Meet the Team - Stefan

What do you do?

I instruct young people during our bike repair workshops on how to repair punctures, adjust gears and brakes, and how to use them safely when they’re riding. I also break down how a bike functions overall so young people can have confidence when using it.

First bike?

Muddyfox Steel Single Speed 

Favourite thing about cycling?

I got into cycling because I needed to commute to college to study Motor Vehicles Engineering when I was 17 and it was the cheapest way, but also looked fun! My first bike was a black steel Muddyfox Single Speed which got me from A to B with a smile. The more I cycled, the more I knew I wanted to work with bikes.

If you could cycle anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I would like to check out Amsterdam one day as it has a big infrastructure around cyclists which I've never experienced before. Also New York City, as I have watched a lot of videos in the past 10 years and it has become my main inspiration because of its fast pace and style of city riding. San Francisco as well for its legendary hills and to test out if I can handle them.

Best thing about working for upCYCLE?

Providing an opportunity that my younger self would have loved to receive. As a young person, there were no options to work with bikes in my area. When I did seek opportunities in my late teens I was unfortunately discriminated against for being young, having dyslexia and being a black person.

Now I can help young people gain knowledge and experience without them having to feel that they have to change who they are to fit into the cycling industry and community.

Biggest passion outside of cycling?

I have a passion for creativity and learning. This is present in so many areas of my life such as skateboarding, music, drawing, designing, filming, photography, entrepreneurship with SJ Cycles and learning what it's like to live for Jesus Christ every day.