VICTORIA Wilkinson, the affable runner-turned-biker from Hebden, saw her transition to pedal power come to fruition this week when the letter confirming her selection for the England team for the Commonwealth Games dropped onto the mat on Monday, (writes Tony Simpson).

The 23-year-old recently finished third in a final qualifying race at Rivington Pike near Bolton, but did not know at that point how the overall points system for the season had panned out or even how many riders were to be chosen for the women's mountain bike team.

"We all knew that the winner would go into the team automatically, but other than that, we were in the dark," says the 23-year-old Ambleside-based rider. "The selectors had previous form this season to take into account and also had to decide how many should be in the team. I'm obviously thrilled to bits. Being involved in such a major event in my own country will be a great experience. If I can get into the top 15 I'll be pleased, but I just want to do as well as I can.

"Sue Thomas from Crewe, who has been in great form all season, won the race to guarantee herself selection, but the other rider, Jenny Copnall did not finish at Rivington, but was obviously picked on her overall form in other events.

"I wasn't sure about my chances because I was unwell for two World Championship races in May in Spain and Belgium. I rode in both, but was suffering from a flu bug and not at my best."

That was not the only disappointment to afflict Wilkinson in the past 12 months. Last year she was a member of the GB Mountain Bike World Class Performance Plan squad, which enabled her to race and train full time. When officials decided that her form did not merit her continued involvement, she was effectively relegated into the Olympic Development squad, which meant that she needed to get a job and train in her spare time.

Luckily, she found employment with people who had an empathy with her situation. Now she not only works for Karrimor in one of their outlets in Ambleside, but she also has ideal training facilities on her doorstep.

"I've been really fortunate to have employers who have been so helpful," says Wilkinson, who tips the scales at 8st 10lb and stands 5ft 7in. "Obviously Ambleside is ideal. There are plenty of quiet roads and mountain tracks to use, all within a few minutes of where I work. It's ideal.

"I spend between 10 and 15 hours a week on the bike, but also supplement that with circuit training."

Ironically, the former runner turned to cycling to keep fit after knee tendon problems ended a very successful running career. In 1997 she won the World Mountain Running Championships in Czechoslovakia, her last run before that success being on a course at Rivington Pike.

"The place has good vibrations for me and I enjoyed racing their in the recent trials," she says.

And how does a sport which appears so gruelling as mountain biking offer a sporting outlet for a youngster with knee trouble?

"Basically, biking does not put as much pressure on the joints as you might think," she says. "Running 60/70 miles each week involves a lot of wear and tear on joints and though mountain biking is obviously very strenuous, it's not as demanding in that area.

"Initially I did it to keep fit, then entered a few open races to see what I could do and then started to take it more seriously."

At that stage she was taking a degree in professional studies at Leeds University, which was followed by a spell in Dewsbury working with special needs children.

Then her sporting success intervened and she moved to Crewe to become a full-time rider in the World Class Performance Plan group.

Her involvement with that group subsequently ended in disappointment, but a chance to take on another 30 or so world-class riders in a two-hour ordeal round the hills above Bolton has eclipsed any negative thoughts.

Bolton may sound an unlikely venue for an event that conjures images of the Lake District, but with family and friends on the sidelines in numbers to cheer her on and a course which has already brought her success, Rivington Pike will do very nicely on July 29.