Youngsters handed top spot in cycling show

PUPILS from a city primary school will get the chance to ride in a special velodrome at the Scottish Cycling Show next month.

The children from Lorne Street primary will take part in a Street Velodrome at the SECC show on Friday, March 11.

The event aims to highlight the benefit of encouraging children to have greater access to cycling and cycle sport.

It will also feature a new charity campaign, Cycling Futures, which aims to promote greater access to cycling i n the national curriculum.

StreetVelodrome’s director, Carl Thompson, said: “Having a positive and inspiring experience of cycling at a young age can have a significant impact on an individual’s life choices later in life.

“Not only is cycling a fantastic means of keeping fit and active, it has a wider positive social impact too, by reducing traffic emis- sion and congestion, and reducing the burden on the NHS caused by inactivity.”

He said the Cycling Futures campaign wanted to get cycling “firmly” on the national curriculum and ensure that all primaryschool-aged children had the opportunity to learn to cycle.

The class groups will experience on-track pro rider coaching during the show, provided by Scottish Borders-based pro rider and 2010 British Downhill Mountain Bike Champion Jess Stone.

All the equipment they need will be provided and each pupil will receive a StreetVelodrome participation medal.

The Scottish Cycle Show runs from Friday, March 11, to Sunday, March 13.

The StreetVelodrome Series is the world’s most accessible cycle sport.

Within hours, any public space is transformed into a track cycling arena.