George Pilkington Mills facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
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| Born | 8 January 1867 Paddington, Middlesex |
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| Died | 8 November 1945 (aged 78) Westminster, County of London |
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| Team information | |||
| Discipline | Road racing & Endurance | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Major wins | |||
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George Pilkington Mills (born January 8, 1867 – died November 8, 1945) was a famous English racing cyclist. He was known as the best rider of his time. George won the very first Bordeaux–Paris bicycle race. He also set many world records for riding from Land's End to John o' Groats in Britain. He held this record six times between 1886 and 1895. George was part of the Anfield and North Road cycling clubs. Later in life, he also became a successful car and motorcycle racer.
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Cycling Records: Land's End to John o' Groats
The journey from Land's End in England to John o' Groats in Scotland is a famous challenge. It is the longest recognized cycling route in Britain. Riders can choose their own path. Back then, the distance was about 900 miles.
The first record for this ride was set in 1885 by James Lennox. He finished in six days and 16 hours. The next year, George Mills, who was only 18, broke this record not once, but twice!
He rode a large-wheeled penny-farthing bicycle. He completed the journey in five days, one hour, and 45 minutes. He also rode a tricycle and finished in five days and 10 hours. This was a huge improvement, cutting off almost 30 hours from the previous best time.
A journalist named Frederick Thomas Bidlake said that George's achievement was amazing. He didn't just beat the record; he took more than a full day off the previous times. He rode almost without sleep.
George's penny-farthing record stood for a very long time. It was finally beaten in 2019 by Richard Thoday. George had help from his friends at the Anfield Bicycle Club. They helped him with places to stay, food, and even found other cyclists to guide him.
Other Amazing Races
In the same summer George broke the Land's End-John o' Groats record, he also won another big race. He won the North Road 24-hour time-trial on his penny-farthing. He rode an incredible 288 miles in one day! He also set new records for 50 miles and 24 hours on a regular bicycle. He even set a record for 50 miles on a tandem-tricycle.
In 1887, George won the North Road 24-hour race again, this time on a tricycle. He also rode 298.5 miles on a tandem bicycle with R. Tingley that year. In 1888, he improved his records for 100 miles and 50 miles on a tricycle.
An article written after his death said that George was a pioneer in long-distance record breaking. Between 1885 and 1895, he broke an amazing 19 national records!
Winning the Bordeaux–Paris Race
George Mills won the very first Bordeaux–Paris race in 1891. This was a huge event! The organizers, a newspaper called Véloce Sport, invited him because he was so famous. Long-distance cycling was very popular back then. A race from Bordeaux in the southwest of France to Paris, the capital, would be the longest yearly race in France.
The race began early in the morning with 38 riders. Cyclists came from Britain, Poland, and Switzerland. The British riders, including George, wore special wool jerseys and leggings. Their bikes had footrests on the front forks to help them go faster downhill. The French riders were not as prepared.
George fell early in the race but was not hurt. The British group soon took the lead. They were a mile ahead by dawn, riding very fast. George started to pull away from his companions. By the time he reached Ruffec, he was half an hour ahead!
The race organizers were surprised by how fast the riders were going. They had prepared meals, baths, and beds for the cyclists in Angoulème. They thought the riders would need a long rest. But George and the other top riders barely stopped! George had a plan: he let another rider eat while he got ready. He knew a fast pacer was waiting to help him build a big lead.
George reached Tours after riding 215 miles for over 12 hours. He rested for only five minutes. He ate some raw meat and a special drink. He then set off, an hour ahead of the other British riders. The French riders were far behind by this point.
When George finally reached the finish line in Paris, a huge crowd was waiting. Even though he was tired and covered in mud, the crowd cheered wildly. His winning time was 26 hours, 36 minutes, and 25 seconds. This was an amazing time, especially considering the bad roads and weather. The British riders did very well. Monty Holbein came in second, and Selwyn Edge was third.
The first French rider finished fifth, more than five hours behind George. Some riders were still finishing two days later!
Cycling Club Life
George Mills joined the Anfield Bicycle Club in Liverpool in 1884. He was also a founding member of the North Road Club in London. When he passed away in 1945, he was one of only two founding members still alive.
Military Service
George joined the army in 1889. He retired in 1906 as a major. When World War I started in 1914, he volunteered again. He was a captain in the Bedfordshire regiment. He went to France in December 1915. By 1917, he had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He was given the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery. He was also mentioned in official reports three times for his good service.
After the war, he worked for the Ministry of Munitions. During World War II, he joined the Home Guard.
Life After Cycling
George Mills moved several times for his work. He worked at the Humber Cycle company. Later, the Raleigh company hired him to manage their new factory. There, he brought in new ways of making bikes faster. In 1910, he joined a car company called Clément-Talbot. This is where he was working when he rejoined the army. After the war, he worked for other engineering and motor companies.
Car and Motorcycle Racing
George was not just a cycling champion. In 1907, he won a big car race called the TT Race. He drove a 30 horsepower Humber car. He also broke a motorcycle record! He rode his Raleigh motorcycle from Land's End to John o' Groats. He finished in 50 hours, 46 minutes, and 30 seconds. This was a new record, much faster than previous times. He beat both the motorcycle and car records for that journey.
Personal Life
George Mills was also a very good shot. He carried a revolver when he trained to protect himself from dogs.
He lived in different places throughout his life, including Bathampton, Malvern, Bournemouth, and Shirley. He passed away in Westminster Hospital in London. His funeral was held at Shirley parish church.
