Thousands of children from schools across Perthshire are gearing up to take part in a massive national cycle competition.
The Big Pedal will pit 260,000 pupils from 800 schools across the UK against each other in competition to be the fastest school in the country.
The race, powered by UK charity Sustrans and funded by the bicycle industry through its Bike Hub with support from the Scottish Government, will last for three weeks, starting on Monday.
It follows a similar format to the Tour de France, with each day bringing a different time trial, with a variety of stages planned, from long flat sprints to hilly climbs.
The more children, parents and teachers that cycle in to school on each day, the quicker the time the school is awarded for each stage, and the school with the lowest time overall will be declared the winner.
More than 4500 children from the area will get the chance to be involved with the Big Pedal, which aims to inspire and encourage pupils, parents and teachers to cycle on a regular basis.FridayAlready Blairgowrie High School, Burrelton Primary, Inch View Primary, Inchture Primary, North Muirton Primary, Perth Grammar, Perth High, St Ninian’s Episcopal Primary, St Stephens RC Primary and Viewlands Primary have all signed up to take part.
Schools can sign up to take part in the entire three-week challenge, or register for a special one-day stage that will take place in the last week of the race, and registration is open until Friday so there’s still time to enter.
Sustrans I Bike officer for Perth Kelly Fry has been delighted by the local response to the competition.
“The race will act as a great way for the whole school community to join together as they take on other schools from across the country-it’s a really great competition,” she said.
First prize for national winners of the race is a spectacular day with the M.A.D cycle stunt team.
National runners-up win a Minipod bike and scooter storage system worth over £1000 for their school, while the fastest school in each region will win a bike workshop kit.
More information is available at thebigpedal.org.uk.