Tokio's youth bike series kicks in gear

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4: Selina Meade sees the Tokio Millennium Youth Mountain Bike Series as a confidence builder.

The free seven race series, is sponsored by Tokio and Bicycle Works, is sanctioned by the Bermuda Bicycle Association, returns for a sixth year on November 19.

Its aim is to introduce primary school aged children to cycling as a way to help promote physical fitness and healthy lifestyles. 

The emphasis of the event is on fun rather than being a competitive race as Tokio wants to help foster a love for cycling.

Meade, event coordinator for the Series, said:  “I’m really looking forward to this year’s event.  Last year, it gave me the first opportunity to understand and appreciate the event.  It’s also exciting to see the event develop from year to year and the interest level in the community increase.”

“It’s encouraging to see the kids return and watch their confidence levels rise from year to year — it’s truly wonderful to see a child who was initially timid and shy in their first year of the event and then see them the following year, highly motivated to race ahead of the pack.

“And for the little wee ones, this event gives them a chance to gain confidence in riding a bicycle and to practice basic principles of strength, coordination and motor development. Children are free to use any kind of bicycle — even those with training wheels — to participate, but they must bring their own helmet and have their parent/guardian sign a waiver in order to participate.

This is a fun family event that moms, dads, siblings and family friends enjoy as they cheer on children on the Arboretum and Ferry Reach courses.

Each week there are fabulous draw prizes and every child who participates will get a goodie bag upon registering for the first time. At the end of the seven-race series one child’s name will be drawn as the grand prize winner to take home a bike from Bicycle Works.

The series starts on November 19 and will conclude on January 28.

Planet Coffee will also be present mixing up free lattes or other java beverages for the parents.