Road cyclists face wheel dilemma

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 26

Road cyclists face wheel dilemma

From

ROD DEW,

in Edinburgh,

The choice of wheels — carbon-fibre or standard spoked units — is causing members of New Zealand’s outstanding 100 km road time trial team considerable concern as they build up for the Commonwealth Games race which will be held in quite exposed conditions on the Edinburgh By-pass on Saturday morning (New Zealand time).

Paul Leith (Auckland), Graeme Miller (Blenheim), Greg Fraine (Nelson) and Blair Cox (Taranaki) represent New Zealand’s first chance of the Games to win a gold medal, and recent form suggests that this is far from an unrealistic hope. A wrong decision on the wheels, however, will destory their dreams of a golden harvest.

“One minute conditions are calm, and the next gusty,” said the team’s coach, Mr Ron Cheatley, yesterday. “The carbonfibre wheels are much superior in calm winds, but can be a problem when the winds are strong. We are going to have to take a gamble, and hope it turns out all right,” he said.

Members of the team have extensively tested both varieties of wheels on the course, and remain undecided. Nevertheless,

Mr Cheatley believes they will take a chance and “go with the carbon-fibre wheels” because of the advantage in weight and streamlining they offer in calm conditions.

A hilly section in the 19km road course has also caused some misgivings, although the New Zealand riders remain confident that it will make no difference to their chances. Road team time trials are traditionally held on fast, flat courses, and the individual road race course usually presents the toughest test.

This time, the roles have been switched, with the time trial covering a hilly triangular section and the road race enjoying fast, flat surfaces all the way. “The course is tough,” Mr Cheatley said. “I don’t expect a fast times.” Nevertheless, standards have risen since Brisbane

four years ago and the winning team can expect to dip under 2hr Bmin for a new Games record. The New Zealand' team was unlucky at Brisbane. It would have won had not one of its riders suffered a jammed chain which cost a full minute. Even so, the team took the bronze medal behind England and Australia. This time. New Zealand, with an entirely new team, is hoping to do even better, although Mr Cheatley refuses to predict a win.

“I would hate to think that we were the favourites,” he said. “We are confident of doing well, but we have respect for the opposition.” He rates England, Australia and Canada as the main threats. Three members of the New Zealand team, Leitch, Fraine and Cox, are attending their first

Commonwealth Games. Miller, a silver medallist in the teams pursuit at Brisbane, is the most experienced international rider and will act as team captain. A man of few words, he is content with their preparation. “Everything seems to be fine,” he said before another training ride with his fellow team-members yesterday.

Under the rules of the team time trial, the time of the third rider across the finishing line is counted as the team time. In other words, a team can finish with only three riders and still win. Because of the testing nature of the course this time, however, the fourth man will have to play a greater supporting role than usual. “No team will win this race unless the whole four are together for the biggest part of the journey,” Mr Cheatley said.