The Durham Mountain Biking Association and Oxford Learning will be hosting a kids ride to celebrate the annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 10am to 1:30pm.   The event will be held at Durham Forest, Main Tract (3789 7th Concession Uxbridge, just south of Regional Rd. 21).

This will be a fun day for kids of all ages and riding abilities.  We’re taking our kids out of the city and into the forest - off of the side walks and onto a real mountain bike trail!  They will experience the thrill of riding along rolling dirt trails in small groups for about an hour.  Experienced guides for each group will offer tips and techniques on how to safely handle the new challenges of trail riding.  A bike mechanic, from Impala Bicycles, will be on site to help with minor mechanical issues and help everyone get a safe start on their ride.  Rides will be leaving about every 15 minutes and groups will be organized according to the kids’ ages and riding abilities so everyone will have an enjoyable trail riding experience.  Free lunch and hot chocolate will be provided for all the kids and available to parents at a nominal cost.

Win a Louis Garneau Kid’s Mountain Bike Donated by Bay Cycle: Every child will be entered in a draw to win a kid’s mountain bike and lots of other great bike gear.  Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase on site for your chance to win not just the bike but other great prizes.

Loot Bags: Every participant will receive a loot bag full of fun bike stuff: a bike bottle from Oxford Learning; a variety of fun bike gear and discount coupons from the shops, bike stickers & decals, maps & info on hiking and biking trails in the area, and more!

Sponsors: This event is generously sponsored by the Durham Mountain Biking Assoc., Oxford Learning Centres in Durham, Chico Racing, Durham Region Tourism, GTA Bike Park, Subway Subs and local bicycle shops including Bay Cycle and Sports, Impala Bicycles, Cycle Solutions, Northern Cycle, Pedal Performance, CyclePath Markham, Bloomfield Bicycles and Boyd’s Source for Sports.

So kids bring your bike and helmet, and parents bring your kids, for a fun, fall mountain bike ride in Durham Forest.  Learn about the trails, the forest and mountain bike riding.  Enjoy the fall colours in a healthy, active way with friends and family.

Please register so that we know you’re coming and we can make sure we have enough food and loot bags for everyone.

More About the Celebration: In 2008, International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA’s) Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day celebration helped more than 5,000 young riders enjoy an outdoor bicycle excursion.  Events were held in Australia, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Japan and the United States.  We had 145 kids and their parents come out to ride in Durham last year and we’re hoping to make this year an even bigger success!