James McCallum no longer worries about shaving his legs

James McCallum sums up all that’s special about the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow.

The 35-year-old cyclist spent his childhood years riding a bike from the famous Barras Market around the city streets.

Over the last quarter of a century, he has seen his hometown and his sport flourish.

He will retire after the Games knowing that, if nothing else, it’s now acceptable to admit he shaves his legs.

“I can now walk through a coffee shop in cycling gear and not get pointed at or laughed at,” says James.

“You can tell something has definitely changed. Being a teenager in Glasgow and having to shave your legs wasn’t an easy upbringing.

“I had to be a pretty good runner as well. My first bike came from a tiny little shop just across from the Barras, where my granny used to take us to get a jar of mussels. It was a wee £100 Universal bike.

I was 10 years old and got it for Christmas.

“Every boy in the family was given a bike. I just happened to be the one that stuck with it. I’ve got quite a lot of energy, so my parents had me doing something every day of the week to try and get me to sleep.

“Then cycling just took over. People ask you what religion you are and I say: ‘I’m a cyclist’. Every Sunday I’m out on my bike at 10am.”

Success didn’t come easily for James. For many years he combined cycling with working nightshifts as a nurse in an Edinburgh hospital.

This will be his third Commonwealth Games, and he can’t think of a better place to bring down the curtain on his career. Taking part in the road race will be an emotional experience.

He continues: “What’s really surreal is when you’re riding through Blythswood Square or Kelvingrove Park and someone shouts: ‘Go on Jimmy!’

“You think: ‘Who are you and how did this happen?’ I used to ride into town and imagine I was in the Tour de France. Now I’m going to be doing that with guys who’ve been in the Tour. It’s bonkers.

“I did a race called ‘Revolution’ here a few years ago, and I could hardly feel my arms, but the crowd willed me on.

“I’m under no illusions, I’m here to do my support role and help the other guys in the team on the road. That’s what I’ve built my career on being reliable and consistent.”

James’ grandfather was a cyclist, and the Glaswegian is thrilled to be creating his own legacy for the sport and his family.

He says: “One of the things that I’m proud of no matter what happens with my cycling life is that on my daughter Penelope’s birth certificate, under ‘Father’s Occupation’ it says: ‘Professional Cyclist’.

“That will always make her question it, even if everything I’ve done disappears into distant memories.”