By Darin Underhill and Adrienne Pullen
Barriere Bike Rodeo Committee
On June 23, 2012, the 1st Annual Barriere Bike Rodeo went off with a little rain for our young riders. There were a total of 40 young people that participated, ranging in age from two to 14. There were children on tricycles, bikes with training wheels, and teenagers on mountain bikes.
The day started out beautiful and warm, but with dark clouds moving in, and the rain started just before the Rodeo got fired up and under way. However, that didn’t stop the kids from showing up and having a great time with a chance to bike and play in the puddles!
The young riders were put through four stations that tested their skills and knowledge of bike safety. Our main goal is to reinforce proper biking techniques, the rules of the road and make sure they use their safety gear. There was an opportunity for all kids to participate with extra bikes and helmets on hand.
The kids also had a chance to get involved in face painting, play on the bouncy castle and enter their names into a draw for some amazing prizes. Grandma Alice’s concession was on site to serve up some treats and beverages to everyone there.
When the rain finally stopped, it allowed for a short demonstration of the RCMP Roll Over Simulator, which showed the importance of wearing your seatbelt in a roll over collision situation.
Many of the kids and parents also went to meet with members of the Barriere Search and Rescue Society with their rescue truck which was on site. It was also a treat to see the Barriere Volunteer Fire Department come out with two of their trucks. The crew were on hand to give tours of the fire trucks, hose demonstrations and give out some really cool hats!
Yellowhead Community Services had a child restraint station set up for anyone in the community to come down and have their child seat checked or installed free of charge. There were three individuals that went through a training course in the morning and volunteered their time later in the day to help out the community.
It was a great success with all children that participated in the Bike Rodeo winning a neat water bottle and a new helmet or bicycle. Two of our lucky participants won a brand new Norco bike worth over $400.
We would like to first thank all the sponsors who made this event possible with a huge donation from TNRD Area ‘O’ director Bonnie Cruzelle-Myram, Success by Six, Spoke N Motion – Kamloops, Yellowhead Community Services, the Star/Journal, Rainer Farms, Interior Saving Insurance Services, Canadian Tire – Kamloops and Audrey.
We would also like to thank all the volunteers who helped make this day such a huge success; our fabulous face painters, child restraint instructors, Barriere Search and Rescue personnel, Barriere Volunteer Fire Fighters, Barriere RCMP, Yellowhead Community Services, Al Fortin, Robert Underhill, and the Bike Rodeo Committee. We look forward to another great Bike Rodeo next year and hope all the kids in Barriere and area can make it out once again.
Have a fun and safe summer!