The eighth annual “Grasshopper“, the mountain bike race through the Hilltop Reservation for elementary and middle school kids, will be held on Saturday, August 12.
This is a fun, local race with awards for the top finishers on a course that accommodates both new and experienced riders. Any bike with fatter tires is ideal for the race and mechanics will inspect all bikes for safety and last-minute race tuning.
To participate, you can register early online on BikeReg.com. You can also register the day of the race beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Participants must pay a $10 registration fee and sign a waiver, and the participant’s bicycle must pass a technical inspection. A parent or guardian must be present to sign waiver and must be present during the race. Registration and inspection closes 15 minutes before the start of each race.
Start Times–Categories/Classes–Distance
K – 1st grade boys: 9:00 a.m., girls 9:05 a.m. (0.6 miles)
2nd – 3rd grade: boys, 9:20 a.m., girls 9:25 a.m. (1.2 miles)
4th – 5th grade: boys, 10:00 a.m., girls 10:05 a.m. (1.8 miles)
6th – 8th grade: boys, 10:45 a.m., girls 10:50 a.m. (2.4 miles)
Boys and girls may be combined if there are a low number of registrants for a class. Awards ceremonies will commence shortly after each class finishes with medals for top three finishers in each class.
For directions to the race start and more information, see the Hilltop Grasshopper website, or email [email protected]. The race is sponsored by the Essex County Parks Department, the Hilltop Conservancy, Cycle Craft and Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (JORBA).
