Milk Stout is a well-known traditional British drink
The Milk Race used to be a National Bicycle Race, similar to the Tour de France (but without the garlic?). The combination of these two phenomena is how a charity bike ride, organised by Nidderdale pub regulars, came to be named the Great Milk (Stout) Ride.

Where it began
The idea was born out of a challenge to see who could raise the most money for charity among the regulars at the Birch Tree Inn, Wilsill, way back in 1993.

It was decided to donate the money raised to Macmillan Cancer relief, whose nurses provide support and care to cancer sufferers and as a memorial to a local Glasshouses man (and friend) John Woodhouse, who had recently died from cancer and whose family had received great support from Macmillan.

Since the year of 1993, there has been a substantial growth in both riders and funds raised. The only exception to this was in 2002 when the ride was affected by the repercussions of the Foot and Mouth epidemic that ravaged vast regions of England.