Close your eyes. Think of the whirr of bicycles and cyclists as they speed by a cheering crowd.

Live music enhances the fast-paced thrill of the event along with the smell of barbecue in midsummer.

Now in its third year and going strong, the Redmond Downtown Criterium will be held Saturday, July 12 in the heart of scenic Redmond.

For those who are unfamiliar with the biking world, a criterium, or crit, is a bike race that is held on a short course on blocked-off city streets where riders complete a specified number of laps in a given length of time.

Founded in 2012 by a small group of cycling enthusiasts, the original intent of the Redmond Downtown Criterium was to help grow cycling awareness in the city of Redmond.

“Aside from helping to support local bike shops and boosting a love of cycling, our inspiration for creating the Redmond Downtown Crit was Bend’s Cascade Cycling Classic,” said Shane Johnson, race director. “The first year, the race attracted a range of amateur to seasoned riders from the state of Oregon. Last year, we were able to draw a handful of professional racers and are hoping to grow that number significantly this year.”

Racers who average speeds of 23 to 25 miles per hour also engage in the thrilling cycling competition for a good cause. The race is a fundraiser for the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District’s Kids on Bikes program, which provides children from fourth through eighth grades the skills and knowledge to bike safely in Redmond. The goal is to simply get kids on bikes, with educational offerings both in the classroom and outside.

The race will feature a free kids’ race with a shorter version of the adult course where participants will have a chance to earn medals.

“It’s fun for us to help support an awareness of cycling by getting kids involved,” said Johnson. “It’s our goal to get more kids on bikes” and teach safety in the long run.

Molly Cogswell-Kelley participated in the race last year and, aside from being, impressed by the crowd who came out to support it, was impressed by the overall course.

“I liked that it was a neighborhood with parts shaded by old growth trees,” she said. “The pavement was good and the course technical in that it started and finished on Sixth Street (in 2013), which was really cool to be in the heart of downtown.”

Kenji Sugahara, executive director for the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association, has been racing the Redmond Downtown Criterium for the past two years in an overall career that spans 11 years. As a resident of Salem, he makes it a priority to come to Redmond because he considers the Downtown Criterium one of the most well-organized events in the Northwest.

“Shane does a great job with this event,” he said. “I appreciate all the effort he and his team puts into this event.”

For Sugahara, cycling is beneficial not only from a competitive standpoint, but also offers significant health benefits. As a member of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association, not only is he passionate about the sport but acknowledges the overall community of racers, promoters, volunteers, officials and sponsors that make events like the Redmond Downtown Criterium happen.

“Bike racing not only benefits the participants, but the surrounding communities,” said Sugahara. “The Oregon Bicycle Organization has about a $16 million economic impact in the state of Oregon. It’s really exciting to see what a positive impact it makes on the communities we touch.”

In addition to the fast-paced fun of bike racing, the event offers a plethora of vendors and entertainment. The Redmond Area Park and Recreation District will be setting up a Kids Zone with fun games, crafts and activities, including a free scavenger hunt and great prizes. Sample delicious frozen yogurt from YoWild!. The Pig and Pound Public House will be open throughout the day with eight taps of refreshing local handcrafted brews and will be the location of the event’s after party, complete with live music. Sponsors of the race include 92/9FM, Power 94, Rebound Physical Therapy, Trinity Bikes, Columbia Bank, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, Central Oregon Eyecare and White Room Photography. The cost of admission: Cheering for the racers!

Eric Helie is a member of the cycling team from Trinity Bikes and one of the event’s sponsors.

His enthusiasm for the race is rooted in the vision of bringing a cycling presence to downtown Redmond.

“The Redmond Downtown Criterium brings more people to the area and certainly showcases the city a bit more,” he said. “I know from past events people who live in other parts of the country come here and see how cool it is. Perhaps if some of those people hadn’t had the opportunity to race in this region, they may never have been able to experience what a special place Redmond is.”

What began as a way to help promote a growing cycling scene in Redmond has evolved into a major Central Oregon event that draws elite riders not only from the local region but those who are considered top level racers throughout the country.

“I’m excited for this race,” said Johnson. “It’s fun to see the growth each year in riders as well as spectators. Come see for yourself.”