into the minds and characters of the age. Well worth a read.

[Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. This book details long distance endurance cyclists peddling away across country on old mostly 1 geared bicycles. Often literally sleeping on the side of the road.

It is amazing how many miles these people got each day.

[Douglas Kirkham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great read, not just for its cycling interest, but the incredible endurance feats of the men and women who tried. To have done what they did, when they did and with the means they had at the time is mind blowing to me. Very well researched and a great historical reference too.

[Paul Dodsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine getting up every day and riding you bike over a hundred miles, and doing it every day for the whole year!
Well these men and women did just that, an amazing story about the forgotten year record, a great read for anyone, even none Cycliste’s.

[Martin A Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

For any cyclist who is fascinated by big mileage and what it takes to ride them, this is a book to read. Well researched and narrated, I hope an update will be published soon to cover recent events.

[Steve Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

One for real cycling buffs. This is a very detailed and sometimes dry read. Not so much about cycling massive distances, but more about the picture painted of the social attitudes and mores of the times. Good insights into the characters of the main players. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging read about an interesting challenge. The history of this, the backstories, that's the most interesting thing.

[Andrew Spink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed every minute. A great delve into a very difficult world a century ago.