for a venture which is part competition and part reconnaissance mission.

Veteran Jeff Payne, Steve Sterritt and Mike Lee form the Bermuda team taking part in the World B Championships in Ipoh, 100 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, where apart from aiming for good placings in the time trial and road race events, they will be gathering intelligence for next year's Commonwealth Games.

Payne, who is managing the team, explained: "It gives us the chance to assess the courses that are going to be used for the Games.

"A delegation from the Olympic Association has been up there to a conference to check it out for the officials but it will be useful for our athletes if we can get some sort of feel for it.'' Fifty-eight-year-old Payne, who will compete in the 40K time trial, admitted he had no prior knowledge about the location. "I looked it up in the Atlas and it looks like it's up in the hills on the edge of a plateau.'' But he said the trio's experience of hot and humid conditions would stand them in good stead.

"It's near the equator, I think, so I expect it'll be about 85-90 degrees.

And although we have come out of the hot weather and have been de-toxing, it'll be easier for us than, say, a team coming out of the UK.'' The championship is open to all but the top 12 cycling nations, but the rules also decree that the Island's best rider, Elliott Hubbard, now competing for a professional team in Italy, will not be able to represent his country.

"The UCI -- the sport's governing body -- has taken all the top pros out of the equation, '' said Payne. "This is a championship for all those riders not eligible to be in the World Cup proper.

"A total of 190 countries were in the Olympics so in theory there could be up to 170 teams.'' The Bermuda team, meanwhile, will get an immediate test of their stamina on the outward journey, which lasts almost two days.

"We've got a 12-hour layover in Kuala Lumpur while we wait for a plane to take us the remaining 100 miles,'' said Payne. "It'd be quicker to get our bikes out and cycle up there.''