British Cycling

NEWS FOR AUGUST 2003

Schlapp, bang, whollop!

Tandems are not the easiest of machines to ride - or to keep in one piece under the strains of two great lummox's thrashing for all they are worth. But Yasumitsu-Schlapp/Aztec/Impsport teams antics at the national track champions last week pretty well topped the lot.

Visually impaired Ian Sharpe had teamed up with GB Masters medallist Paul Hunter for the paralympic event at the end of the week. Now, Paul is big and Ian not much smaller so the tandem gets a lot of strain. Paul had negotiated a loan a pair of extra strong track wheels [disc etc]for the occasion and duly recorded a great 3m 32 sec 3000m pursuit time.

The fun started when Paul and Ian where practising their starts in a warm-up period and the front chain derailed sending Paul flying forward, dis-engaging his pedal and ending up lying on the tri-bars somewhat winded with an injured calf trailing on the floor. All the time, blind Ian was thrashing away on the back un-aware of the chaos set out before him and thinking perhaps that Paul was being a little disingenuous with his pedalling.

Nevertheless, normality was eventually restored and the kilo time trial loomed.The start looked great - for at least a pedal stroke - until Ian realised his aero hat was un-fastened and falling off the back of his head. Un-aware of this behind, Paul carried on with getting round the first bend - albeit thinking things were going a little sluggishly while Ian struggled to re-mount his helmet with one hand.

Needless to say this first lap was not a fantastic success as they veered thither and thither as the balance of the machine was upset rather by the frantic stoker. At last the offending head-gear was firmly placed atop Ian's bonce and the duo duly raced round the final 3 laps in 46 secs!

With only the 200m time trial sprint to go, their placing in the overall looked a little doubtful. Still, Paul and Ian are fast and always willing to give things a go and shot round the track in 11.7 secs. Unfortunately, it was at this point the rear tub from the borrowed wheel gave up the e ghost and the tandem was flying around with a flat.

Another unfortunate fact was that the owner of the disc had not been over generous with the glue and the tub fell off, wrapped around the rear stays and locked up. Now, I'm not sure many of you would have experienced this but take it from me, it is not a pleasant experience - especially when the by-now out of control tandem was heading towards an immovable object - the fence.

With great presence of mind Paul made the decision to lay the tandem [and Ian on the back]down, ruining their nice new skin-suits. Ian's remarks were a little tetchy to say the least - especially since this remarkable series of rides had left them with the lantern rouge position!!! Hopefully, things will have improved when they return to the Velodrome for the tandem omnium on September 28th !