Free Utah County Bike Races and Bike Safety Tips

Article at a Glance

• This summer’s bike race series is a great way to keep kids active.
• Always wear a properly fitting helmet when riding a bicycle.
• Keep your bike well-maintained.
• Teach your children the rules of the road.

This summer Utah Valley Pediatrics is sponsoring the Kids’ Weekly Race Series—part of a weekly mountain bike race series located in the Wasatch Mountains.

More than just a race, the series is designed to help kids to:

• develop confidence and a love of biking
• meet others with who also like to bike
• stay more active this summer

The races are free for all children 12 and under, and are designed for all levels of biking ability. Participants will get a free season race plate for their bike and there will be a raffle for prizes at the end of the race. Children can bike at whatever speed they are comfortable with and parents are welcome to follow behind. All cyclists are required to wear helmets.

The pre-season events start April 30, 2014 and the last race is August 13, 2014. To learn more or for schedules, visit www.facebook.com/wrskids. If you are interested in the adult races, visit weeklyraceseries.com.

But before you hit the racecourse, here are some bike safety tips you should know!

Don’t Forget Your Helmet!
Did you know that wearing a helmet can reduce your risk of sustaining a severe brain injury by 88 percent?

Top tips for helmets:

• Your helmet should meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) standards. You can tell by looking for the CPSC sticker.
• Wear it all the time, even for short rides.
• Make sure it fits properly. Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
• Replace any helmet that has been damaged.

Buying and Maintaining Your Bike
Children will enjoy biking more and will be safer if they have a bike that fits properly.
Shopping for a Bike: What You Need to Know (uvpediatrics.com)

You will also want to keep your bike in good shape. Before you ride, make sure your brakes work and your tires are inflated. Make sure your wheels, handlebars, and seat are tightened properly. And don’t forget to check and oil your chain on a regular basis!
Basic Bike Maintenance (rei.com)

Dress Properly

• Wear tennis shoes when riding a bike. Don’t wear sandals, flip-flops or go barefoot.
• Wear bright, neon clothing so that you are easily seen by motorists.
• Watch out for loose pant legs, shoelaces, dresses, or backpacks that can get caught in the wheels.

Riding at night

• Avoid riding at night when possible.
• Use reflective tape or flashing lights.
• Wear bright clothing.

Be Careful

• Always keep both hands on your handlebars.
• Don’t wear headphones.
• Watch for puddles, curbs, dogs, gravel, cars, people, and glass.
• Always ride one person per bike. Don’t allow somebody to ride on your handlebars or elsewhere.

Riding Around Cars
Children under 10 should always ride on the sidewalk. Don’t let children ride by themselves until you are sure they are mature enough to go on their own.

Teach your children to:

• Watch for cars pulling out of driveways.
• Cross busy roads by walking their bikes.
• Always cross at intersections or cross walks. Don’t pull out between parked cars.
• Not drive too close to parked cars-doors can sometimes open suddenly.
• Warn pedestrians they are coming by saying, “Passing on your left.”
• Not assume that cars see them. Wait to make sure they have made eye contact with the driver.

As kids get older, they will start riding on the streets. It is important to go over the rules of the road.
Utah Cycling Laws (utahbikes.org)