With the finish of our fall league season and my recent participation at the IMBA World Summit along with four NICA student-athletes, I am feeling incredibly thankful for everyone who has contributed to our efforts to get more kids riding and adults coaching! While the league races garner the greatest attention, what is happening on team rides, workouts, trail work days and behind the scenes between coaches and student-athletes is where NICA's greatest impact lies.
The stories I hear from student-athletes, parents and coaches across NICA leagues paint an incredibly powerful and meaningful picture of the true power of organized bicycling to help today's youth gain their footing as they enter adulthood. I encourage you to read Teen Trail Corps Captain Izzy Phraner's speech from the IMBA World Summit reception as her story is reflective of what many NICA student-athletes are experiencing.
As Izzy demonstrates, our efforts are having a profound impact on those involved and participation continues to steadily increase as word spreads about NICA across America. Now is the time for us to come together to Share the Ride with more communities who have yet to experience interscholastic cycling under the mentorship of NICA licensed coaches.
I hope that you will support the brands that make our efforts possible this holiday season by shopping from our Annual Gift Guide and that you might consider bidding on a chance to score a much coveted entry into the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo; act today as the auction closes tomorrow!
Thanks for riding with us this year and may you and your family enjoy the holidays safely.
Austin McInerny