Two-Wheeling Toddlers Race for Titles at NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte
Rapid City, S.D. (June 16, 2018) — Hundreds of families cheered on children 6 years old and younger as they raced balance bikes “Fred Flint stone-style” in the Strider Cup race June 16 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Over 140 racers from 14 states and Canada showed off their balance and coordination skills by navigating obstacles and riding over ramps set up along the 650-foot plus course. The youngest rider, 17-month old Chase Reynolds, came from nearby Mooresville, North Carolina to showcase his two-wheeling talents.
The event included a free ride and play area with demo bikes and helmets to teach children as young as 3 years old how to pedal a bike. Riders rang the gong alerting all in attendance they learned to pedal riding the Strider 14x Sport, a newly launched model that starts as a balance bike and includes a pedal kit when the child has mastered balancing.
4-year-old Carter Lewis from Kennesaw, GA drove in with his family and 2 brothers after learning of the event from a YouTube video that had sparked his interest. “We love seeing all the kids of different ages coming together with a common interest and just having fun outside. We made a weekend of this and are already planning our return to Charlotte for next year’s race” said Carter’s father.
The Strider Cup, held in venues across the country, is powered by the revolutionary design of Strider Bikes, which enables toddlers and young children to safely enjoy the mobility and independence of two-wheel biking at an earlier age than any prior generation.
It was a tight race in the 2-year-old class with Kenny Parker from Lexington, SC crossing the finish line first. While Luke “Duke” Liberto from Mount Airy, MD walked away with a first-place finish in the 3-year-old class.
Reigning 2018, 4-year-old class winner, Pasha Ali, from Trophy Club, TX took home 1st place again in Charlotte and moves on to the World Championships in Boulder this July.
And the very first winner of the Charlotte 14x class was an enthusiastic Warren “Dubby” Budgen, that traveled all the way from Newman, GA.
During the lunch hour, Strider presented Special Olympics Young Athletes North Carolina with 10 Strider 14x Sport Bikes, designed for children 3-7 years old.
Event sponsors FedEx, Springfree Trampoline, Spirited Cyclist/Uptown Cycles, Honey Stinger, I Heart Water and The Charlotte Observer provided additional family activities.
The Strider Cup in Charlotte marks the third stop along the way for the 2018 U.S. races. Previous races were held in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 5 and Cleveland, Ohio, on May 26. 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.
ABOUT STRIDER SPORTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Strider creates and inspires future generations of riders by giving children as young as six months old the best first-bike experience. Strider Bikes revolutionized the bike’s design to develop a child’s balance first and pairs each balance bike with a proven learn-to-ride process. Children across the globe are starting on a Strider Bike and becoming two-wheeling virtuosos – before they’re out of diapers.
Founded in 2007, in Rapid City, South Dakota, Strider has sold more than 1.9 million bikes and is distributed in more than 75 countries. The company has donated over $1,000,000 in cash & genuine Strider Bikes to charity through its Rider Fund. Visit www.StriderBikes.com, Facebook or Instagram.