A CYCLING programme which encourages young folk to just \u201crock up and ride\u201d has received effusive praise in Shetland.<\/p>\n
The scheme \u2013 which gives bairns the chance to try their hand at BMX biking indoors and outdoors \u2013 is hoped to lead to more folk choosing to cycle in future.<\/p>\n
Delivered by Scottish Cycling, Shetland News was in Brae on Thursday afternoon to watch a sold-out class leap ramps, and wobble and wheelie their way through obstacles \u2013 all at their own pace.<\/p>\n
For the first time the session was delivered in partnership with Skate Shetland \u2013 with half the Brae school gym finding their feet on a skateboard as well.<\/p>\n
Scottish Cycling\u2019s playmaker for Shetland, Cara McDiarmid, said the aim was to \u201cembed cycling culture in Shetland from a young age\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe buzzword is fun, we want things that are enjoyable to do,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is so fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gesturing to the room full of smiling faces, it\u2019s clear that the fun threshold has been meet.<\/p>\n
This is not a one-off either \u2013 on a previous trip to Brae earlier this year, all 11 of the participants told Scottish Cycling they had enjoyed the session and felt that they had developed or progressed their cycling skills.<\/p>\n
The Rock Up and Ride programme not only aims to get more people out on two wheels, but aims to do so in a way that gives everyone equal access to cycling.<\/p>\n
The session is free, with a permanent container containing 16 BMX bikes situated outside the Brae gym hall\u2019s back door.<\/p>\n
Eight BMX bikes were also recently sent to Fair Isle, giving children on the island the chance to ride and explore.<\/p>\n
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Already a member? Sign in<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Brae session we attend starts just after school ends, and programme officer Nathan Brown said ideally they would like the classes \u201cto be in curriculum time\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know there are some barriers to this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that some people might not be able to get to after school classes, to stay after school.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might not appeal to some of the ones that don\u2019t enjoy school either.\u201d<\/p>\n But Scottish Cycling says that Rock Up and Ride \u2013 which is funded by the Scottish Government \u2013 is reaching those who face the greatest barriers to sport.<\/p>\n It said that 35 per cent of its participants in 2025\/26 were living in the most deprived quintile (fifth) of people in the country.<\/p>\n Locally the scheme is administered by playmaker McDiarmid, with Grant Ferguson \u2013 Shetland\u2019s gold medal-winning cyclist at the 2025 Island Games \u2013 not a bad choice as cycling lead.<\/p>\n Brown comes to the isles every few months to deliver sessions, though they continue when he\u2019s not here \u2013 with more in Brae next week.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just Brae that hosts them, with Hamnavoe and Mossbank primary schools inviting Brown and co. along earlier this year.<\/p>\n He says the young folk involved had been asking for skateboard sessions, which led to them reaching out David Sutherland of Skate Shetland about joining them.<\/p>\n