Photo gallery: Early Rider Festival in Chesterfield

Run by the Chesterfield School Sport Partnership and supported by Wheely Fun Wheels there were three cycling activities: Italian pursuit, the team relay and the sprint to stop race.

Using the pedal-less bikes, the children could put their prior balance bike training into practice in these fun races.

Alastair Meikle, lead bikeability instructor for Wheely Fun Wheels, explained how “using balance bikes helps children’s static and dynamic balance, improves their confidence and gives them their first step towards a cycling future.”

The remaining stations, which were run by Sports Leaders from Chesterfield College, were all closely linked to cycling and road safety. T

Mark Tournier, Partnership Development Manager at the SSP, said: “We are delighted to welcome nearly 700 infants to take part in the Early Rider festival. This is much more than festival of cycling, it is a chance to really excite and engage young people in sport and physical activity though a range of activities.”

Nick Chamberlin, Mountain Bike Leadership and Cycle Training Manager at British Cycling, said: “Learning to ride a bicycle is a rite of passage in any young person’s life, sadly many young people are not getting the support they need to try cycling for the first time. British Cycling are excited by the innovative work of Chesterfield SSP using balance bikes to introduce hundreds of young people to the excitement of riding a bike.”

Chelsea, a pupil from Whitecotes Primary School, said: “I love riding the bike. And the colouring was fun.”

Mr Petch, a teacher at Spire Nursery and Infant School, said: “It’s fantastic seeing all the activities and seeing so many kids on bikes at such a young age. They’re having great fun and interacting with children from other schools.”