Brian Lopes, a four-time mountain bike world champion, and several sixth-grade students at Santa Ana’s RF Hazard Elementary School, were all in on the surprise.
On Tuesday, Feb. 15, about two dozen students gathered in the school’s multipurpose room to assemble 50 bikes with Lopes.
The Strider Balance Bikes, which start out without pedals to help young children learn to ride, along with 50 helmets were being donated to the school by the All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE program, using money raised by Lopes.
The students worked in pairs as Lopes gave instruction on how to install the front wheel and handlebars.
“Bikes have been a part of my life since I was 4 years old. It has given me so much,” said the Laguna Beach resident who grew up in Mission Viejo. He was brought in as an international ambassador to the program two years ago.
While the program might not be aimed at producing more mountain bike legends like Lopes, it is showing a younger generation “the freedom two wheels can give, and to get them off their iPads and TV,” he said.
RF Hazard Elementary School kindergartener Lucia Munoz 5, right, reacts after seeing bikes presented to her school through the All kids Bike Kindergarten PE Program. Professional mountain biker Brian Lopes, a national ambassador with All Kids Bike, helped raise the funds for the giveaway on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 in Santa Ana. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sixth-grade students at RF Hazard Elementary School in Santa Ana assemble strider bikes as a surprise for the kindergarten class on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. The school, one of only two in Southern California, was chosen to receive bikes through the All Kids Bike program. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brian Lopes, a world champion mountain bike racer and Laguna Beach resident, helps cover bikes for kindergartners at RF Hazard Elementary school in Santa Ana on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. They were donated through the All Kids Bike program for which he is a national ambassador.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
RF Hazard TK and Kindergarten teacher Jeanette Davert takes her strider bike for a spin after students were presented with donated bikes through the All Kids Bike program in Santa Ana on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
RF Hazard Elementary kindergarteners react after seeing bikes presented to their school through the All kids Bike Kindergarten PE Program. Professional mountain biker Brian Lopes, a national ambassador with All Kids Bike, helped raise the funds for the giveaway on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 in Santa Ana. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG
RF Hazard TK and Kindergarten students take their Strider bikes for a spin after being presented with them through the All Kids Bike program in Santa Ana on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
RF Hazard teacher Jeanette Davert encourages Lucia Munoz 5, after the kindergartner became frustrated while trying out her new Strider bike that was donated to the school by the All Kids Bike program on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
RF Hazard TK and Kindergarten teacher Jeanette Davert and her students test out their new Strider balance bikes that were donated through the All Kids Bike program in Santa Ana on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teacher Jeanette Davert, who has taught at the school for 29 years, explained how she applied for the grant that awarded the school, one of only two in Southern California, the bicycles.
Once all the bikes were assembled they were covered by a multi-colored parachute, and kindergarten classes were led into the room single file for the big reveal.
The children screamed with joy, then they then put on their helmets and went for a spin, trailing the teacher around the room like ducklings.
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