Kids Bike Fremont's Primavera

Fremont Freewheelers volunteers put their heart and soul into the Primavera this April, delivering a wonderful experience to many families riding the 2016 Fun Ride, a 25-mile bike ride down Paseo Padre to a midpoint rest stop at Tri-Cities' beautiful Coyote Hills.

The return route via the Alameda Creek Trail was both scenic and challenging for the participating kids, and the ice cream and popsicles at Beard Staging Area, shady trees at Niles Staging Area, and kind volunteers were nice rewards. The ride was an absolute blast, and the kids enjoyed one another's company on the well-marked route and at the rest stops.

There were bonding moments on the trail for parents too. We exchanged exciting pre-kiddo and post-kiddo biking/fitness stories. The moments of drama made for especially great laughs and winks. Parents empathized with the parents that tried to reason with their young teen daughter to increase the height of her seat so that she could properly extend her legs thereby making biking easier and more comfortable. Fail!

In my case, drama took the form of Nutrition 101. "No, for the fourth time, you can't have a 3rd cookie! Have some fruit and nuts to give you energy throughout the ride." Parents smiled at parents whose youngsters could care less if their swerving made their parents nervous. The older teens road like pros, providing a great deal of inspiration to all.

Every kid received a well-deserved metal at the finish line, and greeted with high fives by brave and fit cyclists completing the century. I especially admired the two 6-year olds that biked 25 miles unassisted. Wow, now we adults have no excuse next year. Get out and bike the Primavera! Nice work, Fremont Freewheelers!

Angela Akridge
Volunteer, Newark Parks Foundation
www.newarkparks.org