Brunswick kicks off first bike rodeo

BRUNSWICK — Kids rode their bikes around North Park in Brunswick while collecting prizes as part of an inaugural bike rodeo event on Thursday. Bob Soroky from Eddy's Bike Shop said in the past, Century Cycles partnered with Medina City Schools to celebrate National Bike to School Week by encouraging kids to ride their bikes to school in exchange for giveaways. After Medina redistricted, the event changed to a one-day bike rodeo. "Me, living in Brunswick, I've always wanted to approach Brunswick schools to see if we could do a full bike to school week like we had done in Medina," he said. "They can't do that here because they don't have the sidewalk infrastructure around the neighborhoods for the kids to safely ride to school. Brunswick is a perfect candidate for this bike rodeo thing we're starting to do." Eddy's Bike Shop partnered with the Optimist Club of Brunswick and the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department for the event. "The overarching theme is to bring awareness to cycling, especially at the kid level," Soroky said. "It gets them outside with fresh air, away from the house and away from computers." As kids traveled along North Park's lake, they could get coupons from local businesses, receive a free water bottle and try ice cream from the Medina County Sheriff's Office ice cream truck. Kids also had the opportunity to win one of the three bikes in a raffle. "We like serving the community and helping kids, which serves our mission of bringing out the best in kids," Optimist Club President Dean Holman said. "(The bike rodeo) gives them a fun time. They're having a good time, smiling and laughing." The goal is to have Brunswick's bike rodeo grow every year, Soroky said. Eddy's Bike Shop also wants to have bike rodeos in all areas where the company has a location. "If there's other communities that want to do something like this and haven't really been sure how to start it or where to start, they can always reach out to us or myself at Eddy's," he said. "We'd love to come out and show you how it's done and hopefully get your community involved with it." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.