IMBA'S TAKE A KID MOUNTAIN BIKING DAY
Join communities around the country for a celebration of youth
mountain biking!
IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day (TKMBD) is an annual event that seeks to introduce thejoy of mountain biking to the next generation. Created in 2004 in honor of Jack Doub, andrecognized by the U.S. Congress, Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is officially celebrated every
year on the first Saturday in October.
TKMBD events can be hosted by almost anyone in any country. Participating groups include
IMBA chapters and affiliated mountain bike clubs, community organizations, scouting groups,youth programs, schools and others. Or, gather your family, friends and coworkers to host yourown, local ride. Every mountainbiker is invited to participate!
Since 2004, nearly 100,000 youth have discovered and celebrated the joy of pedaling twowheels on dirt at TKMBD events, and many have gone on to become passionate riders,volunteer trail advocates and even high school mountain bike racers.

TAKE A KID MOUNTAIN BIKING DAY TOOLKIT
Thank you for organizing a group event for IMBA's Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day! Theseevents have ranged in size from a few kids and families to several hundred gathering at a local
park or trailhead. IMBA clubs and chapters, retail shops, Trips for Kids groups, schools, scoutsand community groups are encouraged to host events. Here are some ideas to help you makeyour day a success.
Group Size
In the words of Jedi Master Yoda, "Size matters not." Start with a group size that YOU and yourchosen location are able to handle. Consider forming an organizing team of willing parents orinterested families. Develop a plan for how you would like the day to look and feel. Think about
the ages of kids you'll be inviting and whether or not you will want (or need) to break them into
groups. Make sure you have enough adults, or even NICA student-athletes, to manage, coachand guide the kids attending your event and to offer adequate supervision.
Location Selection
Pick a location where there are smooth natural surface trails, if possible. Beginner-level trails orsmooth bike paths are suggested for kids and adults that may not have riding experience. Atrailhead, open space area or park with multi-use trails suited to all abilities is best. This type oflocation allows groups to split up based on ability level. If you know the ability levels of yourgroup, pick a trail or riding area appropriate for them.
Make sure to get permission and/or permits from the land manager, if needed! This is especiallytrue if you are scheduling an event at a bike park and/or intend to have a tent, snacks, games, askills course, etc. that may end up taking up a large space. Note that some trail systems havelimits on the number of people that can go out in a group. If you aren't sure, ASK.
If you don't have any trails near your neighborhood or town, pick a school, bike path, quiet dirtroad, ball field, yard or park that is bike-friendly. At a field or quiet parking lot, you can set up askills area with typical sports equipment, such as cones, flags or other markers. Mountain bike
"obstacles" can be created by laying 2x6 boards flat on the ground, simulating "bumps". We
recommend setting alternative lines through obstacle courses, so kids can ride an easy path or
add more challenge if they choose.
Use your imagination but keep safety and "challenge by choice" in mind. Encourage the kids toparticipate fully and look for experiences to stretch, learn and grow.

If you are thinking you need bikes to share or demo with kids that may not have a bike, consider
contacting a local bike rental shop, Trips for Kids Chapter, YMCA Y-riders program, Boys orGirls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or school bike program. If you live where there is astate-based bicycle advocacy organization, they might be a good partner as many of them haveyouth cycling programs.
Activities, Rides and Education
If you are expecting a crowd, consider planning fun bike activities or educational "stations". If
you have very young kids, especially those on push-bikes (like Striders), consider planninggames instead of an actual ride. For the older youth, events/stations can include topics such as
hydration, nutrition, sunscreen, helmet fitting, safety, bike skills and bike handling, IMBA Rulesof the Trail, etc.
With willing adult leaders to lead and sweep (follow), take small groups 4-8 kids (with two adults)
out on an easy route. For trail rides, splitting kids up by age and ability seems to work best, butalways encourage the slowest rider to set the pace. Another option is to set a loop skills course,
supervised by a couple of adult "coaches". Kids can cycle through the course and get tips while
they build their skills and confidence. This works great for the young ones while the older kids
go out on the trail.
Treats always seem to help in motivating kids, so stock up on your favorites, just make sure tocheck with parents about allergies. All adult ride leaders should carry a small first aid kit and cellphone if you are heading out for any distance from the trailhead.
With regard to timing, don't plan an event to take up a full day. Depending on age and interest,
you may only be able to engage the kids for a couple of hours. Make sure they get plenty ofrest, water, snacks and encouragement on rides or between activities.
If you are an organization conducting a Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day ride (club, chapter, shopor other), IMBA recommends you have parents fill out your organization's acknowledgment ofrisk and release of liability form for all participants.
The sky's the limit and the most important thing is to have fun!
Take Photos!
Kids and parents love to see the results from the day. Take lots of photos and share them after
the event with participants. Photos can be motivational, but make sure parents are OK withusing their kids’ faces if you intend to use them formally on an organization's website.
If you share images on social media, please tag #TKMBD so we can see them.

Grab the Graphics
Download a race plate template, add your group's logo and numbers, and get them ready forride day!
Download the logos and race plate template and use it to help promote your event.

Share the Joy!
Tag #TKMBD on social media to show us your ride. You can find us @imba_us on Instagram.
Check out our photo gallery of previous events.

Plan a Fun Event
Professional mountain bike coach Lee McCormack offers some simple tips for taking
kids mountain biking.
TAKING KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKING
By Lee McCormack
Pick the right tool. Kids 2 and under should ride in a trailer. Kids 3-6 can ride small
bikes or pedal trailers. Kids 7 and older can ride their own bikes. Helmets are mandatory.
Gloves are an excellent idea. Knee guards won't hurt.
Pick a destination. Ride to a spot the kids will think is cool. A waterfall, a herd of bison,an ice cream shop... adults know it's all about the journey, but kids look forward to thedestination. Not sure about the right trail in your area? Ask your local IMBA chapter orcheck out the trail guides on MTBProject.com.
Bring lots of drinks and snacks. Not only is nibbling fun, it keeps kids'
hummingbird-like metabolisms stoked and ready to ride. Don't forget sunscreen.
Make it easy. Keep rides short and not steep. This is your chance to turn video game
masters into mountain bikers. If the kids think riding is hard, it's back to the X-Box.
Stop often. Kids' energy comes in bursts. Give them a chance to replenish their bodies and their attention spans.

There's more than one way to mountain bike. While old farts love long singletracks,
young riders often prefer urban terrain, skate parks, dirt jump areas, BMX tracks andpump tracks. A fun ride might combine some of the above plus some trails. Be creative.
- Lee McCormack is a journalist, bike skills instructor and co-author of "Mastering
Mountain Bike Skills." Lee lives in Boulder, CO with his wife and two kids. For moreriding tips, check out Lee's site, www.leelikesbikes.com
Teach Rules of the Trail
Part of an awesome mountain biking experience includes knowing about how to care for ourtrails and respect fellow trail users. IMBA’s Rules of the Trail promote responsible riding and are
a great thing to teach the next generation of mountain bikers.