1. CYCLING AND SCHOOLS GROUP

2. Cycling is a popular activity, ideally suited to the Image ©sportscotland
Shot by David McIntyre
school or youth club setting, with opportunities Cycle sport
to deliver a wide range of educational outcomes
across the curriculum in class and after school. The racing and competitive
side of cycling has a wide
range of disciplines reflecting
the diversity of cycling itself,
These opportunities have been grouped into three main themes: including road-racing, track,
mountain-biking, BMX and
Active travel Cycle sport Recreational cycling Cyclocross. The events can
be short distance “sprint” type Image ©Scottish Cycling
Each has its own set of activities, specialised qualifications and programmes. The foundation
events or longer distance
levels of cycling cut across these themes and the qualifications, activities and programmes “endurance” events. Much of
become more specialised as the cyclist develops. cycle sport is organised and
coordinated through local clubs,
with an extensive calendar
Active travel of events produced by the
National Governing Body –
A fundamental reason most of us cycle Scottish Cycling.
is as a form of active travel to take
us places and explore our local area. Coaches: Go Ride:
These journeys could be from home As with most sports, cycling has coaches Go-Ride is Scottish Cycling’s Club
who deliver a range of programmes and Development Programme aimed at
to school, to visit friends, attending a activities aimed at introducing young improving both young riders and clubs.
club at the leisure centre or picking people into cycle sport and improving It focuses on staff, volunteers and young
up something from the shops. They sporting performance. The activities members - improving coaching standards
usually involve cycling on road or will range from group programmes to and increasing the number of young riders
dedicated cycle paths, and more likely individual and discipline-specific support with access to coaching activities. Go-Ride
as the sporting cyclist develops. Scottish School Clubs are all about getting more
a mixture of both. Cycling coordinates the coach education young people into cycling. These clubs
programme in Scotland with a range of UK provide high quality coaching activities,
Cycle Training: Cycle Trainers: Coaching Certificate-aligned qualifications delivered in a traffic-free environment which
There is a national standard for the cyclist Trainers are qualified staff or individuals designed to meet the needs of schools, can be run as either an after-school club or
which outlines three levels of competence. who deliver a range of programmes and clubs and individuals. during P.E. lessons as part of the curriculum.
In Scotland we have a resource for activities aimed at improving riders’ ability in
each of the levels: using road and cycle path networks. Cycling
Scotland provide training programmes
Level 1 Ready, Steady, Bike for individuals wishing to become
Level 2 Scottish Cycle Training Scheme qualified Cycle Trainers.
Level 3 Go ByCycle
Schools can access support locally for their
The above could create a multistage staff and volunteers to deliver the schemes
programme for p5, p6, p7. Go ByCycle can through their Active Schools Coordinators or
also be used for transition years. Road Safety Officers.

3. Recreational cycling
For many cycling is simply a form of active recreation to explore Scotland
and its beautiful landscapes. This might be through accessing the wonderful
National Cycle Network, or riding off-road along natural trails or at a
dedicated Mountain Bike trail centre. Scotland has been recognised for its
World Class facilities with an extensive path and trail network benefiting from
some of the most progressive access legislation in the world.
Leaders:
Leader is the general term for an individual scheme has been designed by Cycling
who delivers a range of experiential Scotland in consultation with Scottish
activities and programmes often in an Cycling, CTC, Sustrans and the MBLA.
off-road environment at a mountain The programmes are delivered by qualified
bike centre or on trails. This could be as leaders to suit the needs of their group and
an adventurous activity, to access the to reflect the local setting.
outdoors, for field studies or to make a
journey along one of our traditional routes
or rights of way. Cycling Scotland can
Bike Club:
Bike Club is a project bringing support
provide Cycle Ride Leader training and
and funding to schools, youth clubs
the MBLA (part of Scottish Cycling) can
and groups of young people seeking
provide mountain bike leadership courses.
to encourage learning through cycling
activities. Bike Club grants and expert
Go Mountain Bike: assistance can enable groups to set up
This is a 5 level mountain bike proficiency activities such as cycle maintenance,
scheme, with 4 themes – Riding Skills, cycle training, off-road skills development
Sharing the Outdoors, First Aid, Being or cycling-related arts projects. These
Independent and Self-Supporting. This cycling activities can be accredited through
Youth Achievement Awards.
Contact CYCLING AND SCHOOLS GROUP
Bike Club www.bikeclub.org.uk Scottish Government www.scotland.gov.uk
Cycling Scotland www.cyclingscotland.org Sustrans www.sustrans.org.uk
CTC Scotland www.ctcscotland.org.uk Sportscotland www.sportscotland.org.uk
Scottish Cycling www.scottishcycling.org.uk Road Safety Scotland www.roadsafetyscotland.org.uk
This information sheet has been developed by the Cycling and Schools Group which consists of the following
organisations: Cycling Scotland, CTC, Eco Schools, Learning Teaching Scotland, Scottish Cycling, Scottish
Government, sportscotland, Sustrans and Road Safety Scotland.