EL MORRO, NM--Attention bike enthusiasts of all levels and ages. Silver Stallions.org will sponsor their Mountain Bike Workshop the weekend of July 12 – 14. The free event for novice bikers and seasoned athletes will be held one mile east of El Morro National Monument, at the Old School Gallery, MM 46, Highway 53. You must register.
Tess Sage-Robinson, a Board Member and Planning Committee Member of The El Morro Area Arts Council, helped to organize the event. She is enthusiastic about the sport and has experienced the benefits of an active lifestyle. Because she discovered, at a young age, the benefits of being outdoors and striving to be physically active, Sage-Robinson is anxious to encourage everyone to enjoy the good health and positive attitude that results from biking and other activities. She believes enjoying outdoor activities could be a solution to the problem of depression and suicides among young people on the Navajo reservation.
The workshop will teach those attending to care for their bikes, eliminating the need to run to a bike shop for all their repairs. Their new biking know-how will create independence and they will have a fun experience. The morning activities will include bike safety, biking techniques, and games to help riders be more comfortable with their bikes, and their knowledge of biking, including trail rides if the weather permits. The film, “In the Dirt”, will be shown following lunch. The afternoon sessions will be devoted to the mechanics of the bikes: how to fix things, and the tools they will need.
On Sunday there will be a Community Leadership Workshop addressing how to start a biking program. The interest in biking is spreading rapidly. During the school year, Silver Stallion partners with Gallup McKinley County Schools (GMCS) School Counselors and Social Workers, providing an after-school program of mountain bike rides. This development program (DEVO), begun in 2020, also encourages young bikers to join the National Interscholastic Cycling Association programs. Since then the program has spread to six schools serving Thoreau, Crownpoint, Tohatchi, and Navajo, as well as students at Rehoboth Christian School and Hozho Academy. They can also set a personal goal to join the advanced Silver Stallion Race/Enduro Teams event.
Following the day’s events, on Saturday evening, July 13, there will be a viewing of the film “In the Dirt”, followed by a question-andanswer session with bike experts and the filmmakers of the non-profit, Silver Stallions.
All those who would like to attend can register at the El Morro Area Art Council website.
Silver Stallions and Bicycle Works, located in Gallup, New Mexico was founded in 2018. Promoting the “general health and wellbeing” of the young people in the community was the goal. As a result of their moving from indoor activities to outdoor sports, some have discovered that their ability to focus has increased. This has also benefitted their grades.
The community-oriented Silver Stallions has many activities they use to help, support, and encourage its residents. One program is to assist with free bike repairs. With a lack of any bike shops on the Navajo Nation, Silver Stallions has repaired 421 bikes “across the communities of Crownpoint, NM, Fort Defiance AZ, Chinle, AZ, Many Farms, AZ, Nazlini, AZ, and Rockpoint AZ while employing up to 6 local mechanics per event.” Another is by accepting donations of bikes they believe can be given a second life after being repaired. This program is so successful that the group has run out of storage space for all the donated bikes. These are only a few of the activities supported by Silver Stallions.
The original name of Silver Stallion was Silver Stallion Bicycle & Coffee Works. Guess what?! There is a Barista Apprenticeship Program to support coffee education. This is another of Silver Stallion’s efforts, aimed at youths and young adults, to be supportive and to provide skills in the coffee industry. To learn more about Silver Stallion activities and biking groups, please visit Silver Stallions.org, and BIKE ON!
Mountain Bike Workshop Sponsored by Silver Stallion The two upcoming events are: 1. Mountain Bike Workshop
a. July 12, 13, 14 from 9 am – 4 pm, includes lunch. Must register. b. FREE c. Bring your bike & helmet to work on. d. Don’t have a bike, we will have loaners for you to use. e. If you need a bike, contact Tess at 480-7884316. Available bikes depend on whether we have donated bikes to share. f. Youth 6 years to 8 years can join the morning session Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 am – 1 pm (lunch included) g. Ages 9 years to adult can join the all-day session Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9 am – 4 pm (lunch included) h. Documentary “In the Dirt” will be shown both Friday and Saturday during lunch. i. Volunteers wanted, contact Denise Hanson at 602-574-0588 To Register: https://forms.gle/X3g5ew dMfZdefRcY6 For more information contact Tess: (480) 788– 4316 or tess.sage.robinson@ gmail.com
2. Movie Showing of “In the Dirt” with Q&A with Silver Stallion, creator.
a. Saturday, July 13th at 7 PM. b. Cost is $5 c. Question regarding showing, contact Gail at 708-404-5270 3. About Silver Stallion: Programs — Silver Stallion Bicycle & Coffee