MICHEAL SHELLIS FOR DICKIES
December 13, 2024
Introducing 1UP Nola, a family of all walks of life coming together around cycling to mentor the youth, ensure they’re taken care of, and enjoy some time off and exercise.
Beginning as a small, four person group chat used to organize bike meetups, more people began to join the group over time. When these larger “rideouts” began to occur more frequently and the amount of participating cyclists got larger, the group decided it was time to turn their newfound organization into a real entity with a name. Thus, ”1UP” was born and began to garner even more support and pride from its members.
A boy named Siah arrived at the first official ride out and started showing out on his little bike with 20” tires and continued riding with 1UP from there on out. Siah wanted to get a bigger bike with 20” tires but couldn’t afford it, yet the group was surprised and impressed that he had already raised $400 of his own to purchase the bike. As more people found out about Siah, donations began to flood in and ensure he was able to buy his bike in full with enough money left over to afford an entire second bike. Since then kids have just followed in his footsteps, showing dedication to the sport while possessing the leadership skills that the group looks for to set a good example for kids around them.
