LONDON Heathrow Youth Games cycling team manager Ray Harrad is looking for mountain bikers.

Four fun bike mornings have been arranged at Bostall Heath, Abbeywod, and Mr Harrad hopes to find youngsters for both the Greenwich and Bexley juvenile and junior teams.

Selected cyclists go straight through to the games finals at Crystal Palace on July 12, where they will take part in a time trial. Mr Harrad said young people seem to prefer mountain bikes nowadays and the fun mornings were a good way of attracting them to the sport of cycling. "It's quite exciting - not just like being on the road because there are different types of countryside to negotiate," he said.

The dates of the rides are April 5, May 3, June 14 and July 5. They are not exclusively for young riders however - there were cyclists in their 50s at a trial run held last year. "It's open to young and old alike. We attracted 43 participants in October," said Mr Harrad. "It's completely free of charge," he added.

The only restriction is that you must be over 10 years old and bring your own bike and cycle helmet. Cyclists should meet at Bostall Heath car park at 10am. For more information, call Mr Harrad on 01322 430277.

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