In his program, Cadence Youth Cycling, he supervises 150 young people from 12 to 18 years old. They ride bikes in the city and on park trails. Some participate in cycling competitions. They occasionally meet professional cyclists from around the world and community leaders from Philadelphia. His young cyclists also receive career guidance and academic help to prepare them for college entrance tests. Mr. Maramangalam beams when he shares success stories about his cyclists. One story centers on a shy, out-of-shape 12-year-old who wanted to turn his life around. Bike riding proved to be just the right thing. In the Cadence program, he lost weight and his confidence grew. He got so good at cycling that he joined a racing team and became a coach. He is now in college, studying to be a doctor, Mr. Maramangalam says. Cycling can help children realize they can aim high in life. He likes to quote the man he calls his surrogate grandfather, who told him “you can achieve anything you want to if you put 110 percent into it and work hard.” Although the city presents many traffic hazards, Mr. Maramangalam does not want children to be afraid to ride bikes. They must learn the rules of the road to be safe, he says. Cy Maramangalam Making bicycling fun, safe, and educational Cy Maramangalam has climbed some of the highest mountains in North America and Europe. “It changed my life,” he says. “There is nothing like seeing the world from the top of a mountain.” Spending time in nature helped him realize that he did not want to be an engineer, the profession his parents had wanted him to pursue. He also realized that he wanted to work with young people. Eventually, he decided to combine two of his passions— the outdoors and mentoring. Mr. Maramangalam now spends his days connecting Philadelphia youth to the sport of bicycling. In the process, young people learn how to be leaders, set goals, and develop a healthy lifestyle. His objective is to make them stronger athletes and better people, he says. “We want to help Philadelphia youth become the next leaders,” he says. “Youth are the most powerful and yet underrepresented voice in America.” 26