Texas Governor declares Youth Cycling Day and Fort Worth Mayor to Give Little Riders Tips

Rapid City, SD (April 19, 2017) — Strider Bikes, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of children’s no-pedal balance bikes, is welcoming balance bike racing toddlers, some still in diapers, to the Strider Cup Race Presented by Dannon on May 6 at Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas.

This is the first time the event has been held in the Lone Star State. In honor of the event, Governor Greg Abbott has declared May 6 as Youth Cycling Day. Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price will stop by to give the littlest bike riders tips before the first race at 9 a.m.

Pasha Ali, three-year-old racer from Trophy Club, Texas, is registered and has been practicing his “Winner Dance” for several months. His father, Nur Ali, believes riding the Strider Bike has helped Pasha improve his balance, coordination and develop quicker reflexes.

Ali, who has nearly two decades of car racing under his seatbelt, said, “I’m very excited about this season for both of us, as this is the first year we’ll race in the same calendar year; he in the Strider Cup and myself in Red Bull Global Rallycross series.”

The race is the first of three events in the national Strider Cup racing series, in which toddlers as young as 18 months old put their Strider Bike skills to the test. Most of the registrants for the May 6 event are from Texas, but racers are also traveling from California, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Washington. In addition to the races, these family-friendly events feature a free Strider Adventure Zone ride and play area with Strider Bikes to test ride.

The May 6 event includes races for 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. The registration fee is $25 online or families can still register their young rider at the packet pick-up at Cabela’s on Friday, May 5, at 12901 Cabela Drive in Fort Worth. There is no same-day race registration. Racers will receive a Strider jersey, a number plate for their bike and a goodie bag valued at more than $50 with their registration. Pre-registration is open at https://striderbikes.ca/fortworth.

A typical Strider race scene features hundreds of proud parents and grandparents cheering on racers while ringing cowbells as the starting gate drops. Toddlers, some still in diapers, lean forward, kick their short legs, and embark upon their 600-foot plus journey over obstacles such as dirt mounds and wooden ramps. All racers are treated to a celebratory podium award ceremony after their main race, where they receive either a trophy or a medal and pose for the cheering crowd.

The Strider Cup events also include races for individuals of all ages and abilities with special needs. Strider worked with Special Olympics to donate 20 bikes to KinderFrogs School at Texas Christian University, an early-intervention educational program for children ages 18 months to six years with Down syndrome and other developmental delays. The athletes are learning to ride for the May 6 race.

Special Needs Racers compete on the 12” models, as well as Strider’s larger 16” and 20” balance bikes, which the company launched in 2014 specifically for the special needs community. Strider has waived the registration fee for riders with special needs.
Strider is working with employees at the Dannon Company facility in Fort Worth to donate 50 Strider Bikes and helmets to families in the Fort Worth community.

The other two Strider Cup races will be held May 27 in Pittsburgh, PA, and June 10 in Lincoln, NE. Participating in any of these events automatically qualifies the rider for the Strider Cup World Championship, July 21-22 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Strider event page, https://striderbikes.ca/events has more information on all of the races.

About Strider Sports International, Inc.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Rapid City, SD, Strider Sports designs efficient, no-pedal balance bikes for children as young as 18 months, as well as for older riders with special needs. Strider’s mission is to simplify a bike to its essence, so proper size, weight, and simplicity combine to eliminate any fear of riding and instill confidence in the rider. Strider No-Pedal Balance Bikes are industry-leading training bikes that help children as young as 18 months learn to ride effectively on two wheels. Strider also manufactures balance bikes for individuals with special needs and for seniors wanting to stay active later in life. The patented Strider Balance Bikes focus on the fundamentals of balancing, leaning, and steering without the distractions and complications of pedals or training wheels.

Strider Bikes are now distributed in more than 75 countries worldwide. To date, Strider has sold more than 1.5 million. Since its inception, Strider Sports International, the world’s premier manufacturer and marketer of no-pedal balance bikes, has donated over $850,000 through its Rider Fund to organizations that serve children and adults in need. To learn more and to find a retailer in your area, visit www.StriderBikes.com, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.