Hundreds of cute, enthusiastic toddlers – some still in diapers – from throughout Ohio and as far away as Texas, will participate in family-friendly bike races and play experiences at the Ohio Strider Cup race, May 26, in Public Square in Downtown Cleveland. For parents and spectators alike, the event will provide one-of-a-kind opportunities to take captivating photos and videos. This event coincides with Youth Cycling Day in Cleveland, proclaimed by Mayor Frank Jackson.
“It is a sight to see toddlers leaning into turns with huge grins on their faces, exhibiting excellent balance and control,” said Strider Founder and Chief Enthusiast Ryan McFarland. “Parents who are on the hunt for ways to get their kids to put down their tablets and screens, and enjoy the outdoors, need look no further.”
The Strider Cup, held in venues across the country, is powered by the revolutionary design of Strider Bikes, which empowers toddlers and young children to safely enjoy the mobility and independence of two-wheel biking at an earlier age than any prior generation.
A typical race scene involves toddlers kicking their legs to propel the bikes along a 400-foot plus journey over ramps, obstacles and through tunnels. Racers delight in the podium ceremony afterward, where the fastest tykes earn trophies and all racers take home medals.
“Bennett started riding his Strider bike when he was 18 months and we even set up a little track in our backyard for him,” said his father Pete Smith. “The skills and balance he learned on his Strider helped him graduate to both a pedal bike and an electric trails motorcycle before the age of 3. He’s excited about the Cleveland Strider Cup and racing his bike with other kids!”
The Strider Cup event runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and will include race classes for registered riders 6 years old and younger, as well as a free learn-to-pedal area with loaner bikes and helmets for all children. Other free activities are available courtesy of event sponsors Once Upon a Time Toys, Honey Stinger, Go-Go Squeeze, and Lasater Grasslands Beef.
During the lunch hour, Strider will present Special Olympics Young Athletes Cleveland with 10 Strider 14x Sport Bikes, designed for children 3 – 7 years old.
For racers, registration is $27 per class and includes a jersey, number plate, and other goodies valued at more than $50. More information, registration and the full schedule are available at www.StriderBikes.com/Cleveland.
Strider Cup was brought to Cleveland in partnership with Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and marks the second stop along the way for the 2018 U.S. races, with the final Strider Cup race in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 16. The summer of two-wheeled fun culminates July 20–21 in Boulder, Colorado, with the Strider Cup World Championship, an international toddler biking celebration attracting families from across the globe for two days of camaraderie, excitement, and racing.
