The New Yorker Radio Hour
Episode: “The Resneck Riders”
Original Air Date: July 17, 2018
Host: David Remnick
Produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker
Reporter: Philip Gourevitch

Episode Overview

This episode explores the burgeoning cycling culture on the Navajo Nation through the lens of resilience, identity, and tradition. Reporter Philip Gourevitch profiles a group of Navajo cyclists—kids and adults—who ride 300 miles across the range, using cycling both as a means of cultural connection and as a quiet rebellion against adversity and trauma. The storytelling weaves together personal histories, community challenges, and the rise of enduro biking as a distinctly Navajo expression of endurance and autonomy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Tour de Sihassen and Its Origins

• Tour de France vs. Tour de Sihassen: While the global cycling community is captivated by the Tour de France, a smaller but equally significant ride is taking place on the Navajo reservation: the Tour de Sihassen (“hope” in Navajo), a 300-mile, 7-day journey (00:10).
• Purpose: Conceived by Claudia Jackson as a response to a suicide crisis among Navajo youth, the ride is intended to foster unity, resilience, and open conversation among participants (03:55).
• Suicide Awareness: Claudia speaks candidly about the taboo around discussing mental health in the community and the need for collective healing (04:23).

“In our five communities, we had seven suicides within three months... Because with our tribe and our people, they don't talk about those things. They consider it taboo. If you talk about it, that's taboo. But for us, we knew we had to.” —Claudia Jackson (03:55–05:20)

2. Cycling as Escape and Connection: The Stories of Vincent Salabe and Nigel James

• Vincent’s Story:
  • Grew up escaping family hardship by cycling, first on a Walmart bike with a group of kids from the reservation to Texas—about 3,000 miles (02:06–02:44).
  • Cycling became his “horse,” a metaphor for freedom and exploration deeply rooted in Navajo tradition (03:09).
  • Finds meaning in cycling as an antidote to anger and the alienation experienced in boarding schools: reminders to be part of something larger, not just individualized (07:43).

“That’s my horse that takes me places. So that’s always ingrained in me.” —Vincent Salabe (03:09)

“The purpose of our prayer is to remind us of all that is around us... When we're out here and we gather as a family and we have these ceremonies and we sing, you become one right there.” —Vincent Salabe (07:43–09:08)

• Nigel James:
  • Discovered as a 12-year-old with passion and talent for cycling, particularly enduro, a dangerous, technical form of mountain biking (09:24, 09:41).
  • Supported by family who homeschool him in Navajo language and traditions; his hobby is carefully balanced with environmental stewardship (12:58).

“Yeah, we’re able to build a lot of things because there’s so much land here, but we also don’t want to do too much because we could be causing erosion. Which is why I try to ride mainly on the rock or the hard packed.” —Nigel James (12:58)

3. Community, Tradition, and Support Systems

• Family and Generational Wisdom:
  • Nigel is surrounded by a large, supportive family, highlighting the contrast between his nurturing home and the stories of trauma recounted by older riders; his grandparents speak of deep connection to land and tradition (15:23).

“Our ancestors, they roam this place, so we don't want to go any other place but here.” —Nigel's Grandmother (15:23)

• Bridges and Borders:
  • Enduro competitions take Nigel into predominantly Anglo and white spaces; he and other Navajo riders seek one another out and form their own subculture within the wider sport (16:42).

4. The Yazzie Brothers and “Resneck Riders”

• The Yazzie Brothers’ World:
  • Jared Yazzie and cousins, self-proclaimed “Resneck Riders,” built their own death-defying training courses in their backyard, turning the local landscape into a cycling playground (21:07).
  • They felt excluded from white cycling groups and formed their own reputation and style, earning notoriety across the region (21:07–21:19).
  • The sport becomes an extension of traditional rodeo toughness; their approach is raw, improvisational, and deeply tied to the land.

“Those white fuckers didn't want nothing to do with me. So I said, you know what? Fuck you. I'll fucking start my own shit.” —Jared Yazzie (20:44)

“Every fucking bike shop knows us. Every fucking good rider in Flagstaff knows us... Diazzi brothers, Resneck riders. Fucking infamous, kind of.” —Jared Yazzie (21:07)

• Language, Culture, and Survival:
  • Jared is frank about the importance of maintaining language and identity for survival against assimilation (21:36).

“Remember your language. I tell these guys, my siblings... Speak it. Don't be shy of it. I do. I do do that. I go to town and I speak it... We're not gonna be Naples here in near future. It's just gonna be a color of skin... They're gonna take this fucking. What we have left the reservation, say, oh, you guys are not a nation anymore... That's it, you know? And then they're gonna take it back. Then it's all gone.” —Jared Yazzie (21:36–22:22)

5. Cycling as Healing: Trauma, Pride, and Future Generations

• Healing Through Motion:
  • For Vincent, Jared, and even Rwanda’s visiting cyclists, cycling is both literal and metaphorical escape from pain, trauma, and alienation (06:25, 24:16).
  • For Nigel, who lacks the same level of trauma, the elders and mentors express hope that he can excel driven by joy and support, not just adversity.

“I got enough for three generations. Let that die with me there. Nice job, dude. It's a kid, dude.” —Jared Yazzie (25:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Vincent’s Childhood Dream:
  “Sometimes I, even with that dust on the window, I would draw a little bike... and just watch it. And as the road is going by, just see this bike just flying through the area.” (01:05)
• Claudia Jackson on Suicide Prevention:
  “We only had one clinician, one psychiatrist... Just, you know, psychology. Yeah, that's when a lot of things started happening to bring in more. More discussion.” (04:23)
• Nigel on Environmental Responsibility:
  “We also don't want to do too much because we could be causing erosion. Which is why I try to ride mainly on the rock or the hard packed.” (12:58)
• Jared Yazzie on Alienation and Defiance:
  “Those white fuckers didn't want nothing to do with me... I'll fucking start my own shit.” (20:44)
• Jared on Legacy and Trauma:
  “I got enough for three generations. Let that die with me there.” (25:04)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:10 – Introduction to Navajo cycling and the Tour de Sihassen
• 01:05–03:43 – Vincent Salabe’s childhood and first long distance ride
• 03:55–05:20 – Claudia Jackson: Foundation and mission of the Tour de Sihassen
• 07:43–09:08 – Boarding schools and the ritual of cycling as healing
• 09:24–12:58 – Nigel James: discovery, enduro biking, and environmental awareness
• 16:42–17:14 – Meeting the Yazzie brothers, Navajo enduro pioneers
• 19:44–21:19 – Jared Yazzie’s path: from trouble to Resneck Rider legend
• 21:36–22:22 – Spoken defense of language and culture
• 23:05–24:16 – Enduro riding on ancestral land; connecting cycling and heritage
• 25:04 – Jared on the cycle of trauma ending with his generation

Conclusion

“The Resneck Riders” takes listeners deep into the heart of the Navajo Nation, where cycling becomes a powerful tool for healing, staying connected to land and heritage, and forging new paths for young people. The episode balances stories of trauma and resilience, defiance and tradition, personal healing and community pride, all through the vehicle of a bike. In doing so, it presents the Navajo cycling movement as both an act of survival and celebration—where freedom rides alongside memory and hope.