If you’re a Bucks County local, you’re probably familiar with the Bucks County Classic – a Doylestown bike race that began in 2004 with the Pro Men’s Race and has expanded over the years to include the Doylestown Health Pro Women’s Race, among several amateur races. Since its inception, the Bucks County Classic has become a hallmark, both in the Bucks County community and the cycling community, drawing riders from across the country and world to compete.
The Bucks County Classic doesn’t stop at race day though. Their commitment to cycling extends to hosting free events in Doylestown to inspire budding cyclists and to teach the skills needed to ride a bike. Marshall Financial is proud to be a sponsor of the Bucks County Classic and for the second year in a row we’ve been honored to help host Wheelie Wednesday’s – a series of three “wheelie” great events for kids leading up to the Bucks County Classic.
I recently had the opportunity to represent Marshall Financial at the first of these events – Learn to Ride. In just a few hours, a team of volunteers takes kids from training wheels to two wheels while parents watch from the sidelines. Volunteers from Bike Works, Central Bucks Bicycling Club, and Team Ox provide hands-on guidance for the kids as they find their balance and footing. In addition, a Bike Works team member is present to remove training wheels and check helmets. It was wonderful to see so many kids confidently zooming around the C.B. West parking lot without a training wheel in sight. They were all incredibly proud of themselves, although some still felt “a little wobbly,” as one kid pointed out.
Inevitably, this night is extremely popular with Bucks County parents and the free event usually “sells out” with a waitlist each year. Keep an eye on the Marshall Financial Facebook page to get updates for the 2023 Learn to Ride registration next year. You can also check out this video of Learn to Ride in 2017 to see if it might be a good fit for your kids.
In the meantime, there are still two Wheelie Wednesday’s left – Bike Rodeo Night on July 20th, with the Bucks County Composite Mountain Bike Team and Women Bike Dtown, which introduces kids to a pump track. And Race Night! on August 24th, with Bucks County Classic crew members and local racers, which teaches kids the art of racing. Attendance is free, but registration is required so be sure to sign up now!
