Dozens of Tucson kids and teens left Friday’s El Tour de Tucson expo with a brand new bike and helmet, as well as a safety lesson, courtesy of an Olympic cyclist.
Representatives from El Tour, USA Cycling and Tucson-based cyclist training center Pace Ranch rolled 50 glistening bicycles of various sizes out onto the plaza at Armory Park, announcing the giveaway over the loudspeaker at noon.
The giveaway was in tandem with USA Cycling’s Kids’ Skills Clinic, which included free helmets and T-shirts for the first 100 children.
The hourlong skills clinics and giveaways were part of USA Cycling’s “Let’s Ride Together” initiative, which aims to get more children on bikes and riding safely.
On site promoting the initiative was USA Cycling’s Mari Holden, a world champion who won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics and was the first woman to win three consecutive U.S. time trial championships. Holden has won a total of six U.S. cycling championships.
“Mari Holden and her Let’s Ride program have been a great addition to the El Tour Expo,” said El Tour executive director TJ Juskiewicz. “She’s a big-time cyclist who knows what the kids like to ride and how to act on a bike.”
Holden and her team were at the expo for several hours talking to families and plugging the giveaway. Holden or another team member made sure every child or teen who wanted a bicycle received the right-sized bike and a basic safety lesson.
Olympian Mari Holden talked to each child at Friday’s El Tour de Tucson expo, making sure they had the right-sized bike and got a safety lesson.
Holden talked to each youth and showed them skills like how to check and fill the tires.
By 2 p.m., it was a common sight to see smiling children wearing helmets and weaving shiny new bikes through the area.
Attendees under the age of 18 were also treated to free USA Cycling memberships.
“That can connect them into the community and let them know what cycling things are happening,” Holden said.
Juskiewicz, who was hired in June 2020 as El Tour’s executive director, said he hopes to continue the partnership with USA Cycling and safety workshops in future years.
