AT some point in our lives virtually everyone has either owned or had a ride on a bicycle.

As a child, it was a way to pass part of the long summer holiday while at the same time getting fresh air and exercise.

Who can forget the sense of adventure as we set off on two wheels looking to explore what was on our doorsteps.

However most of us outgrew our bike, literally and emotionally, and found other interests.

Those adults who stayed in the saddle were regarded as perhaps slightly loopy by those who opted for the luxury of a motor car.

All that was to change when two of Britain's brightest talents burst onto the sporting scene.

For Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins may be many things, but they are certainly not loopy.

One is an 11-time world champion and six time Olympic champion who is the most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time.

The other became the first British cyclist to win the gruelling Tour de France.

It is perhaps not surprising that interest in cycling exploded as Britain cheered on their heroes to glory.

The opening of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome opposite Celtic Park has seen new generations of cyclists taking to the track making the venue one of the busiest of its kind in the world.

It is perhaps no surprise then that the city council decided to build on that success by taking a leaf out of London's books.

In June, it launched its equivalent of Boris's bikes - given the nickname Gordon's Gears after city council leader Gordon Matheson. Their 400 state-of-the-art machines carry the bright pink People Make Glasgow logo and are based at 31 sites across the city.

Some questioned whether local people and visitors would warm to the idea of bike hire - but they have, in massive numbers.

In just 10 weeks, they were hired 20,000 times with one plucky individual opting to cycle as far away as Fort William.

Just days after the announcement, the council revealed it is planning to improve existing bike lanes and to introduce new ones in the West End.

As a result, last week was a good one for city cyclists.

All the council has to do now is find some way to prevent the city's growing army of two-wheel travellers casually ignoring red lights, cycling on the pavements and riding the wrong way along one-way roads,

It can be infuriating for a motorist who carefully overtakes a cyclist only to find him or her holding onto the car wing mirror at the next set of traffic lights.

Cycling may be good for the environment and for health but a minority of rogue cyclists need to start obeying the rules.