shied away from ruffling a few feathers.

And don't expect him to stop now that he's taken on a more political post as president of the Bermuda Bicycle Association.

"I've always spoken my mind. That's me. That won't change,'' said Hopkins, who was elected to the top post in the BBA's annual general meeting last week.

"Sometimes that makes me unpopular (but) I'm not going to sacrifice my own standards or peace of mind by telling people what they want to hear.'' Hopkins, who will remain as national coach, replaces Carlos DeSilva, who stepped down after just one year for personal reasons. The unpaid position appears to be a natural for Hopkins, who spent two terms as president of the Bermuda Triathlon Association and remains one of the more outspoken observers -- and greatest proponents -- of Island sports.

He takes over an organisation that is considered in excellent shape.

Membership, at about 160, continues to grow and the sport itself is as popular as ever in Bermuda, he said. And Hopkins vowed to carry on what DeSilva started, particularly when it comes to the national programme, launched this past summer, and a grass-roots campaign to get othrs involved.

Hopkins acknowledged that next year's Commonwealth Games is probably out of reach for the new national team but says top-flight international competition is "the ultimate goal.'' Invitations will be sent out shortly to potential members of the team but there's little doubt that the squad will revolve around Elliot Hubbard, who just completed his first year as a full-time professional in Italy.

"He's taken the sport (in Bermuda) to a new level just by doing what he's doing,'' Hopkins said of Hubbard.

As befitting a 23-year veteran police officer, Hopkins said the BBA will not tolerate drug use. Saying he was is "100 per cent behind'' the Island's new Drug Free Sports Policy, Hopkins revealed the BBA would take it a step further and arrange for every member of the executive to be tested, in addition to athletes.

A former amateur boxer in his native England, Hopkins came to Bermuda 16 years ago. Battling through a recurring Achilles injury, he took up running, swimming, triathlon and, finally, cycling, opening his Church Street bike shop five years ago. He was unbeaten as national triathlon champion for five years, consistently clocking under two hours, and owned virutally every time trial record in cycling. His wife, Mary, is also a former top triathlete and Commonwealth Games swimmer.

Now 43 -- he'll be 44 next month -- Hopkins coneded that the BBA presidency was not something he sought or even originally desired. Even after being approached, he said he wouldn't take over without the return of secretary Linda Dillon, who was also looking to take next year off.

The only new face in the executive is vice president Martin Bolton.