With the Commonwealth Games just a few short months away, cyclist Geri Mewett is making the most of every opportunity to get in the saddle.

So focused on his mission is the Bermuda national team member, that even interviews are done on two wheels - well initially at least.

Pulling over to the side of the road yesterday Mewett, who hopes to be part of the Island's team for the Manchester Games in July, reflected on his latest success.

Racing at the weekend, Mewett swept to victory in the Dogwood Cycling Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee.

More than 100 riders from 11 states competed in the Men's Category One and Two division of the event, but none could beat Mewett to the finish.

The Islander had to beat off stiff competition from Chris Harkey and Scottie Weiss to take the title, the pair actually teaming up against Mewett towards the end but without success.

"It's a great confidence booster and really shows me that my preparations have been going well," he said.

"I know that I don't have a whole lot of really good form at the moment, but as far as an indicator for later down the road it bodes really well for me."

Mewett said these were exciting times for cycling in Bermuda.

"It's neat to see. There are so many young kids involved in cycling now," he said. "I started cycling with Elliott (Hubbard) back in 1985, something like that, and there were only six of us that would do the junior races. Now I look at the results and come back for the Grand Prix and there are 15 to 20 juniors in each category and that is great to see.

"With Wayne (Scott) riding the way he is and Kris (Hedges) I think the national programme as a whole has made some great strides in the last two or three years."

As for the chances in Manchester? Mewett believes Bermuda has the capability to really put itself on the map.

"It is a little bit early to say," he said. "Obviously we are going up against some real big guns from Australia and the UK, among others, but I like our chances.

"Elliott has always had a real good ride there in the past and I think if we manage to get a team qualified and we are able to ride as a unit I think we could do well. A top ten result is not out of the question. It may be going out on a limb, but you don't ever meet your goals if you don't set them high enough."

Meanwhile, while Mewett is on a high another national team rider is experiencing a low.

MacInnis Looby was scheduled to ride in one of the three top races staged in Britain - the Archer International Grand Prix.

Raced over a hilly, 118-mile course in Middlesex in the south of England on Sunday morning, Looby was set to line up with 100 other riders, including all of the top British racers as well as teams from Denmark, Holland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia.

However, he never made the start.

National cycling coach Greg Hopkins explained: "I got a phone call yesterday afternoon (Sunday) and he was obviously in very low spirits. I really have to look a little more closely at what actually happened, but he just didn't make the start of the race.

"He said he went to the wrong location. He, in fact, went to the race director's home address as opposed to the race start."

Hopkins was somewhat frustrated by the events. "It is very disappointing," he said. "Particularly as we put a lot of effort into him going to the event and it was a major opportunity for him to make qualification for the Commonwealth Games."