Balance Bike Racing Toddlers Training for Strider Cup® Race in Pittsburgh May 27

Rapid City, SD (May 10, 2017) — Strider Sports, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of children’s no-pedal balance bikes, is welcoming balance bike racing toddlers, some still in diapers, to the Strider Cup Race Presented by MedExpress on May 27 at SouthSide Works in Pittsburgh. In honor of the event, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto have declared May 27 as Youth Cycling Day.

This is the second time the event has been held in the Keystone State. The first time was in 2015. The Strider race in Pittsburgh is the second of three events in the national Strider Cup racing series, in which toddlers as young as 18 months old put their Strider Bike skills to the test. Most of the registrants for the May 27 event are from across Pennsylvania, but racers are also traveling from Canada, Texas, North Carolina, New York, New Hampshire and more!

The youngest registrant so far is Kevin “Bubster” Husband from Greensburgh, Penn., who is just 19 months old. In addition to the races, these family-friendly events feature a free Strider Adventure Zone ride and play area with Strider Bikes to test ride.

Jackson Biernesser of Pittsburgh is signed up in the popular 3-year-old class. His mother, Donata, said, “Riding a Strider Bike is really teaching him balance and independence. Not having pedals is teaching him how to steer the bike easier.”

The May 27 event includes races for 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. The registration fee is $25 online or families can register their young rider at the packet pick-up Friday, May 26 at DICK’S Sporting Goods, 301 South Hills Village #201, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. There is no same-day race registration. Racers will receive a Strider jersey, a number plate for their bike, and a goodie bag valued at more than $50 with their registration. Pre-registration is open at www.striderbikes.com/pittsburgh.

A typical Strider race scene features hundreds of proud parents and grandparents cheering on racers while ringing 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 after their main race, where they receive either a trophy or a medal and pose for the cheering crowd.

The Strider Cup events also include races for individuals of all ages and abilities with special needs. Strider has donated bikes to several families in the area. Special needs racers compete on the 12” models, as well as the larger 16” and 20” Strider 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.

The first 2017 Strider Cup race featuring 200 toddlers was held May 6 in Fort Worth, Texas. The third one will be June 10 in Lincoln, NE. Participating in any of these events automatically qualifies the rider for the Strider Cup World Championship, July 21-22 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Strider event page, https://stridersports.pl/events has more information on all of the races.

About Strider Sports International, Inc.

Strider Sports designs efficient, no-pedal balance bikes for children age 18 months – 5, and for older riders with balance and coordination challenges. Strider’s mission is to simplify a bike, so proper size and weight combine to eliminate fear of riding and instill confidence. Strider Bikes allow riders to learn balance, leaning and steering; thus eliminating the need for tricycles or training wheels. Founded in 2007 in Rapid City, S.D., Strider has sold over 1.6 million bikes and is distributed in over 75 countries. It has donated over $850,000 through its Rider Fund. Visit www.StriderBikes.com, Facebook or Instagram.

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