GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – On Saturday, Aug. 20, kids can receive a free bike helmet from the Grand Rapids Griffins and race their bikes over the cobblestones and through the streets of downtown Grand Rapids!

Registration is open for the 2011 Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Kids’ Race, part of the 5th annual Herman Miller Grand Cycling Classic. All children 9 years old and younger are welcome to participate, and parents are encouraged to take advantage of advance online registration at GRCyclingClassic.com. Registration is free.

Helmets are required to participate, and the first 100 registrants will receive a free helmet courtesy of the Griffins’ “Put A Lid On It!” program and Safe Kids Greater Grand Rapids. In addition, every kid who participates will receive a special prize from the Griffins: a voucher good for two free tickets to any Sunday home game during the upcoming 2011-12 season!

The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Kids’ Race lines up at 11 a.m. and starts at 11:15 a.m., immediately preceding USA Cycling's Pro Criterium National Championship at 11:45 a.m. Four heats will match riders’ ages and abilities (one lap is a 1.3 kilometer loop of the streets surrounding Van Andel Arena):

• Heat 1 (one lap, ages 7-9)
• Heat 2 (one lap, ages 6-7)
• Heat 3 (one lap, ages 4-6)
• Heat 4 (100 yards, ages 4 and under).

On-site registration, check-in and helmet distribution/fitting runs 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the corner of Ionia and Weston, near the start/finish line.

Complete information about all of the day’s events is available at GRCyclingClassic.com.