Take A Kid Mountain Biking

Saturday was fun.  Really fun.  It was the annual Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day, and as usual it didn’t disappoint.  Sponsored by REI and Trips For Kids, with help from the Tarheel Trailblazers and the Dirt Divas, we had a great crowd outside to ride bikes on a beautiful morning.

We broke up into groups:  beginner, intermediate, and advanced.  I took one of the advanced groups, and Lunchbox was a leader for one of the intermediate groups.  It was really cool that he is a ride leader for these events, because I remember a few years ago he was just riding along in a group with other kids.  I’m really proud of what he does for the kids, and the local riding community.

Anyway, our ride was good.  We rode everything out there, and my group had a good time.  Lunchbox had fun with his group too, and they seemed to really appreciate his leadership out there on the trail.  Since I was there for first aid support as well as being a ride leader, I was happy not to have to fix anyone.  Well, I almost didn’t have to.

Lunchbox got a boo boo, but he’ll be okay.

Even the smallest kids got in on the action:

Photo credit:  Rod B.

Photo Credit:  Jen H.

After the ride, we all met up for a nice little cookout. 

REI supplied the food (and cooked it), and no one walked out of there hungry.  Seeing all the smiles out there made this one of the greatest days I’ve spent on a bike in a long time.  This event only happens once a year, and I’m so glad we can be a part of it.  Big thanks to REI and Trips for Kids, and special thanks to the Trailblazers and Divas that came out to help make it a great day for kids to ride bikes in the woods.