The Giro di Burnaby has always been a family event, but this year, there’s even more in store for the kidlets.
The Girolino children’s event has moved, and will now be at the former site of the Burnaby Heights Resource Centre at Willingdon Avenue and Albert Street, according to Giro organizer Rainy Kent.
Burnaby Neighbourhood House and Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services are co-hosting the event, according to Kent, and Dandy Horse Cycles, HUB cycling coalition and Pedalheads bike camps are helping out. It is sponsored by Boffo Developments Ltd.
“The kids can come and bring their bikes, and they can have them engraved,” Kent said. “Pedalheads will do their obstacle courses again.”
There’s a gravel path around the large, grassy field that is ideal for a bike parade and bike races, she added.
“It’ll be an area where we can also grow the event a little more,” she said, adding it is tucked away from the main Giro course on Hastings Street.
“We just hope to make it a really fun event for the kids,” she said.
There’s also a new event for young cyclists this year – the Giro Breve.
The youth race is about 20 minutes, 15 minutes plus two laps, according to Kent, and is for experienced racers.
The race is for girls ages 12 to 16, and boys ages 13 to 16, and is limited to 50 participants. It is a partnership between B.C. Superweek and Global Relay’s Bridge the Gap Fund, a national cycling development program.
Road bikes are recommended.
“We just thought, what a great thing to have the little kids’ event, and then the opportunity for these little kids to go and see the youth race and then from there, the big race starts,” Kent said. “So kind of, inspiration for all.”
The Giro di Burnaby takes place on July 16, starting at 6 p.m. at Hastings Street and Carleton Avenue.
To register for the Girolino, call Eileen Dailly pool at 604-298-7946. The cost is $2, and helmets are required. To register for Giro Breve, go to www.girodiburnaby.com/giro-breve.
