RADCLIFFE domiciled Philip Albiez joined us this year from the Horwich CC and is finding our club to his liking.

He started cycling at 28 years of age with the intention of losing weight and found that he had a natural ability for speed.

Now 35, he is still improving his placings in open events and is currently the fastest time trialist in Bury Metro.

In last Sunday's Crewe Clarion Wheelers 25 mile time trial his time of 58 mins 54 secs was good enough for sixth place in the open event and third in the National Clarion Championship. Phil Collins' 25.06 in the Southport CC 10 miles time trial last Thursday indicates he is approaching his best form.

After a not-to-promising start last Sunday the club enjoyed a glorious day touring round the beautiful countryside north of Clitheroe and into the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The tour included the pleasure of riding through Bolton by Bowland with a return by way of Gisburn and the climb over Blacko.

TANDEM RIDING CLUB FOR THE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED

THE relatively easy Calder Valley route was chosen for last Sunday's ride to Todmorden. Alas on this occasion there were insufficient steerers available for the visually impaired riders so Sunday regular Janine Pritchard had to miss her outing.

Husband Derek, though, needed to do some training in preparation of this Sunday's NLTTA 100 miles time trial so it was off on an eighty mile ride with Mike Bland steering.

The ride up to Hampson Green roundabout on the A6 near Lancaster and back was covered at an average speed of 18mph so a respectable time will be expected for Sunday's event. Next Sunday's ride is to Croston. Meet Tottington HQ at 9.15am.

ABC CENTREVILLE

JOHN Burston, like so many others these days, reflects the current culture in the cycling world of predominantly older persons racing.

At 57 John has completed in six recent events at a speed that those of the younger generation of the car driving couch potato culture would find very hard to maintain on a bicycle for distances greater than one mile!

In three recent ten mile time trials he has returned times of 26 mins 9 secs, 25.55 and 26.28.

In the West Meade 25 mile time trial he posted 1 hr 6 mins 12 secs and returned 1 hr 20 mins 47 secs for the VTTA 30 miles time trial.

He was the only other Bury rider in last Sunday's Crewe Clario 25 miles time trial which he completed in 1 hr 7 mins 43 secs. His average speed for the six events was 22.6mph.