by the absence of ace rider Elliott Hubbard, Bermuda's cycling representatives remain enthused about competing at this month's Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico.

Hubbard, acting on the advice of his French coach, removed himself from the four-man squad, which also included Mike Lee, Clark Tear and Dana Henry, leaving Bermuda one member short of the required number for the team event.

Bermuda Bicycle Association president Vance Stevens and another unnamed cyclist were viewed as possible replacements for Hubbard, but neither could commit to the endeavour.

"We're not going to do the time trial now, which would have qualified us for the Commonwealth Games if we had beat the time,'' explained Henry, at 26 the youngest of the cyclists and taking part in his first major international meet. "But we're going to still do the road race, which can qualify any one of us who come in the top 25.'' Nevertheless, the first goal is to finish the 106-mile trek, one containing several steep climbs, which Henry said would be to the locals' advantage, as the pace on a flat course might prove unbearable.

Though the limited size of Bermuda and lack of varying terrain hampers cyclists in terms of getting the desired training and mileage, Henry said that he had been riding in the region of 300-400 miles per week and was not bothered by the distance.

"The only thing about it is that I have never raced 100 miles, but I have done a lot of training at 50, 75 and 100 miles.

"Racing is a bit different, because sometimes the pace can be fast in the beginning, slow in the middle and then be fast in the end or it could be fast all around.

"My main thing is to be conservative, I'm not looking to go out and get in the top 10 and the breaks and stuff. If that position presents itself to me I'll take it, but my main thing is to ride a conservative race ... my aim is to finish, if anything.'' The group will be looking to avoid a repeat of the 1991 Pan Am Games performance in Havana, Cuba, where the Bermuda team failed to complete a 100-kilometre time trial as well as a 173-kilometre road race and generally appeared out of their depth.

Tear, long regarded as Bermuda's premier rider, is the most experienced and is looked upon as the team leader, while Lee has also had his share of success locally and overseas.

Henry burst onto the scene in 1991 in winning the Wheels Ltd. 30-mile race as a novice and is the reigning sprint champion, although he claims to be more of an endurance man.

Like several Bermudians who have been by the Police radar traps and had their licences suspended, Henry became involved in cycling primarily as a means of transport, developed a liking for it ... and the rest, as they say, is history.

Also, looming on the horizon after the CAC Games are the World Amateur Cycling Championships and Henry is keen to take part in those as well.

The team leaves Bermuda on November 21 accompanied by coach Joey Richardson and get their first taste of action on November 27.

DANA HENRY -- First major international event.