More Kids on Bikes: Sarah Elkins on NICA, Trail Access, and Building the Next Generation of West Virginia Riders

When Sarah Elkins talks about getting kids on bikes, she means the whole family. As the newly appointed Director of the West Virginia NIKA League — the state’s chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association — Sarah oversees 23 teams and nearly 500 young riders across the state. But what sets NIKA apart, she’ll tell you, isn’t the mountain biking. It’s what happens to a kid when they’re grinding uphill with their parent riding right beside them. Nobody’s screaming from the sidelines. Nobody’s telling them to do better. They’re just out there doing it together.

We sat down with Sarah at the inaugural WV Outdoor Economy Summit to dig into what that growth actually looks like on the ground — and what’s standing in the way. Trail access is a real issue, particularly in southern West Virginia, where she describes whole communities as trail deserts. And it goes beyond singletrack. In too many WV towns, kids still can’t safely ride a bike to school. For Sarah, the outdoor economy conversation isn’t just about tourism or recreation — it’s about building the kind of infrastructure that changes how kids grow up in this state.

Sarah is also co-owner of Hammer Cycles in Lewisburg, your local stop for mountain bike service, tune-ups, and gear.

Learn more about the WV NCA League and visit Hammer Cycles