THE son of one of Scotland’s most successful road cyclists has spoken about the incredible impact cycling had on him.

Neil Bilsland, the son of Commonwealth Games and Olympic star Billy Bilsland, reveals his three-generation long connection to cycling through his father and grandfather in the third edition of “Power of the Bike”, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships’ digital content series.

Neil Bilsland, who is the owner of the Billy Bilsland Cycling shop, an institution in the Glasgow cycling community, summarises his mission as “trying to make the world a better place, one bicycle at a time”.

Glasgow Times:

His dad was considered a teenage prodigy in Scotland. He won the Scottish 25-mile Time Trial Championships at 17 before qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica in 1966 at 19.

He worked full time as a joiner, trained in the evenings after work and raced at the weekend to successfully qualify for the 1968 Summer Olympics. Following his Olympic success, Billy turned professional and raced for Peugeot Michelin and TI Raleigh where he raced all over Europe.

After calling quits on his career, in 1980 he opened Billy Bilsland Cycles at Saltmarket.

Glasgow Times:

The “Power of the Bike” series will tell the inspiring stories of individuals and communities across Scotland who have seen first-hand the extraordinary impact cycling and cycling programmes can have.  

It is part of the ambition to use the global profile of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to leave a lasting legacy of increased cycling participation in Scotland.

To read more about the series, click here.