Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Kids’ Bike Race coming to town
WEST CHESTER » On Saturday, Aug. 12, hundreds of boys and girls who have dreamed of competing in a bike race will have an opportunity to do just that in the West Chester Dental Arts Kids’ Race, one of the most popular events in the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic.
This free event will once again kick off the full program of exciting bike racing and family-friendly activities. “For anyone with a child or grandchild riding in the West Chester Dental Arts Kids’ Race, a camera is a must,” said Mark Yoder, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the organization behind the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic. “And I expect a large turnout of parents and grandparents, friends and family to cheer them on as they race their peers down Gay Street to the finish line!”
All children between the ages of 3 and 10 are invited to participate in this free event. There will be four age-determined categories of races: 3-4 years of age, 5-6 years of age, 7-8 years of age, 9-10 years of age. After the race, children will find themselves in Kids’ Zone, located on Gay Street between High and Walnut streets, where every child will be rewarded with an official Race Day medal.
The Kids’ Race begins at 3:30 p.m. Parents will need to register their children in person between 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. at the registration booth on West Gay Street between Church and New streets. Any kind of bike may be ridden but a helmet is required. Details on all the day’s events are online at www. GreaterWestChester.com.
“We’re beyond excited to sponsor the kid’s race for the eighth
consecutive year,” said Dr. Eric Fort of West Chester Dental Arts. “We look forward to this event every year, as it’s an amazing opportunity for us to meet new members of the community and reconnect with old friends!”
To expedite the registration process, it is requested that the form be downloaded and filled out in at advance. It is available online at www.GreaterWestChester.com.
After the conclusion of the kids’ race, the Tolsdorf Twilight Trike Challenge will take place at 4:30 p.m. This wildly popular tagteam race pits five-member teams against each other on adult-size tricycles. Next up, the Rothman Institute Amateur Criterium kicks off at 5:45 p.m. pitting many of the area’s top cyclists against each other in their quest for victory.
Besides all the racing, a wide array of attractions will vie for the attention of young and old alike, beginning at 3 p.m., leaving everyone with the nearly insurmountable problem of what to do first. The Kids’ Zone will once again be overflowing with bounce houses, inflatables of all descriptions, games and other attractions. Then there is the Community Festival on High Street with a wide assortment of booths displaying all the latest “musthaves,” plus food stands, product demonstrations free samples and other surprises.
At 6:45 p.m., the Brumbaugh Wealth Management
Pro Women’s Criterium will hit the streets of West Chester. This 40-K race will attract top pro female riders from all over the country – and beyond. Then at 8 p.m. it’s the men’s turn as one of the most important professional cycling races on the East Coast takes place. The Iron Hill Pro Men’s Criterium is a 75-K bike race that features speeds of 35 mph and more as over 100 professional cyclists fight it out in front of thousands of cheering fans.
The Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic is presented by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the day’s events, go to www. GreaterWestChester.com.
“We’re beyond excited to sponsor the kid’s race for the eighth consecutive year.” — Dr. Eric Fort of West Chester Dental Arts