2016 Strider Cup Series features family-friendly activities

Rapid City, SD (May 17, 2016) — Strider Bikes, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of children’s no-pedal balance bikes, is kicking off its 2016 Strider Cup Series with the Strider Cup Race presented by Raising Cane’s on June 11 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Many of the registered toddlers are from Lincoln, Omaha and the surrounding area, however racers from around the country are making the trek to vie for a podium finish, including toddlers from Florida, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.

 

The June 11 race in Lincoln is the first of three events in the national Strider Cup racing series for toddlers and children. These family-friendly races are for the tiniest competitors and will give small children a chance to put their Strider Balance Bike skills to the test. The event includes races for 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. Registration fee is $25 onlinebefore June 8 or $35 on-site. Racers will receive a Strider jersey, 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/lincoln.

A typical Strider race scene features hundreds of excited and proud young parents and grandparents eagerly encouraging their young racers while ringing bright yellow 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 immediately following their main race, where they will receive either a trophy or a medal and pose for the cheering crowd.

 

On April 17, the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers^® franchise in Lincoln, Nebraska, teamed up with Strider to give away 120 Strider Bikes to local youth, including over 50 bikes to the children and families at the Montessori School for Young Children in Lincoln. Several of those recipients are expected to participate in the June 11 Strider Cup Race.

 

The Strider Cup events also include races for athletes with special needs in conjunction with the Special Olympics program in each city. In Lincoln, 24 Special Olympics athletes received Strider Bikes and are learning to ride for the June 11 race. These athletes will race the 12” models, as well as Strider’s new, 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.

 

Upcoming Strider Cup races are slated for June 25 in Salt Lake City, Utah and July 9 in Spokane, WA. Participating in any of these events automatically qualifies the rider for the Strider Cup World Championship, July 29-30 at Pier 35 in San Francisco, California. 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. In 2015, Strider sold its one-millionth bike. 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.

 

About Raising Cane’s & Southern Hospitality Ventures

The Lincoln and Grand Island franchise—Southern Hospitality Ventures—was opened in 2006 by Justin and Jennifer Jones, who moved to Nebraska from Baton Rouge, LA. Since opening their first location, they have set out to make a change in their restaurants’ communities by becoming leaders and supporting programs and opportunities such as this one. Since opening in 2006, the Lincoln franchise has given back over $1 million to the Lincoln community.

Raising Cane’s has ONE LOVE®— quality chicken finger meals —and focuses its menu offering on fresh, made-to-order chicken fingers paired with their homemade Cane’s Sauce, grilled Texas toast, creamy coleslaw and crinkle-cut French fries. facebook.com/CanesNebraska, twitter.com/CanesLincoln, raisingcanes.com