Updated: No Bike Rodeo for Glover Park

Updated Feb. 23

Mitch Wander, had hoped to organize a bike rodeo for this spring, but it looks like the event will have to wait for a later date.

"Given limited time to promote the event and obtain sufficient advance commitments from attendees, there is not enough interest to have a Bike Rodeo at Guy Mason in the spring. We'll keep it in mind for some time in the future" wrote Wander in an email to Patch.

Original Post

Grab your helmet, secure those training wheels and come on down to the rodeo! Glover Park residents are measuring interest in having a bike rodeo at the Guy Mason Recreation Center this spring.

Proposed dates include: Apr. 28 (Saturday), Apr. 29 (Sunday), May 5 (Saturday) and May 6 (Sunday).

A bike rodeo is a day of fun and education for families offered by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). Open to kids of all ages and experience levels, the event includes basic training on bike safety as well as an obstacle course to practice steering.

According to a post by Glover Park resident, Mitch Wander, on the Stoddert Elementary blog, the WABA rodeos generally include:

bicycle inspection, mounting, dismounting, straight line control, stopping ability, signaling turn, weaving & maneuvering (cones), small turning radius (“figure 8”) and slow speed control.

WABA recently offered during the school day at Stoddert. The rodeo would be open to the wider community, with room for up to 300 participants.

A rodeo typically costs between $1,300 and $1,500 to cover instructors, equipment, insurance and other expenses, though Wander writes that he hopes to solicit funds from the Glover Park Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

Though the message was sent through the Stoddert newsletter, the rodeo could be open to surrounding neighborhoods too, depending on demand.

Saddle up!