ARI BICYCLES AMBASSADOR GATHERING

MEETING THE ARIMY’S AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

Words by Drew Rohde

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to get an invitation to Lindon, Utah. It was this year’s location of the annual Ari Bicycles Ambassador Gathering. The group call themselves the Arimy and while they span every walk of life and have varying levels of expertise on the bike, the passion for mountain biking and bettering the community are things they all have in common.

While there were a lot of really amazing people at the event, one ambassador stood out from the rest. Not because he was throwing the flattest tabletops, or the sickest whips. In fact, Jon Tsosie drove many hours from his home in the Navajo Nation Reservation, and had never ridden a chairlift before or even a bike park. He only started mountain biking during Covid, as a much-needed release from the physical and mental issues he was facing.

During one of our days, I sat with Jon on the chairlift, took some laps with him and was absolutely moved by his story. While there is much to tell, I chose to pick up Jon’s story in 2020, when he founded Ancient Dunes MTB. It’s a not-for-profit bicycle shop, where he helps improve the lives of community members in so many ways. This helped him unanimously win the Arimy’s Ambassador of the Year award, which he humbly accepted.

TLW: Jon, among all of the things you could have gotten into and found during Covid, why a bike shop?

Jon Tsosie (JT): When 2020 rolled around, I picked up a mountain bike – a 2012 Specialized Rockhopper. It was just a frame, but a group of friends had given me a wheel set, pedals and other parts to get it rolling.

Biking has helped me with my confidence, mental health and physical health, and even my social life. It has brought me so much enjoyment, happiness and pleasure.

I’ve met so many people through biking who are so encouraging and supportive. Not just on my personal efforts, but the efforts I put in with the community and how I’m making a difference.

With all that I gained, I really wanted to share that with others. Share the stoke and the benefits of biking. Mental health, physical health, meeting people, or just a place to feel safe and welcomed.

TLW: So how has the process of taking your personal experience and converting it to a shop gone?

JT: Well, it’s been a lot of work. The dream of a bike shop was born and started in 2020. With more than 300 square miles of Navajo Nation and not one shop around to service or do repairs to our bikes. For most people, the nearest bike shop was 2 to 3 hours away, and this needed to change.

I started working with an organization to establish a “brick and motor” shop at this time, but sadly that didn’t pan out as there was a difference of opinion on what it should look like and be.

I started to offer my services to the community, helping out with Navajo YES: a non-profit Youth and Community Organization. They’re the organization that hosts the Tour de Rez race series and runs the Diné bike project, where bikes are donated and repaired to give back to the whole Navajo Nation. This includes individuals looking for their kid’s first bike; to adults who want to exercise, and groups of families who want to explore the outdoors.

TLW: So, that Specialized got you hooked on riding. But I’ve seen you riding a happy and well-worn Abajo Peak now. How did that come about?

JT: I rode that Specialized for about a year, then got a GIANT Fathom hardtail. I decided I wanted to do a different style of riding and that a full suspension bike was what I wanted. That’s when I picked up the (Fezz) Ari Abajo Peak, and it’s been nothing but amazing on that rig.

TLW: So what’s next?

JT: I started to host community bike rides about a year ago – we get together once a month for a 3 mile ride. At that time I would perform a tune up and/or repairs 30 mins before the ride. Now that ride is something many people really look forward to every month.

By providing some snacks at the ride, it gives people time to get to know each other while I work on their bikes. After the rides, we finish with some food. No one can turn down a cookout! We got kids and adults of all experience levels attending the community rides, with an average group amounting to about 15 or so riders. The rides last a few hours, with a friendly social pace.

With no real building to work out of and limited tools, we have been blessed with a group that donated a storage container and tools to help out with the community bike shop.

Now there is a place that people can come to get bikes worked on, join in on the rides or even learn how to do repairs. Navajo YES donated my first bike stand and basic tools to get started, for which I am very appreciative.

TLW: Where did you get the name from?

JT: Ancient Dunes Mtb got its name from the sandstone rock formation we have in our area.  A lot of the riding we do is on the sandstone rocks, which were once ancient sand dunes that turned into rock.

TLW: How can we help you take what you’re doing and make it even more impactful?

JT: This truly is a group effort, and without the support and encouragement pouring in from so many individuals it would not be possible. All of the services provided are free to the community and surrounding areas of the Navajo Nation.

During the year I was involved with the ACA races, I met Nick from Trail Manos gloves, and after meeting their team I became an ambassador. I also met Alex Carpenter who then put me in contact with Arron Tuttle, helping me become an ambassador for Ari bikes. These early brands have helped inspire and motivate me to keep going and I’m so thankful.

Most importantly, just a comment telling me to keep going would be most appreciated. That would be very helpful to me.

We’d like to thank Jon for taking time to talk with us but also to do this amazing work on the Navajo Nation. While he hasn’t asked for any help beyond kind words, we are moved to help spread his word and do what we can. We’ve already shipped out a box of products from our HQ to help him out, but we’d be so stoked if anyone else out there felt the call to help. He really wants to instill safety to the kids, so if you’d like to buy some kids helmets, have kids gear that your little ones have outgrown, or want to contribute any way, please reach out to Jon below.

Thank you to Ari Bicycles, the Arimy and our Members for helping make content and projects like this possible! 

Again, If you’d like to ship any parts, gear, make a donation or buy kids helmets for their Community Ride attendees, we’d be honored to help get more people on the Navajo Nation on two wheels and loving the freedom of riding bikes!

Jon Tsosie – Ancient Dunes MTB
PO Box 876
Chinle, AZ 86503

Venmo: @ancient_dunesmtb1

SUPPORT AND JOIN THE LOAM WOLF PACK

Would you like the chance to review (and keep) products? Are you interested in saving big bucks by getting exclusive Members Only discounts from industry brands all while helping support a small, rider-owned media crew?  We have big plans for our members beyond big discounts and product giveaways! To learn more and help support small, independent media, visit our Member’s Page.