Going To the Races - Photo Gallery
Tiny bikes, green bells, and a curtain of bubbles turned the Westerville BMX track into a racecourse for its youngest competitors Thursday evening, as cyclists ages 5 and under practiced for competitive races.
They were small enough to need help reaching the finish line, but old enough to know they were in a race.
The riders use balance bikes, small two-wheel bikes without pedals, chains, or cranks. Instead of pedaling, riders push with their feet, then lift them to glide over the dirt. The bikes help children learn balance, steering, speed control, and confidence.
At Thursday’s practice, riders were grouped into four age categories, from 2-year-olds through 5-year-olds. Each age group made three runs on a shortened section of the track, giving the young racers a course better matched to their skills, size, and endurance.
Despite their small stature, the riders spared little effort on the track’s turns and rollers, creating a blur of motion as they pushed their bikes across the hard-packed dirt.
With guidance and sometimes a helping hand from parents and track managers, every rider made it to the finish. The crowd clanged green bells distributed by the track, filling the course with encouragement. One mother trailed her child down the track, ringing a bell and shouting encouragement all the way to the finish.
Each run ended in celebration, with riders passing through a curtain of bubbles at the finish line. For some, the bubbles became part of the challenge. One mother accompanied her daughter around the track, then was needed at the finish to keep her moving when the bubble curtain caught the young rider’s attention.
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