Taxonomy upgrade extras
Bozeman, Montana
Unbeknownst to many, Montana is a breeding ground for bike industry innovation, with a growing number of cyclists and companies cropping up in the state. Tyler Jarosz, owner of Twenty6 Products, is one particular case that falls into both of these areas—he’s a fantastic rider as well as a visionary entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to the industry. We had a chance to pull Tyler away from the CNC machine and ask him a couple questions.
Nickname : Tdogg
Height : 5’6”
Birth Place : Wausau WI
Favorite Trail in the Bozeman Area :
It’s a tossup between Mount Blackmore and Shaft house… If I had to chose, it’d be Mount Blackmore.
Favorite place to ride?
Any flowy singletrack in Montana
PINK or WHITE? Pink
DH or DJ? DJ
What sparked your interest in biking when you were young?
Freedom; I use to ride my bicycle everywhere.
When did you get into biking, and what form of biking was it?
I got into biking at age 5. I started out on a 20” BMX bike. I use to build wooden ramps in front of my parents’ house and show off to the neighbor kids.
Do any other sports influence your biking or style?
Biking actually influences all aspects of my life. When I’m biking, I seek out flowy terrain. This style links to how I design my products. I strive to make every angle and curve on my products link together and serve a purpose, while looking aesthetically appealing. This is the same way I strive to ride my bike.
Who are your favorite riders?
Anyone who has a passion for biking; those are my favorite type of people to ride with.
Some people say that you can’t work in the industry you love, or you start to hate what you love. What do you think about that philosophy?
I think that philosophy is bogus. If you start to hate what you love then you’ve lost the passion behind it. You have to make sure you stay focused on what makes you happy.
What is your dream?
To buy a few more machines, own my own shop with a pump track and dirt jumps surrounding it, and have more free time.
What was your main motivation for starting a small accessories company?
My passion for biking is what drove me—and what still drives me—to manufacture bicycle components.
What is your dream bike, and what color are all the parts?
DW-linked Turner DHR, decked out with all parts dipped in wood grain.
What’s on the horizon for Twenty6 Products in the next year or so?
I have a lot of plans for Twenty6 products, including a step-in platform pedal, longer stem options, and more wild colors.
What events do you plan on attending or racing this season?
This season I plan on attending the Fluidride Cup race in Port Angles, WA at the beginning of May, Fluidride cup race in Kellog ID, Lone Peak Revenge at Big Sky, MT, and the Inter Bike expo in Vegas at the end of September.
What would your advice be for other young entrepreneurs, with a dream similar to yours?
Your dream will not come true overnight! Mine took three years of working a fulltime job along with building up Twenty6 Products. It takes a while for your name to get established. Stay focused on your passion and you will never “work” another day in your life.
Photos by Derik Olsen
