By James Gutzmer
TAHLEQUAH — Tahlequah area children will have the opportunity to flex their bicycling muscle today during a race especially for them as part of SpeedWheel activities downtown thanks to Teresa Loftin.
“I am going to race, and I thought their should be an opportunity for Tahlequah area kids to participate in the races,” said Loftin, who own Loftin Family Practice in Tahlequah. “This race will give kids an introduction to cycling, and cycling is something you can do your entire life.”
Loftin says that the event will be free to children ages three to 10 years-old as long as the register and bring a bicycle helmet.
Loftin, who is a Tahlequah High School graduate, said she started to bike when she was young with a group of friends and sponsoring a race is her way of introducing others to the sport.
“There was a group of us in high school that rode in FreeWheel,” said the 1988 THS graduate. “When I went to medical school, I found it (cycling) was a good way to relieve stress, I can spend time with my husband, who also rides.”
According to Loftin her eight year-old son, Cal Rhodes, also loves to ride and plans to participate in the race today.
The children’s race is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. before the final race Master’s of the evening. All participants that cross the finish line will receive a medal.
