Gallus Pedals Asked to Share the Big Yin’s Story for Glasgow 850

How It All Began

When Glasgow City Council first approached us about taking part in the citywide Glasgow 850 celebrations, we didn’t need to think twice. Their idea was simple: would Gallus Pedals be interested in helping celebrate Billy Connolly’s life and legacy through specially designed tours?

Our answer? A resounding yes.

Billy Connolly isn’t just Glasgow’s most famous comedian – he’s the Big Yin, a freeman of the city, and someone whose story is woven into the fabric of the communities we cycle and walk through every day. Designing new Glasgow walking tours and bike routes that would bring his formative years, shipyard stories, and humour to life felt like a perfect fit for us.

Gallus Pedals in the Spotlight

Here we are outside Glasgow Film Theatre with Council Leader Susan Aitken and some of the other people involved in the Big Yin weekend: Glasgow International Comedy Festival and Glasgow Film Theatre.

Once word got out, we were humbled to see how much attention these tours – and our involvement – generated.

• Radio Clyde not only interviewed us but also carried audio clips on their news bulletins and social media.

• STV featured us on their website and even interviewed us for the STV News, outside a pub where Billy himself used to drink.

• Other organisations which promoted the event and our tours included: the Scottish Sun, Glasgow World, Glasgow Live, The Herald and the BBC!

We didn't really expect so much attention however it was great to be recognised and to take part in it and of course we wanted to celebrate the Big Yin in style. It was also chance not only to showcase our ability to design, promote and deliver tours, but also to underline the role of local, grassroots operators in telling Glasgow’s history.

Why It Mattered to Us

At Gallus Pedals, our mission has always been simple: to make tourists feel like locals, and locals feel like tourists. Billy Connolly did exactly that throughout his life – he showed Glaswegians a new way of looking at themselves while inviting the world in on the joke.

Being asked to contribute to his 850th celebration meant a lot. It wasn’t just about running a tour; it was about honouring someone who embodied Glasgow’s spirit: humour, resilience, community, and creativity.

For our guests, whether they joined on foot or by bike, this was more than sightseeing – it was a true Glasgow city tour that connected places, people, and stories.

What Came Next

From that initial conversation with Glasgow City Council, we went on to design two unique experiences:

• A walking tour through the city centre, featuring Billy’s murals and stories from his early life.

• A bike tour through Anderston, Partick, and the shipyards of Govan – the very places that shaped him.

Both were opened up to the public as part of the Glasgow Scotland tours celebrating the Big Yin’s 850th milestone.

In the next blog in this series, we’ll share the details of these tours and the journey we created through Billy Connolly’s Glasgow.