Geoff Wiles

Early life Born in Strood, Kent, England, Wiles began cycling when his parents, Joan and 'Sailor' (Earnest), took him and his sister, Hilary, with them in sidecars attached to their bicycles. He joined the local branch of the Youth Hostels Association and rode with enthusiasts there until a colleague at work at the BP refinery on the Isle of Grain in Kent, south-east England, persuaded him to join the Medway Road Club. He rode his first 10-mile time trial when he was 15 and finished in 26m 47s on a heavy bike with a fixed gear and John Bull Safety tyres.

Amateur cycle racing career He came third in his first road race, at Hoo, Kent, when he was 18. His first important win was the three-day Vectis event on the Isle of Wight the following year.

The win brought Wiles selection for the South of England team for the Milk Race, and the Tour of Britain in 1966. He won a stage at Hove, near Brighton. Wiles then went on to compete for Britain in amateur stage races across the world both sides of the Iron Curtain, including

He moved to Carlton Cycles, sponsored by a company that was part of the Raleigh empire, in 1979 and then to minor sponsors, Glemp and New Style Windows, before retiring after 1981.

Wiles organised races while still riding and, in retirement from competition, organised more races and also what he called "the toughest race in the world": a quadrathlon of a two-mile swim in the sea, a 50 km walking race, a 100-mile cycling race around the Brands Hatch motor-racing circuit, and a full marathon that ended in Gravesend, near his home. He also helped launch BMX in Britain, founding an organising body and commentating on television.

Masters Racing career (2011–present) Following a period as the proprietor of a bicycle shop in Strood, Geoff Wiles began competing in Masters cycle racing events.

In April/May 2012 Wiles took part in the Alf Buttler Peace Race Tribute Ride, riding all thirteen stages of the original 1955 Peace Race.

In 2014, Wiles competed for Great Britain (GBR) in the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT) Final (formerly the UCI Amateur Road World Championships ). Wiles suffered a leg injury during the race, but still finished fourth in the Male Over-70s category of the Road Race event.

In October 2014, he competed for GBR in yet another World Championship, this time in Manchester: The UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships. Here Wiles gained 3 medals, including gold in both the M70-74 Points race and the M70-74 Individual Pursuit.

Wiles now lives with his wife Barbara in Kent, where he coaches the San Fairy Ann Racing Team. In 2010 he completed a BSc degree in Sports Science at the University of Greenwich.

List of other 2014 titles British Cycling National Masters Road Race 70+ champion British Cycling National Masters Circuit Race 70+ champion League of Veteran Racing Cyclists National Road Race champion League of Veteran Racing Cyclists National Track championships: Gold in Scratch race, Points race, and Individual pursuit.