Photos
Manchester is not to be outdone in terms of promoting cycling safety,
bike racing, and overall cycling in general. Each year, the
Manchester Bike-Ped Committee puts on a week-long competition between
classrooms in the Manchester Elementary School with the full support
of Principal Jack Mara. Classrooms compete by seeing how many children
either walk or ride their bikes to school each day for a week. It
is a great promotion of safe and environmentally-aware commuting. The
committee receives donations from Trek, puts on an ice cream social for
the winning classroom, and coordinates crossing guards for 8 intersections
in town where children need assistance. Then the week is followed
by a safety-oriented Bike Rodeo put on by the Manchester Police and again
the Manchester Bike-Ped Committee, led by John Carlson. Biking equipment
is checked and safe biking skills are taught.
All this culminates with an exciting Kids’ Bike Race (on the grass), promoted by Essex County Velo, the local and very active cycling “club for all” and by the Tyler Hamilton Foundation, which supports research for Multiple Sclerosis and promotes competitive cycling for youth worldwide.
This year, the Kids’ Bike Race took place right after school on a sunny June 12th afternoon. Amazingly, the races drew even more enthusiasm than the epoch races of prior years; this year a total of 104 children raced in 4 different age categorized races.
The Race Results
5-6 Year-Olds (28 contestants)
First Place Joseph Cerone
Second Place Dan Rodier
Third Place Andrew Milne
7-8 Year-Olds (43 contestants)
First Place Kyle Martin
Second Place Nicholas
Ward
Third Place Michael
Dalzell
9-10 Year-Olds (28 contestants)
First Place Doug Rodier
Second Place Ryan Greely
Third Place Ely Kaufman
11-12 Year-Olds (5 contestants)
First Place Caleb Anthony
Second Place Emily Senning
Third Place Jacob Martz
A very big thanks to John Carlson and the Manchester Bike-Ped Committee, the Manchester Police, and the ECV/Tyler Hamilton Foundation volunteers: Stu & Mary-Claire Dalzell, Jonathan and Karen Senning, Geoff and Bill Hamilton (THF) and many other on-the-spot volunteers, who provided whatever it took to produce a well-done Kids’ Bike Race. As we put on Kids’ Races that are tied into the various community events, we always face unique challenges and it’s a great pleasure to team together with the above friends to pull the races off for our children and for the wholesome sport of cycling. Thank you Team!