The
Rudy Project series for sporting courses has a keenly contested
section for handicapped riders. The competitors in every category race
against their equals, except for the 60-plus vets who have to race with
Roger Iddles. When Adam joined the Club late last year he soon showed a
talent for riding swiftly up hills, he could make an ideal sporting course
competitor. Adam’s section is split into various disabilities, according
to the way the Paralympics are sorted. His particular disabilities means
that he is classified CP4; he is unable to see in 3D (so pot-holes present
a particular problem), he is paralysed in his left arm, he has some
brain-damage and cannot read; he often has to ask where have we been on a
Sunday ride so he can report back to his parents. Mum and Dad Smith will
take him round the race route in the car a couple of times so that he can
memorise the route beforehand. Adam only started riding the series in
August, as part of a programme devised by British Cycling’s Paul West.
Three events later, three wins scored, Adam is heading for CTT Champions
Night in January 2006 to collect a Bronze for finishing in 3rd place in
the league. Had Adam ridden one more event, he might have won the Gold!
Roll on the next Rudy Project series in 2006…
