Rotherham’s Hooton Lodge Farm held an open day for children to enjoy an OSET bike experience last month. Working together with new OSET dealer Rev Shed, the team welcomed more than 160 kids to try an electric dirt bike and watch 40 youngsters participate in the first round of the OSET Cup North.
The day was the precursor to a planned off-road experience centre at the venue where anyone aged 4 to 84, from absolute beginners through to experienced riders, will be able to enjoy a unique motorbike adventure.
Running alongside the ‘have-a-go’ opportunity was the first round of the OSET Cup North. With 40 children, from age 4 to 12, taking part on electric bikes, it signals that 2024 could be one of the strongest years to date for encouraging growth in trials. In addition, more than a quarter of the riders in the event were girls. In a sport traditionally dominated by boys, seeing so many girls having fun and competing on bikes was a welcome sight.
Charlie Schofield, owner at Hooton Lodge Farm, said: “We could have filled those spaces five times over. It bodes extremely well for the OSET experience centre we’re building, and it’s great that we’re getting more people on bikes. Around 80% of the kids that came to try the ride had never been on a motorbike before, which can only be a good thing for the sport and the industry as we introduce new people to the off-road world. And the silent nature of electric bikes means no one even heard us.”
Ian Smith, OSET’s founder, said: “It’s amazing that there is such a huge appetite out there for families to discover and enjoy new experiences together. Whether it’s riding around your back garden or events like the OSET Cup, our goal is to open up motorcycling and give kids the best skill set possible and people of all ages an enjoyable experience”.