After months of canceling or postponing events in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Longmont Recreation Services got back in action Saturday with the fourth annual Strider Glider Rough Rider Race.
Children ages 2 to 5 raced through Willow Farm Park on bikes made by Strider Sports International, Inc. The no-pedal, two-wheel balance bikes are meant to ease the transition to traditional bikes for young children, rather than relying on training wheels or tricycles. Bike riders use their feet to push themselves forward.
Sam Calhoon, recreation program coordinator for Longmont, organized the 2019 and 2020 races. In a typical year, the race would take up to 75 participants but this year it was capped at 65, she said. There were 55 children who raced Saturday.
Different heats, or rounds of races, normally are scheduled back-to-back but this year there were 10-minute intervals in between in efforts to socially distance the crowd.
“Most of our buildings have been closed and it's just nice to be able to offer things and get people together and see the kids,” Calhoon said.
While other events including the Fall Harvest and Halloween Parade are canceled this month, some youth recreation activities — basketball and volleyball — are starting, she said.
Lisa Norton’s 2-year-old son, Theo, started riding his Strider bike early into the pandemic in April. Norton said he raced on a hand-me-down bike from his sister, who participated in a previous Strider Glider race.
After spending more time indoors to maintain social distance, Norton was excited to bring Theo to an event where he could play with other kids. She said the family has been using bike riding as a way to get outdoors while taking health and safety precautions.
“We've been stuck inside and happy that we got to come do this,” Norton said.
Longmont resident Ryan Conklin said his daughter, Eka, 2, has been riding her Strider bike for more than a year but has never done so with other children her age.
When he goes to pick Eka up from day care, he rides his own bike while carrying hers. They then ride home together. Conklin said he’s loved riding bikes since he was 3 years old and he wants to share the activity with his children.
He added that biking is an activity he can do without worrying about maintaining distance from other people.
Conklin wanted Eka to be able to ride with other kids. He said he felt comfortable with the safety policies of the event and that it’s important to continue experiencing the outdoors, even during the pandemic.
“COVID stops a lot of things but eventually you have to find a way to go back outside and do things,” Conklin said. “Let's venture out and start making good memories despite the virus.”
For every heat, the first-place winner received a medal, the runner-up won a plastic bell and all participants received a ribbon. There also was an online raffle for a Strider bike.
Sam Calhoon, recreation program coordinator for Longmont, gives a first place medal to Graham Gasow, 3. A first- and second-place winner was named in every heat of the trider Glider Rough Rider Race on Saturday, and ribbons were given to all racers.(Photo by Ali C. M. Watkins)With fewer events and activities permitted by local health mandates, Gil often rides his bike around his neighborhood cul de sac, racing his neighbors.
The family moved to Longmont about a year ago, Yankov said. He was excited to learn there was a race with the kind of bike Gil already used. Yankov was nervous that the race, like many events, would be canceled.
Yankov said he wanted Gil to participate in Saturday’s race to have a “semblance of a regular life.” He and Hellmann said it’s important to make sure Gil has something to do outdoors every weekend.
