Strider, the world leaders in balance bike technology, are excited to bring Strider balance bike coaching and racing to the Birmingham BMX Club in a move that will make the track at Perry Park a centre-of-excellence for Strider balance bike riding in the UK.

The partnership between Strider and the Birmingham BMX club will see weekly training sessions and races for children from 18 months to 5 years-old at the clubs track as well as the chance for children, supervised by their parents, to hire Strider balance bikes to use during open track sessions.

As part of the relationship, the Birmingham BMX Club is building a Mini Cycle Speedway for coaching junior riders and smaller scale races. Named the STRIDER™ Mini Speedway, the space will be an invaluable tool for novice riders with the option of adding ramps and obstacles that cover the entire width of the track for more experienced Strider riders. The Strider Mini Speedway is due to be completed in September.

Melanie Thomas, Director of Melrose Kids Ltd (the official UK distributor for Strider) said: “We are so excited about our new partnership with the Birmingham BMX Club to create our second Strider centre-of-excellence in the UK. The unprecedented success of the training sessions and racing at the National Cycling Centre has just shown the demand for activities aimed at toddlers and young children and we are proud to now be leading the way and partnering with the Birmingham BMX Club to coach our next generation of cyclists.”

Strider are also planning to host a major Strider World Cup racing event at the venue in 2013; however dates and details for this will be released closer to the time. Take a look at www.youtube.com/StriderCupUK to see some of the action from other events in the 2012 series.

Mark Sleigh, Birmingham BMX Club Coach and Track Manager said: “We have already seen the power of balance bike riding to help teach children the skills and balance necessary for cycling and BMX riding and this new partnership with Strider means that we can cater for our youngest riders ever. You never know, we may just be teaching our next British or Olympic Champion!”

“As a Strider centre-of-excellence, we will be planning regular coaching sessions and open sessions as well as working with the team at Strider to host one of the biggest Strider balance bike races ever held in the UK. It’s all very exciting!”

Birmingham City Council whom invested heavily in the construction and set up of the International standard Birmingham BMX Track are delighted to hear news of the partnership and are looking forwards to toddlers learning how to ride Strider bikes as part of their promotion of healthy lifestyles in the City of Birmingham.

Garry Peal the Business Development Manager for Birmingham City Council’s international events team said: “To hear that The Birmingham BMX Club have created a partnership with Strider, to get children as young as 18 months using the Birmingham BMX Track, is amazing news. Now the facility Birmingham City Council have built as a legacy of the 2012 UCI World BMX Championships, can truly cater for all age groups! We shall work closely with the Birmingham BMX Club and Strider to promote this brilliant opportunity for the toddlers of Birmingham.”

For more information visit www.birminghambmxclub.com or email Mark Sleigh on [email protected]

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Strider media contact:
Mark Hayward
Tel: 0161 973 8486 Mobile: 07731 752 096
Email: [email protected]