By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

The Greystone YMCA will host a bike rodeo to promote youth biking safety on Nov. 9.

Event coordinator Mary Rosser said the idea for the rodeo came from similar events she had seen before.

“The Mountain Brook Y did it,” she said. “A lot of organizations have them. We wanted to offer (one to) the people in our area.”

Rosser said the need for an event that taught cycling safety was pressing, given the number of youth riders in the area.

“Kids ride and they don’t necessarily wear helmets,” she said. “We’re trying to keep them safe.”

Rosser said the event will last from 9 a.m.-noon, and would feature several stations for riders to learn about safety as well as care for their bikes.

Rosser said the first station riders will visit is a bicycle inspection station by Cahaba Cycles. There, students will learn how to make sure a bike is in solid working order, including checking tire air pressure, seat height and overall function. From there, Rosser said those in attendance will go to a helmet-fitting station. The goal of the station will be to show students the proper way to wear a helmet, as well as give a helmet to riders who do not have one.

In the final station, riders will compete in challenges such as a cone course, a braking course and a race that worked on balance under slow speeds.

The main goal of the rodeo will be to make sure riders learn the “right rules of the road,” and is open to everyone, Rosser said.

In addition to the stations, there will be drawings for prizes and refreshments. For more information, contact Rosser at mary@fitnessoutside.com.