American BMX race phenom Payton Ridenour recently announced her first children’s book - A to Z: BMX Style - is now available for purchase in the U.S. Last year, the 18-year-old Pottstown, PA native used her down time away from the race track to work with freelance illustrator Andy Lendway on completing her book, which she began writing over a decade ago. With some help from a Kickstarter campaign in August 2020, Payton was able to raise over $10,000 to finance the production (illustrations, printing, shipping) of the full color, hard copy book.
As a seven-time USA BMX National Champion, Payton is one of USA Cycling’s brightest young stars. With major sponsors including Mongoose Bikes, WD-40, Shimano, and the USA BMX Foundation – a nonprofit that offers cycling-inspired STEM education programs for U.S. elementary schools – Payton excels both on the track and in her efforts to inspire young kids to get on two-wheels.
“There aren’t a lot of BMX-related things for kids, so I thought a book would be a great idea," said Ridenour. "The book is intended for younger kids to learn their ABCs and how to read, but anyone can read it! My hope is that kids will be able to become interested in not just BMX racing, but bikes in general.”
A to Z: BMX Style is available online for $19.95 through thenuthouse.bigcartel.com.
Payton Ridenour is one of the top-ranked professional BMX racers in the U.S. She rides multiple cycling disciplines and won the prestigious UCI Red Bull Pump Track World Championships in 2019. She recently placed 3rd at the USA Cycling National Championships in Rock Hill, SC in March 2021. Follow Payton on Instagram – @paytonridenour.
