Kids cycle into summer at Girolino in Burnaby Heights

What marks a summer day more than a bike ride?

I can remember, as a kid, the hours spent pedalling up and down my family’s driveway with my dad holding onto the back of my bike so I could learn to balance without training wheels

Then, the feeling of weightlessness as if I were taking off when I was pedalling and looked back to realize my dad was no longer holding my bike.

The feeling of surprise probably made me a little unsteady, but this was overshadowed by the success and freedom I felt to be pedalling all on my own.

Learning to ride a bike, especially for kids, becomes a marker of childhood adventure and independence, and it can even spark a lifelong love of cycling as a sport, a form of play or a form of transportation or all three

This year’s Girolino, organized by the City of Burnaby and taking place in Burnaby Heights, celebrates the excitement of cycling in a fun environment It includes a pedal and dash event for kids aged five to 11 at Confederation Park

Come and show your support at the race, which takes place on Sunday, July 16, from 7:30 a m to 1 p m

There are loads of fami- ly-friendly activities offered by community groups, too.

Medals will be presented to all participants by Burnaby city council. For more information, visit: Burnaby ca/ Girolino. No training wheels will be permitted at this event, yet I am sure kids will enjoy the same feelings of surprise, excitement and success that I did on that long-ago summer day

Victoria San Martin is a summer marketing co-op student at the Heights Merchants Association.