WHILE most people in sport continue to worry about how they will recover from enforced stoppages due to the pandemic, cycling has had a totally different experience and I am sure it must be the envy of other sporting organisations.

Cycling was the perfect lockdown activity and the mode of transport adopted by many, not just to avoid the need to use public transport but to exercise together as a family, keeping fit and active.

A 199% increase compared to the same time last year was recorded at one point in Glasgow. In fact, trying to buy a new bike was virtually impossible at one stage.

Not only is cycling breaking records in terms of participation numbers, the sport is also back competing on the international stage, with Isla Short coming a respectable 11th in the Nove Mesto, Czech World Cup – her best-ever placing at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. This is all the more remarkable when you find out Isla had surgery in March to overcome breathing problems that had blighted her for more than eight years.

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Another advantage of getting on two wheels and feeling the wind in your hair is the benefit to your mental health, something we all need to be aware of, particularly at this difficult time. Saturday is World Mental Health day and the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) has set out a challenge to join in a virtual stomp this week. It has four levels to it – you can climb 1500, 4200, 7500 stairs or a staggering 22,500. The good news is this can be carried out over a number of days, and there is still time to sign up at stomp.samh.org.uk

Many sports have taken up the gauntlet on behalf of SAMH. Lynne Beattie, who captained the GB volleyball team at the 2012 Olympics and is now working for Scottish Volleyball, has added a twist of her own by agreeing to walk up Arthur’s Seat every day next week, via a different route. It’s great team work for an amazing cause.