Strider Cup Race Presented by Dannon

Nearly 200 kids racing in the Strider Cup Race Presented by Dannon with the youngest only 19 months old!

Begin Press Release:

Strider Bike Racing Toddlers Take Over Fort Worth’s Sundance Square

Rapid City, SD (May 8, 2017) – Governor Greg Abbott declared May 6 as Youth Cycling Day in honor of today’s Strider Cup Race Presented by Dannon at Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas. May is also National Bike Month. Strider Sports, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of children’s no-pedal balance bikes, runs the series and is celebrating 10 years in business with more than 1.6 million bikes sold around the world since 2007.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price gave tips to the Strider Balance Bike racers in the 2-year-old and under class, which included the youngest competitor – diaper-clad 19-month-old Abigail Crossland from Wichita Falls, Texas. The little tyke, who has been riding her Strider Bike since she was 14 months old, enjoyed a cold beverage from her sippy cup after striding along the 600-foot plus course over and around obstacles.

Nearly 200 racers participated in the race, the first of three events in the national Strider Cup racing series. This was the first time Strider has hosted a race in Texas. Families came from around the Lone Star State, as well as California, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Washington.

“Abigail started riding her Strider Bike at just 14 months old,” said Brett Crossland, Abigail’s father. “Now she wakes up, grabs her helmet and is at the back door waiting to go most mornings. We’re glad to see her excited about her bike instead of a screen or other toys. The Strider Cup Race today was awesome!”

All racers were treated to a celebratory podium award ceremony after their main race, where they received either a trophy or a medal and posed for the cheering crowd. The event included races for 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds, and Special Needs Races for all ages and abilities.

Roman Martinez of Sugar Land, Texas, crossed the finish line ahead of the other 2-year-old racers to take home the top trophy. The winner of the popular 3-year-old class, Braysen Yingling, traveled from Topeka, Kansas. Cason Chambers of Rockwall, Texas, won the 4-year-old class. Christian Lilly of Granberry, Texas, came in first place in the 5-year-old class.

Racers in the Special Needs Class competed on the 12” models, as well as the larger 16” and 20” Strider Balance Bikes. Before the race, Strider worked with Special Olympics to donate 20 bikes to KinderFrogs School at Texas Christian University, an early-intervention educational program for children ages 18 months to six years with Down syndrome and other developmental delays.

“The fact that Strider includes us helps society see that our children can do what the rest of the kids do,” said Dr. Amanda Young, Adapted Physical Education Teacher at KinderFrogs. She recently completed her dissertation about the importance of family inclusion w/physical activity. “For most of these kids, it was their first experience on a two-wheeled bike. One of the best things with Strider Bike program is that the family can ride together, enjoying a healthy activity that gets them all outside.”

Strider worked with the Dannon Company in Fort Worth to donate 50 Strider Bikes and helmets to families in the Fort Worth community prior to today’s race.

The other two Strider Cup races will be held May 27 in Pittsburgh, PA, and 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, http://www.striderbikes.com/events has more information on all of the races.