The first BikeTexas Kids Kup event by the lake of the South Llano River at Junction’s City Park was held on late Friday afternoon, May 22, 2009. It was immediately followed by the Pre-Ride Pasta Dinner held to fuel up Tour des Forts Bike Ride participants for the adult Century Ride Saturday morning. BikeTexas has been looking at opportunities to conduct more Kids Kup events, and the Tour des Forts organizers and the City of Junction were happy to oblige.
Kids and parents from Kimble and Menard Counties came to find out about Kids Kup. After registration and helmet fitting, BikeTexas Teacher Training Director Brenda Chuleewah introduced the kids to “the way of the egg.” That’s the egg drop demonstration used to show kids the importance of the wearing a helmet, and the kids’ reaction to the demo indicated that it was a “smash!”
For first-time “Kids Kuppers” from tricycles to twelve-year-olds, the kids knew exactly what to do as BikeTexas staff member Mark Stine ran the different age groups through the heats, with fishermen and -women from the lake coming over to watch the fun.
There was an extra bonus in addition to ticket drawings for helmets. The Kimble County Sheriff’s Department and Get Fit Tri Sports of Fredericksburg, Texas donated a boy’s bike and a girl’s bike to be given away. The winners of the drawing received a certificate and a picture of the bike. They will go to Fredericksburg to be properly fitted for the bike by the staff at Get Fit Tri Sports.
