Delighted cycling enthusiasts met with Gold medallist Katie Archibald to find out how a Glasgow charity will encourage locals to get on their bikes. 

The 29-year-old, who was brought up in Milngavie, was part of the 2016 Great Britain team that were champions in the women's pursuit event, as well as securing the silver medal in Tokyo in 2020.

On Thursday, the athlete was at Glasgow Green to see first-hand the work Free Wheel North had been doing. 


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Glasgow Times: Katie Archibald taking in Free Wheel NorthKatie Archibald taking in Free Wheel North (Image: Colin Mearns)

She said: "This could open the door for the love of cycling for many people, it could be the first time that they've tried a bike.

"There are so many young people here taking it all in and that's pretty special to see.

"For me, cycling, before it was my career, was something I did with my family.

"Going away on holiday and seeing a bit of the world on a bike was fantastic to do.

"It is such a special thing that cycling can give you, and that is the legacy that these championships will leave here in Glasgow."

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Katie went on to add how vital the funding from the National Lottery is to Free Wheel North in Glasgow as it looks to provide an opportunity for anyone from every background to cycle. 

She said: "To see some of the work the lottery players have funded is great.

"Everyone here has had a chance to ride a bike. I have seen some incredible rigs such as seven-seater bikes, trikes and they've got a setup which they can put a wheelchair on in the front which is brilliant!"

The cycling inclusion charity has enabled thousands of people to enjoy outdoor space and exercise that focuses on people with MS and autism.

The charity has gone from a niche activity for disabled cyclists in 2011 to a thriving village of pedal power in 2023 thanks to nearly £350,000 of National Lottery funding.  

Glasgow Times:

Norman Armstrong, a key figure in the charity, added: "It is fantastic to see how far it has come since the beginning.

"We started with just one container with just around a half-dozen bikes in it to now hundreds of bikes and thousands and thousands of people coming along to here.

"I have always been interested in human rights, quality of life and the environment when I was in the academic world and it was great to study these things.

"It's all great and well to study these things but the point is to do it, to change the world. 

"So hopefully, we changed the world by doing this."