PEDAL pusher Stuart Wood is searching for team spirit after riding to individual glory.

Wood, 34, won the Ripon Rowells cross-country mountain bike challenge at Lightwater Valley Theme Park.

He completed the three-lap, 17.5mile course in a time of 1hr 16min 33sec, more than 90 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger.

"I'd really like to start racing for a team now," said Wood, of Poppleton Park.

"There were plenty of lads who finished behind me who were riding for teams and it is something I'd like to take a bit more seriously."

He has been mountain-biking for about four years, but stepped up his interest in the sport only recently.

Last month, he left his bike at home to take part in the Great North Run and out of 40,000 runners came 144th overall and 11th in his age group.

Updated: 11:16 Thursday, November 13, 2003