Read up on the latest PedalPower Kids media coverage
RACHEL VARN, THE BIKE WHISPERER OF SEVERNA PARK
Whenever you need a little pick-me-up, go visit the Instagram or Facebook page for Rachel Varn’s PedalPower Kids. You’ll find hundreds of photos of kids, from tiny preschoolers to early teens, grinning at the camera from the seat of the bikes they’ve just learned to ride.
GIVING POWER TO KIDS TO PEDAL – EXPLORING NEW FREEDOMS
Most of us can remember the first time we rode a bike, many of us can remember it vividly. It’s one of those significant milestones of early childhood that often becomes family lore as well- i.e., “that time Dad pushed Jane down the hill.”
On a sunny, breezy spring day, a group of children, 4 to 7 years old, sit on their bikes, helmets and gloves on, ready to start their biking lesson. Their moms, standing nearby, watch them closely, feeling proud that their little ones are learning how to ride.
HOW A SEVERNA PARK MOM MADE A CAREER OF TEACHING KIDS TO RIDE BIKES
Every “now I can” moment — when students who have mastered balance, gliding and pedaling ride on their own for the first time — is exciting, says Varn, a 36-year-old Severna Park resident. And it sends a kid’s confidence soaring.
PEDALPOWER KIDS: BUILDING CONFIDENT AND SAFE CYCLISTS
On this episode of the Shift Up podcast, Bike Shop Girl owner, and podcast host Arleigh Greenwald sits down with Rachel Varn to talk about building confident and safe cyclists.
MACKID REVIEW: PEDALPOWER KIDS: RIDE LIKE A SUPERHERO!
Enter Rachel Varn: "The Bike Whisperer". You guys, she's the REAL deal. She rolled up in her van that was stockpiled with various size bikes. Rachel might as well have been wearing a superhero cape because my self-proclaimed 'ladies' man' was all heart-eyes for her as soon as she got out. But then...and this is important: she got out the bike gloves.
PEDAL POWER KIDS - AROUND THE BLOCK IN ANNAPOLIS - EPISODE 4
We are super excited about this weeks episode of Around The Block in Annapolis! We interview Rachel with Pedal Power Kids, and amazing company that teaches kids to ride bikes. After our oldest (Leo, 5) was having confidence issues trying to get rid of training wheels.
Gavin Buckley dazzled voters with his joie de vivre and his accent and his big ideas during the election. He’s talked about putting bike lanes downtown since at least 2015. He wanted to install a trolley on Main Street — he’s tabling that idea for now.
PedalPower Kids' Rachel Varn, center, works with sisters Olivia McKeown, left, 4, and Nora McKeown, 2, of Annapolis and Olivia Brown, right, 6, of Annapolis during Annapolis Bike Day in Annapolis on Saturday, September 22, 2018.
After a successful first spring and summer, PedalPower Kids held a ribbon cutting through the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce to celebrate its opening. Under the direction of Rachel Varn (seen here doing the honors of cutting), PedalPower Kids offers instruction for children of all ages and skill levels.
RISE FOR AUTISM'S ICAN! SHINE BIKE CAMP SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
With Korin and Newborn were first-timers Rachel Varn, a Severna Park resident who’s started a business called Pedal Power Kids, and county bike patrol officer Dominic Scali.
At PedalPower Kids, getting more kids on bikes starts with providing high-quality, professional, encouraging instruction that builds confidence and trust.
Camps are officially off and rolling! Will we see you soon?
From adventure camp to our first week at Park (@theparkschool) this week was the best way to kick off the summer ahead!
100 laps between the 3 of them!!! 💪 So proud of all of our late spring Learn to Ride grads. Can’t wait kick off Bike Camp Season in t-minus 11 days!!!! Are you signed up yet????
We are delighted to officially welcome Allie Dubit to PedalPower Kids as our Bike Sales Manager. Allie has been in the cycling world since she began racing mountain bikes at 12 years old. She attended the prestigious cycling school, Fort Lewis College, and spent many years as a local in Durango, Colorado. She has worked in a bike shop for 30 years, which is quite impressive for someone who is only 29! Growing up as a kid who rode, getting kids on bikes has always been a passion. She lives in Anne Arundel County with her husband (whom she met in a bike shop), 9-year-old daughter and a various menagerie of animals. "I'm so excited to finally be working with PPK and I can't wait to help our kids find the freedom and peace of riding a bike!" As our Bike Sales Manager, Allie is a valuable resource for our PPK families seeking the best bikes for their children. PedalPower Kids is an authorized woom bicycles dealer- we will size your rider, order and professionally build their bike, and deliver it locally to camp or home. Bonus- you get to support a local woman-owned run by Bike Moms! Allie is always thrilled to talk bikes with customers- you can reach her at bikes@pedalpowerkids.com or 443.914.2277 x 700. In addition to Bike Sales, Coach Allie can be found at Bike Club, in-school Bike Safety Programs and as our special guest bike maintenance expert at Adventure Camps- we're so lucky to have her!
Team-Building Challenge 💪 At our recent Summer Kickoff Meeting, our amazing bike coaches competed in a Team-Building challenge that involved bikes, blindfolds, pumps, wrenches and a whole lot of creativity, communication and patience. Bike Campers, we’re ready for you!
This week’s Why Wednesday: “Why We Encourage a Positive Attitude”
The first thing a rider brings to class isn’t their bike, it’s their mindset.
Showing up with a good attitude makes trying new things easier. It turns challenges into something to work through, not something to avoid. Optimism builds momentum, and that’s often what leads to those breakthrough moments.
It also shapes the group. A positive rider lifts others up, encourages their classmates, and helps create an environment where everyone feels more confident to try.
A very fond farewell to Coach Lucy- and a big congratulations on her graduation from American University! Coach Lucy has been an integral part of Team PPK since the very early days. From her first job as a bike coach to leading our DC team and managing our social media efforts, Lucy has led with heart, drive and enthusiasm. Thousands of campers have learned to ride under her care, and she’s opened up new worlds to explore for Adventure campers in DC and Severna Park. We’re sad to see you go, Lucy, but know you’ll do great things! Thank you from all of us at Team PPK!
