Ryan Allan-Chalmers (8, left), of St Joseph's School, and Arnika Gill (8), of Balaclava School, enter the home straight during the Dunedin Schools Challenge BMX race at Forrester Park on Saturday.
The event attracted about 100 primary school pupils and followed the Balance Bike Champs for 2 to 4-year-olds, which attracted about 30 competitors, Dunedin BMX Club president Simon Heptonstall said.
''The aim of the event was just to get kids back on bikes, and we used the BMX track as the vehicle to promote that,'' Mr Heptonstall said.
The racing on Saturday was followed by a ''bike bonanza'' at the Seddon Park Velodrome in Mosgiel yesterday to mark the opening of Cycling Otago's upcoming track cycling season.
The bonanza included have-a-go sessions, demonstration rides and a ''swap meet'', where people could sell second-hand cycling equipment and clothing.
Both events were organised jointly by Mountain Biking Otago, the Dunedin BMX Club and Cycling Otago. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN
