Lee Craigie (born 20 December 1978) is the Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland^[1] and official representative of walking, cycling and physical activity across the nation.^[2] She is a former professional mountain bike racer^[3] and director of the Adventure Syndicate.^[4] Craigie and her work have been featured in The Scotsman,^[5] BBC News,^[6] The Press and Journal,^[7] The Courier^[8] and more.

Early career and education

Born in Glasgow, Craigie grew up in a sporting family and these early experiences led to her studying outdoor education as her first degree.^[9] She worked as a technical mountain guide in America and Australia, before training as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist.^[10] She started mountain biking in 2006 and represented Great Britain in 2011 and 2012 at the World MTB Championships.^[11]

In 2013 she joined the Cannondale team^[12] and later that year won the senior women's race at Cathkin Braes, Glasgow, becoming the UK national cross country champion.^[13] Craigie represented Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, finishing 7th place in the cross-country race, also held at Cathkin Braes.^[14] In 2016 she won the UK 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships^[15] and in that same year was part of the women's team that set the record time for the North Coast 500.^[16]

Therapeutic cycling

Craigie founded Cycletherapy in 2009 using a grant from the Scottish Government to deliver cycle training to marginalised young people in the Scottish Highlands.^[17] She is an ambassador for the charity Venture Trust^[18] and uses her work with the Adventure Syndicate to inspire adolescent girls to be more physically active.^[19]

References