I am not obsessed with riding a bicycle but I am obsessed with getting kids on bikes. All kids but especially kids that have less than others - those that are on the sidelines. The benefits of cycling for kids are many:
- It is simply great fun
- It keeps them physically active
- It helps their mental health and learning: did you know that kids that ride their bikes to school are more focused and ready to learn versus kids that are driven?
- It helps social development - they get to interact with other kids that ride bikes - it is a great social activity6
- Easy to learn - Riding a bike is one of the kids’ activities that requires little skills.
- The whole family can participate
- It is good for the environment - the more kids that ride a bike at a younger age, the more chance there is that they will use their bike for transport in the future - instead of a car!
- It provides a freedom - allowing a kid to get to places that they might not be able to get to - a local park, a friends house
And the list keeps going. But for some there are obstacles. Bikes can be costly. And you need a helmet and a lock. And sometimes you don't know where to ride or you can't get there. There are obstacles to access. And I work hard to try remove those obstacles so everyone can participate.
Tri Velo Series, is a camp program I founded in the Fall of 2015 and saw many kids go through the program. After a hiatus in 2019 due to the care of my mom and a full time job and then followed by a hiatus due to COVID, we are back up and running! We have a full camp program this summer for all levels and abilities. There are many great stories from Tri Velo Series camps - and many great athletes as we have a list of alumni that have turned pro. Amazing.
This year we will be partnering with Sun Valley Youth Center - providing opportunities for their kids to join in at camps. Through the years, I have worked hard to get new bikes donated and they now have a nice group of bikes, but they need to learn to ride and they need to have opportunities to ride with others. We will be providing full scholarships to the kids from SVYC to all our camps.
The Sun Valley neighborhood has a long history of crime, poverty and low academic performance. Community and civic leaders, residents, and service providers performed a comprehensive neighborhood assessment in 1999 to determine the root causes of these marginal outcomes. Findings revealed that the greatest need—and greatest opportunity to make a sustained difference—was to offer youth services and SVYC was started. In an area where 49% of the Sun Valley residents don't graduate from high school, 89% of the kids that go through SVYC graduate. And the majority of the kids remain unaffiliated not fallng into the trap of gangs that are prevalent in low income neighborhoods.
Please join me in making this happen. We need to raise up to $35000 this year to run these programs.
Any amount makes a difference. Thanks for your consideration.
Tri Velo Series
Tri Velo Series is a Colorado based nonprofit that hosts a series of overnight and day cycling camps for kids each year. The organization supports and encourages kids by providing a safe and fun environment for them to improve their bike handling skills and develop a passion for cycling. The camps accommodate a wide range of abilities from the youth athlete looking to take cycling to the next level to the active elementary schooler looking to become more confident on the bicycle. The training is led by highly qualified coaches that provide challenge and guidance to the each camper.
The day camps provide a fun and productive activity for kids of all ages during the summer while the overnight camp in a unique setting encourages youth to immerse themselves in a positive learning environment. Away from normal distractions, youth get the chance to live and ride like professional athletes for a weekend. For many of young riders, these camps builds the skills and confidence that will help them as athletes for years to come. And they have a blast!
Tri Velo Series is dedicated to providing these opportunities for kids from lower socio-economic backgrounds that would not get the opportunity to experience the fun of cycling. The funds raised helps support scholarships for these kids.
The physical and mental benefits of biking have been proven time and time again but for millions of kids in the US, access to bikes and safe places to ride is not a reality. Tri Velo Series is dedicated to providing opportunities for kids from all socio-economic backgrounds to experience and develop a love of cycling for recreation, good health, and transportation.
Tri Velo Series (TVS) began in the Fall of 2015 when the Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado was going to discontinue their junior overnight camps. It was clear there was not only a demand but a need for the junior cycling camps and so TVS was born. Depending on the year, TVS would offer Road, Mountain Bike and Cyclo-Cross Camps. The camps focus on bike skills for all levels. The coaches include many professional cyclists and USAC certified coaches. This program has an outstanding reputation and has participants from multiple states. In 2019, TVS took a hiatus due to the Founder's work schedule and a family illness. The hiatus was extended due to COVID running only Day Camps in collaboration with Kent Denver School for 2020, 2021, 2022.
The campers are led by dedicated coaches and parents. They are dedicated to junior cycling, to the kids and to having fun on bikes. They are experienced coaches and cyclists.