Greg Swinand, left, set a new derny-paced hour record on the track when his pilot Mark Kiely took him over 53 kilometres (116 laps) around the Sundrive Road track. The Aquablue rider continues a fine season that also saw him crowned M40 masters champion in June. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Multiple national road, time-trial and track champion Greg Swinand added another fine notch to his palmares on Wednesday, setting a new marker for the Irish derny-paced hour record.
The Aquablue rider had to surpass the 51.424 kilometres (112 laps) John Lynch (Murphy Surveyors Kilcullen) set last year.
And he just about managed that when he rode a total of 53.285 kilometres while behind Mark Kiely on the derny at Sundrive Road.
It was an incredible evening on the track as Swinand had to contend with a derny that took a couple of attempts to get started while fading light meant he completed his ride in complete darkness.
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His original attempt had to be cancelled last Saturday due to high winds but when it came down to it, Swinand had just about enough to spare.
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It follows his gold medal in the Masters 40 individual pursuit last weekend and gives him added motivation heading into the track season now.
Of his ride, Swinand said: “The derny record is really hard and more physical and psychological as opposed to physiological.
“It’s not how many watts you can do or how aero you are but how you pace the effort, how your pilot paces, how you shelter yourself.
“I actually lost the derny on the last lap as I was spent and cramping. It was completely dark and I couldn't see much either!
“The winds were shifting as well; we couldn't see the lines and I was afraid of going off the track!”
Swinand now plans to target the hour record in Colorado Springs in mid-November and in order to do that he’s going to miss the World Masters Championships in Manchester next month.
“It’s too bad I can’t go to the worlds because the pursuit time I did last Saturday (3.44.58 - a personal best); Stephen McNally (Scott Orwell Wheelers) got second in the worlds off of that level of ride before.
"But you have to pick your battles and the hour is more to my personal abilities and style.”
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