Sponsor Spotlight: Strider

Tell us ABout strider.

Strider is 19 years old this month!  Imagine that, from a first prototype in a garage here in the Black Hills to a worldwide phenomenon with over 4.5 million bikes sold worldwide!

Strider’s goal is to get kids hooked on riding at the youngest age possible by giving them the best learn-to-ride experience possible. We do that by starting them super young and focusing on balance-first (leave the pedaling for after the core bike handling skills are learned).

We focus on building bikes that are truly sized for the youngest riders and focused on exactly what they need… No extra junk that they don’t need in these early formative years.  Leave the gears and brakes and everything else for later.  Fundamental skills are first and foremost in our view.

How are you getting kids on bikes?

While we’re doing a good job to get great bikes into the hands of young kids that have engaged parents and grandparents, we’ve come to realize just how many kids don’t get the learn-to-ride experience at home. Sadly, the majority of kids in the USA are no longer learning to ride a bike. So, we’ve incubated a new nonprofit called All Kids Bike to put learn-to-ride programs into elementary schools.  We’re currently in 1800 schools across the nation and teaching close to 200,000 kids how to ride every year. Learn more at: www.AllKidsBike.org

Why do you sponsor BHBH and what makes you excited about the future?

Learning to ride is the beginning and loving to ride is the ultimate objective. Riding brings people together, increases health, and makes people happy. That is our wish for all the kids that have Strider bikes, and that wish extends to all the riders of bikes beyond Striders as well. The Black Hills Bike Hub is a shining example of this; creating community, encouraging people to get out and ride, helping people improve health and find happiness. We’re pleased to be a sponsor and grateful to have this organization revitalized and thriving in the Rapid City community.