Young Riders: Children Go for a Spin in Bike Race

Children from around the region converged in North Caldwell Saturday morning to take a spin through the Hilltop Reservation.

The first Hilltop Grasshopper Kid's Bike Race, which benefited the Hilltop Conservancy, attracted about 40 children and was comprised of four races based on grade level.

"By the time you're done here, you're going to be exhausted,'' said Geordie Smith, one of the race directors, as he was about to signal the start of the first heat.

The race began at the reservation's entrance near Mountain Avenue and Courter Lane and continued on a .6-mile loop through the reservation that included a tricky hill and a downhill rush to the finish line.

There were four races: kindergartners and first-graders (one loop, .6 miles), second- and third-graders (two loops, 1.2 miles), fourth- and fifth-graders (three loops, 2.4 miles) and sixth- through eighth-graders (four loops, three miles). 

"It was really fun. I thought I was going to lose," said Jaime Serruto, 8, of Short Hills.

Serruto, who was cheered on by his mom, Ellen, a professional off-road mountain biker, won the second- and third-grader race. 

The cyclists came from as far away as Layton in Sussex County and even West Windsor, while others were from Chatham, Flanders, Scotch Plains and Verona. Local children from North Caldwell and West Caldwell also participated.

"I liked it all," said Nick Rivera, 10, of West Caldwell, whose brother, Ben, 7, also competed in the race.

An experienced racer, Cole Smith, 10, of Verona, cruised to victory in the fourth- and fifth-grade race. 

"I could have gone faster, but there were a lot of people in front of me," Smith said. "I like racing for fun. I was going really fast today. The uphill was tiring, but I knew how to do it."

Hope Amend, of Chatham, won the kindergarten and first-grade girls race, while Austin Haymer, of Nutley, captured the boys division. West Milford's Najee Hudgins cruised to victory in the sixth- through eighth-grade race. Complete results will be posted on the race website.

Parents paid $10 for each of their children to participate with the money going toward maintaining the 260-acre park and its trails. The event was sponsored by Cycle Craft of Parsippany and The Montclair Bikery.

Smith said he was optimistic that a second annual race will be held next year.