As someone who was once instructed to re-dye his hair after decorating it in the colours of Scotland's national flag, Alain Baxter is a renowned patriot.

Now the former skier, who retired in April with a back injury, is targeting a place in the Scottish cycling team at next October's 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi at the age of 36.

The hair-raising incident came at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games in 2002, when Baxter dyed his hair blue and white in the shape of a Saltire.

The Utah Games will be remembered as both the highest and lowest of points for Baxter's career, which included three Winter Games.

After winning Britain's first Alpine skiing medal with bronze in the men's slalom, the Scot tested positive for a banned substance.

He attributed the presence of methamphetamine to a Vicks inhaler, which used different ingredients in the US to the UK version, which was free of any banned substances.

He was later cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport but his medal was not returned.

But Baxter, who is the subject of an authorised biography titled Unfinished Business, denies banishing the memory - and notoriety - of Salt Lake City is his main motivation for turning to the velodrome.

"I'm just a competitive sportsman," he told Press Association Sport.

"This is something I've always fancied doing.

"If I've got a chance at competing at a top level, then I'll pursue it.

"If it's not going to be at a top level then I would have to think again and maybe just stick to the golf course."

While many of his winter sports colleagues will be returning to North America in February when the Winter Games visit Vancouver, Canada, Baxter's focus is on the velodrome.

Baxter was due to make his competitive bow at last month's British Track Cycling Championships at the Manchester Velodrome.

But he was denied his chance of competing alongside Sir Chris Hoy in the sprint and keirin disciplines by a bout of flu.

Baxter raced bikes as a youngster and his father owned a bike shop while he was growing up.

He has previous form on two wheels too.

While winning the television series Superstars against a host of other sportsmen in 2004, Baxter excelled on the bike, capturing the attention of Hoy and Chris Boardman, the 1992 Olympic individual pursuit champion.

Baxter is remaining coy as to whether he can reach Delhi, particularly as he is yet to turn a crank in competitive competition, something which could happen at one of the Revolution events at the Manchester Velodrome.

"I need to get my first competition out of the way, see where I stand, gain more experience and we'll see how I go," added Baxter, who also cycled as part of his cross-training for skiing.

"For me it would be a great achievement to make the Commonwealth team and to perform to the best of my ability, but at the moment we'll just take it step by step."

Baxter is part of the talent transfer programme and his strength and conditioning coach, Dave Clark, who has worked with Hoy and former British Olympic rider Craig MacLean, has amended his weight training schedule to a more bike-specific programme.

Now based in Stirling, Baxter has been given tips by MacLean at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Velodrome, the venue for the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games, as he embarks on his cycling challenge.

"I'd never been on a track until June this year," he added.

"It was a big eye-opener - I'm used to skiing down that steep slope, not cycling across it.

"It was a bit daunting at first. After a couple of laps I felt quite confident."

Although entered into the sprint and keirin for the national championships, Baxter believes his best opportunity at making the Commonwealth team would be in the team sprint.

But first, Baxter is looking to reach the start line.

He added: "I need to get some competitions under my belt to see what standard I'm at and see what improvement I can make up until Delhi, one year away."