Bike Rodeo had 24 Participants
by Helen Beattie
Community Journalist
Jason Bahner (left), Hardwick Recreation committee coordinator, adjusts the brakes on Izzi Patten’s (right) bike Saturday at the first annual Hardwick Trails & Recreation Committee Bike Rodeo held at the Hazen Union parking lot Saturday. The Hardwick Kiwanis Club donated new helmets to the 24 students who attended.
Hardwick Trails & Recreation Committee Bike Rodeo volunteer Pollyanna Cooper (right) explains the bike course to Zoey Custeau (left). Next in line is Yasmine Nasser, who waits for her turn with her grandmother Kathleen Sampson (center). All 24 students who attended the rodeo were given a new helmet by the Hardwick Kiwanis Club.
HARDWICK – This past Saturday morning, 24 participants challenged themselves at the first annual Hardwick Trails and Recreation Committee’s Bike Rodeo at Hazen Union School.
Many youths took advantage of the Hardwick Kiwanis offer of free helmets and bike tune-ups that insured that riders were ready for the event. Participants with some bike riding experience then chose between honing their skills at the bike rodeo, heading over to the pump track at Atkins Field, or setting off into the trail network behind Hazen Union. A number of new riders were given tips and support in the “Learn to Ride” zone.
The group then reconvened for ice cream sandwiches, took part in a book bike-themed raffle, relaxed in a storytelling session, or listened to the music of Kellon and Maia Mencucci.
The Hardwick Trails committee purchased two strider bikes for new bike riders. These served several of the participants in the learn-to-ride group and were donated to the Jeudevine Library (along with two helmets) for loan throughout the summer.
Other sponsors of the event included NEKProsper! Local Motion and the Hardwick Kiwanis. The event will be hosted next spring as a new annual offering to inspire use of the Hazen Union trails, along with the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, scheduled for completion this November.
