Kids Race at Berkeley Streets Race: Building the Future of Cycling

There’s something special about watching kids line up at the start line, bikes of all shapes and sizes, nerves mixed with pure excitement. No pressure, no expectations, just the joy of riding.

At the Berkeley Streets Race, the kids race isn’t just a side event. It’s the heart of what we’re building.

More Than Just a Race

Before the race even begins, we host a kids’ clinic giving young riders a chance to learn skills, build confidence, and most importantly, have fun on the bike. Huge thanks to Trek for stepping up and making this happen. Seeing kids go from hesitant to confident in just an hour is something you don’t forget.

Then comes race time.

It’s not about who wins (though we still celebrate that). It’s about:

  • Showing up

  • Trying something new

  • Feeling what it’s like to cross a finish line

Every kid gets that moment.

The Energy Is Different

If you were there, you felt it.

Parents cheering louder than any P/1/2 sprint.
Volunteers hyping up every single rider.
Kids sprinting like it’s the Tour, then immediately asking, “Can I do it again?”

That’s the vibe.

No ego. Just pure love for the sport.

Why This Matters

The Berkeley Omnium is a nonprofit event. Every dollar we raise goes directly to six East Bay high school mountain bike teams:

  • Oakland Tech

  • Skyline

  • Oakland Composite

  • Berkeley High

  • El Cerrito High

  • Albany High

The kids race is where that mission comes to life.

These aren’t just future racers—we’re looking at the next generation of:

  • Teammates

  • Volunteers

  • Community leaders

  • Lifelong cyclists

This is how the sport grows. Not from the top down—but from the ground up.

Built by the Community

None of this happens without people showing up.

Volunteers running the clinic. Sponsors supporting the vision. Parents bringing their kids out. Racers sticking around to cheer.

This is what makes Berkeley different.

It’s not just a race. It’s a community effort to invest in something bigger than ourselves.

Looking Ahead

If you watched the kids race this year, you already know the future is strong.

We’re committed to growing this. More kids. More access. More opportunities to get on a bike and feel that same excitement.

Because one day, those kids at the start line? They'll be the ones lining up in the P/1/2 race.

And it all starts here.

Thank you to everyone who made it happen.
Let’s keep building.

Ka Lun ChanBSR, BerkeleyOmnium