Association (BBA) has recruited top English coach Bob Hayward to perform a week-long course here.

BBA president Jeff Payne along with the department of Youth, Sport and Recreation have teamed up to have Hayward conduct lectures to several senior riders in order to make them aware of new coaching and training methods.

"Essentially we're trying to create for Bermuda eight coaches and if you have eight coaches it means that your ratio would be far better than in the UK,'' explained Hayward, who arrived here just in time to witness last weekend's Grand Prix.

"So here you would have one coach for every 10-15 riders, while in the UK we have one coach for every 450.

"And the thing that I like about the people here in cycling is that they are very enthusiastic and that means that if we can create this nucleus, then I think you'll probably go on to very good things at a world level, maybe not immediately, but in, say, four or five years time.'' Those taking part in the course will undergo training under some very scientific methods, including aerodynamics, physiology and all of the other aspects involved in moulding a successful rider.

Once they have completed the course Hayward said that participants will be up to date on most of the methods now in vogue throughout the world.

"It's the ability really to pass on knowledge. You very often get good riders who don't know why they go that well and when you ask them how they train, they can tell you a few things about it, but they don't really know why.

"So what we need is a good communicator and what we endeavour to do is take them several levels back into their knowledge so that they always know the reasons why they're doing something.'' Hayward, from a small town near Cambridge in East England, was a top level amateur rider before becoming a coach.

He is now one of just 12 senior coaches in England and one of four examiners of coaches.

Among those he has lectured and advised is Peter Keen, the coach of top time triallist and pursuit expert Chris Boardman, the one time holder of the hour long distance record.

Hayward described the locals as being very keen and among the brightest he has encountered.

And newly-crowned Grand Prix champion Greg Hopkins, for one, is anxious to receive the message from Hayward, which emphasises efficiency in training -- quality over quantity -- where riders do just enough to achieve what they set out to do without "overstressing the body''.

"I feel that a lot of the things I have personally done have been along the right track, but there has been a lot of information thrown out that is going to be very helpful to me personally,'' said Hopkins. "But as far as the course is concerned I'm not doing it specifically for myself.

"I'm doing it because I'm getting to the stage where I'm probably toward the end of being at my best and I want to be in position to help the youngsters who are coming through in the sport of cycling in Bermuda so that they can attain higher goals than I have.'' Bob Hayward