The formidable tandem duo of Rachel Elliott and Ian Greenstreet have more competition records in their sights after progressing quickly over the last three years.

The former two-up partners started tandem racing in 2019 after Elliott suffered a stroke effecting her sight.

They had immediate success in 2019 taking mixed tandem competition records over 15, 25 and 30 miles before a Covid-19 hit 2020 saw them also take the 50-mile record.

“We used to ride two-ups together and were unbeaten,” said Greenstreet.

“We were very well matched by the end of it, we have very similar capabilities so could ride it completely equally which was good.

“After her stroke she gradually worked her way back and was doing a lot of Zwift. We only used a tandem to get out on the road and riding outside.

“We did a couple of efforts and realised actually we could be quite quick. So we entered some events and progressed from what was affectively a touring and mountain bike tandem which we did the first one on.

“When we did a practice effort we did effectively a 21-minute 10 and got it down to a short 20. We then got the usual kit, disc wheel, tri-bars and that made a big difference.

“We progressed and it was quite a rapid development process.

“We broke five competitions in the first year then unfortunately Covid slowed us down a little bit. We couldn’t get to as many events in 2020 but got the 50 competition record on a really wet day.”

Last season the pair lowered their personal best 10-mile time to 18 minutes and 20 seconds set on the E2/10 course.

The pair will have to better that mark by 30 seconds to beat the mixed tandem competition record of 17-51.

“The record was set on the V718 which doesn’t exist anymore which is a shame,” added Greenstreet. “We used the E2 and the start is very slow in comparison, going up the slip-road and onto the carriageway.

“On the V718 by the time you hit the bottom of the slip-road you were already doing 40 miles per hour so in that first mile there is a difference. But we are hopeful.”

The pair also tested their endurance in their first 100-mile time trial as a tandem pair last season finishing the Hounslow & District Wheelers 100 in a time of three hours, 46 minutes and 51 seconds despite suffering a puncture.

The current competition record for mixed tandems over the distance is 3-32-02.

“We were a bit worried about it because of the distance, but actually really enjoyed it,” Greenstreet added.

“We did a 3-46 which included a puncture in which we lost about 10 minutes getting back to a car and changing a wheel.

“The competition record is 3-32 so we’d like to have a go at that. Without the puncture we would have probably got a 3-36 and it wasn’t on an ideal course, there were lots of things we did just to make it about riding to finish rather than absolute speed.

“That looks do-able.”

Elliott was Women’s National Closed Circuit Champion in 2017 along with finishing second in the National 25 the same year before suffering a stroke impacting her vision.

“Her power to weight is world class,” added Greenstreet.

“It’s a shame she can’t get categorised to ride in the Paralympics as she’s more than good enough. Despite the fact she can’t ride a solo bike or drive they don’t recognise her condition and she can’t get para status.

“They have various categories for vision loss and because of the nature of her stroke that one isn’t, so she didn’t get categorised.

“There are people categorised as para-cyclists who can ride solo but Rachel definitely can’t so it’s pretty unfair and a shame.”

* All reports and features are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This feature by Ben Goddard.