SCOTTISH para-cycling legend Aileen McGlynn has said she plans to call time on her sporting career.

The three-time Paralympic gold medallist was speaking as a new exhibition charting her remarkable journey at the 2014 Commonwealth Games was unveiled at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.

The 41-year-old from Cardonald lost her UK Lottery funding in 2013 but went on to represent Scotland at the Games in Glasgow last summer where she claimed double silver alongside pilot Louise Haston.

Titled Blood, Sweat and Gears, the items on display in the exhibition have been selected to reflect the duo's Glasgow 2014 journey from preparation and training to living in the Athletes' Village and celebrating their medal success.

They include the Queen's Baton which covered more than 118,000 miles across the Commonwealth en route to the opening ceremony at Celtic Park.

A life-size fibreglass statue of Glasgow 2014 mascot, Clyde, one of 25 displayed around the city during the Games, is also featured.

Many of the objects chosen are personal to Aileen and Louise including two tandems, training gear and even some empty energy gel packs.

Aileen's first bike as a youngster - a Raleigh Amber - takes pride of place.

"It's a little strange, but a very special experience to walk in to the museum and see both my first bike and the tandem I competed on form part of a display," said Aileen. "It completes my journey beautifully and I'm touched to be part of something which celebrates such a momentous summer for the city."

Aileen credits Sir Chris Hoy as her inspiration and the cycling shoes that the six-time Olympic champion wore while competing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne are part of the exhibition.

She returned to Cardonald where she grew up to take part in the Queen's Baton Relay last July and the eye-catching uniform Aileen wore that day has been included as part of her story.

"The summer of 2014 was an incredible time for me," said Aileen. "Competing in front of a home crowd really was a dream come true and winning two silver medals in the process was the icing on the cake.

"I'm delighted to have had the support of Glasgow Museums in this groundbreaking project. It's a huge honour to be asked to share my Commonwealth Games journey with the visitors at Riverside."

But it was also a bittersweet moment as Aileen revealed her plans to retire from competitive cycling.

"I don't think I'm going to be doing much more as there just isn't the opportunity," she said. "If you aren't on the British team, Scotland can't enter you for the world championships. That doesn't leave much to race. There is no funding either.

"I can't imagine anything will change so I will probably just fade into the background. It was great to be able to compete at the Commonwealth Games and I felt vindicated in showing I was still up there and second in the world.

"The decision made by British Cycling to drop me was the wrong one. I think I proved a lot last year but it is time to move on."

Aileen ruled out targeting the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and said she believes it is far more beneficial to channel her energy in a new direction. The Paisley-born rider is already mulling over future plans.

"There is no point in continuing because it's too much of an uphill struggle to try and get selected for Rio," she said. "If the people making the decisions don't want you, there is nothing you can do.

"I'm thinking of getting into property in the buy-to-let market and that's something I have been spending my time on lately.

"It's taken me a good few months to come to this decision but the more I get involved in other things then the less I focus on training. I couldn't have asked for a better career in cycling. I've been very fortunate and it has been fantastic. It's time to move onto the next chapter in my life."

Aileen was joined at the unveiling by Louise, 34, from Edinburgh who was the able-bodied pilot on the front of the tandem in their medal haul.

"Coming into Riverside and taking in the new display transported me straight back to the velodrome last summer and the deafening roar that greeted Aileen and I as we competed for Team Scotland," said Louise. "I still find it quite emotional; it was like nothing I'd ever experienced before."

The exhibition marks what is believed to be the first initiative of its kind in the UK. A partnership with Glasgow Museums saw the pair loaned a tandem and cycling kit which would later become part of the city's collection.

Councillor Archie Graham, chair of Glasgow Life, said: "I am thrilled to see this tremendous new display at Riverside. It brings back a flood of great memories and it's been a pleasure to relive those with Aileen and Louise, part of Team Scotland who gave us so much to celebrate."

Blood, Sweat and Gears will be on show at the Riverside Museum until early next year.