Glasgow is named the friendly city, and Neil Bilsland is the prime example of friendliness by gifting team Malawi with new bikes. Despite their bikes being functional, they were outdated and Neil wanted to make sure that they didn’t crash during a race.
“Everyone else has better kit them still.” Bilsland said. “We just wanted to help the guys out and make sure they enjoyed their time here in Glasgow.”
Along with team Malawi, Billy Bilsland Cycles helped teams Ghana and Guyana, as they were in today discussing their orders. He said it didn’t cost the shop much and wants to do more to help teams with their cycles.
“We are going to set up a Just Giving page, with a view a view to actually supplying and giving the equipment to take home. It makes you think what you can do, what you might do.”
With Scotland having such strong ties to Malawi and with the cyclists being “the nicest, friendliest guys you’ve ever met” Neil felt it was important to keep these ties strong. In 1990 the Special Olympics were hosted in Scotland and unfortunately the French team’s bike didn’t turn up, so Neil’s father Billy Bilsland supplied them with bikes. Like father, like son.
Neil’s family are very cycling orientated with his father who cycled in the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica, his uncle who raced in 1970 in Edinburgh, and his grandfather who was chef du mission in 1986.
In Billy Bilsland Cycles, Neil has two signed jerseys by David Millar, British road race and time trial champion of 2007, and winner of the 2008 Tour de France jersey of Carlos Sastre, all given to him by customers.
Neil is also a fan of the Tour de France, but also hasn’t had time to watch it every day. He went down to Yorkshire to see the Grand Départ, but has to watch the highlights at night to keep up with it.
“I’ve had my fingers in my ears all day to not hear the results so the highlights are interesting when I get home at seven o’clock.” Neil laughs. “But I've hardly watched it in the last week because the shops been busy with the Commonwealth Games.”
Bilsland Cycles had quite a few tickets for the track cycling, but gave some tickets away to his customers. Since the Commonwealth Games started on Wednesday, Neil hasn't time to watch the Games due to his shop being so busy, but has been to see the track cycling on Friday afternoon and saw the tandem gold medal race that Scotland won. His workmates have also been to the cycling, but on different days.
Due to the popularity of the shop, seen by the amount of people in the store, and the new business with teams Ghana, Guyana and Malawi, I believe that Billy Bilsland Cycles will be mobbed by cycling enthusiasts from all nations, and I know that Neil and his team will be able to handle the mass of people, just like they did today. And I say to Neil Bilsland and team thank you for helping Glasgow show why we are called the friendliest city in Scotland.
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