BILLY Oliver is proof that it is never too late to try your hand at sport.

The 34-year-old took up cycling as a way of getting to work but little did the Dursley Road Club star know then that he would be pushing a state of the art bike designed by one of the UK ‘s most famous riders this year.

Oliver will be riding that bike around the roads of South Gloucestershire on Saturday week as Dursley RC, where he remains secretary, host their club Open Time Trial.

It could be quite a year for Oliver on the national scene as, backed by South West ace Matt Bottrill, he hopes to move up a few levels.

It has taken Oliver just four years to get to this stage of his flourishing career after ‘not doing anything on a bike’. He said: “We know where we are going this year and it is just a case of getting it right.

“I started riding a bike as a means of getting to work because it is quicker than catching the bus.

“It went from there. I went out for a ride with a couple of the Bristol clubs and realised I could stick with people. From sticking with people it became wanting to get past them.

“I absolutely love it. My only regret is I did not get into biking earlier but, hopefully, I still have plenty of time.”

And he hopes 2015 will reap benefits. He added: “It is crazy this year. I am doing more races than I have ever done. I am racing the national ten miles, 25, fifty and one hundred (miles). I raced a couple of them last year but this year is all about getting better places. It is all about positions and trying to make a name for myself.”

Working with Bottrill is a big boost. Oliver said: “I have been working with Matt since October and things have moved on pretty quickly from there. It has opened up quite a few doors by having someone like that behind me.”

Oliver admits that he enjoys time trailing rather than road races.

Luckily for Oliver, Dursley RC are mainly of that ilk too. He added: “I am pure time trial. I don’t get the enjoyment out of bunch races and spending hours sat in the Peloton just to sprint it out at the end.

“I will be riding the Boardman TT this year which is an absolutely stunning bike. It is perfect for what we need. It is as aero (aerodynamic) as it can be.”

Oliver is a Bristol man and said he joined Dursley RC simply because they were well regarded as a time trialling club.

“We don’t do any road racing in Dursley. It was a good choice for me to join a time trial club.”

The Open Time Trial on Saturday April 11 will have a headquarters at Stone Cricket Club.

Riders will take on a ten-mile course along the A38 with the first rider being flagged off on the start line at 2pm.