With 22 medal events across five sports and including track cycling for the first time, para-sports will be fully integrated with competitions taking place alongside able-bodied events.

We recruited Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year finalist 2011, Julie McElroy, who has cerebral palsy, to test out the para-sports programme.

Over the next few months she will try her hand at cycling, swimming, power lifting, athletics and lawn bowls.

First up, Julie, 26, from Jordanhill, headed down to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in the East End to meet six-time Paralympic medallist Aileen McGlynn and coach Craig McCulloch. MATTY SUTTON reports...

JULIE is no stranger to adventure. She has trekked in the Himalayas, worked with orphans in the slums of Delhi and canoed the length of Loch Shiel.

She is also a keen cyclist and often heads out for a ride on her mountain bike – but handling the super light track bike at the velodrome was a completely different challenge.

"The bike was a very different from the one I normally ride," said Julie.

"It was a very thin and lightweight bike.

"Trying to find my balance at first was a challenge, however, as soon I got myself into motion I soon mastered it."

Partially-sighted athlete Aileen, 39, from Crookston, was on the track training with her Scottish pilot Louise Haston, 32, ahead of Glasgow 2014.

She offered advice to Julie and encouraged more disabled people to take advantage of the velodrome to try out cycling.

Aileen, who was Evening Times Scots Sportswoman Of The Year 2008, said: "Don't let the steepness of the banking put you off, it is not as steep as it looks.

"Just remember to keep pedalling, keep pushing on when you go round the banking at the top.

"It is a great sport, it will keep you fit and healthy. I have been doing it at this level for about 11 years and I still love it, I love the training and I think if Julie is keen she could go far."

At Glasgow 2014, there will be four events, men's and women's 1000m time trial and men's and women's sprint, both for B Tandem.

This category is for visual impairment and cyclists ride on a tandem with a sighted pilot.

Cycle technician Gordon Watson set up the bike for Julie, showing her how to clip her cycling shoes into the pedals.

He raised the seat to the correct height, gave her a helmet and checked her cycling position.

Then it was on to the track where Craig McCulloch, regional development officer at Scottish Cycling, explained the difference between the track bike, and an ordinary road bike.

A track bike is light weight with a narrow frame and there are no gears or brakes.

The pressure in the tyres is kept high as the velodrome track is smooth with no bumps or ruts.

Julie set off round the bottom of the track and Craig, 31, ran round with her for the first few laps. But Julie soon got the hang of it and cycled confidently.

She said: "The adrenaline was pumping, I felt an immense freedom and jubilation inside me.

"I felt like I was going to cry towards the end of this assignment. It was just an overwhelming feeling.

"'Never allow your disability to hold you back', as Craig put to me, anything is possible.

"He was confident that if I return for a few more practice sessions, I'll be up on the side of the velodrome."

The main issues for Julie were the cycling shoes and getting clipped in.

Her cerebral palsy affects her co-ordination, and muscle spasms made clipping into the pedals difficult.

SHE explained: "Firstly, the cycling shoes were like ice skates.

"The second issue was clipping my shoes on to the pedal as I had muscle spasms in my left leg perhaps because of nerves.

"This issue will need to be looked at more as I believe you can get different types of pedal.

"The last issue was the bike, as I mentioned before, it was lightweight and finding your balance... I guess this comes with continuous practice."

Craig said Julie was "absolutely brilliant".

He added: "Julie was nervous at first but after a tentative start she was flying around on her own within no time."

Before Julie stepped on to the track she had been confident that cycling would be one of her strongest para-sports.

She said: "I can ride a two-wheeler bike so I had a head start on that front.

"Cycling outside in comparison to track cycling uses very different techniques.

"One piece of advice I would give to readers is that you have to find your strongest sport. Everyone has strong attributes along with their weaknesses.

"The same applies for people with disabilities – every individual is different because of their difficulties but I firmly believe there is a sport out there for everyone to get involved in and maintain an active lifestyle whether it is competitively or recreational. It is all about trying them out.

"I hope this para-Commonwealth journey will give people a good view of the top five para-sports at Glasgow 2014.

"Glasgow should be proud that it now has a velodrome on home soil and I believe this will pave the way for more people with a disability to learn how to ride a two-wheeler bike and thereafter aim towards the velodrome."

Scottish Cycling is working with Glasgow Life to arrange a regular para-cycling session.

For details, contact craig.mcculloch@scottishcycling.org.uk

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk

n Next month, Julie will be testing out the greens at the new Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre when she tries out the sport for the first time.