Jeff Barber

Jeff co-founded Singletracks with his wife Leah in 1998 and has been dedicated to sharing the mountain bike information that inspires others to take epic adventures ever since. He started mountain biking in high school and served in the US Air Force before devoting himself full time to Singletracks in 2007.

Though formally educated as an engineer, Jeff began writing stories at an early stage, inspired by his mother who is a longtime accomplished author. He enjoys covering the world of mountain biking from every possible angle, whether it's trails or gear or skills. His goal for every story: that readers learn at least one new thing.

Author snapshot

MTB Background and expertise

  • Riding experience: Trail, XC, and bikepacking.
  • Mountain biking since: 1992
  • Number of products reviewed: ?. I think my first product review for the site was this one for a plastic wallet.
  • Current stable: Canyon Neuron, Orange P7 hardtail, and Scott Fun XC

Education and writing experience

  • Bachelors of Science in Engineering, Duke University
  • Masters of Business Administration, Duke University
  • Other publications: Panther Press (Lakeside High School - Augusta, GA), CitySearch.com
 
A cyclist navigating a sandy, winding trail surrounded by logs and vegetation, captured from an aerial perspective. The rider is wearing a helmet and cycling gear, focused on maintaining balance and speed on the uneven terrain.
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Close-up of a bicycle headlight featuring multiple LED bulbs, designed for outdoor use. The light has a sleek black casing with orange buttons, mounted on a handlebar. In the background, a promotional sign is partially visible, showcasing related products at a trade show or exhibition. The setting features a colorful, blurred backdrop, emphasizing the product.
A person holding a drone with a camera attached, featuring illuminated green and red lights at the base of its propellers. The background shows a tabletop display and blurred attendees.
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A close-up image of colorful bicycle hubs arranged on a display. The hubs are in various colors, including black, gold, orange, red, and purple, highlighting their detailed designs and branding. A graphic symbol representing connectivity is overlaid in the center.
Aerial view of a large parking area filled with numerous vehicles, including cars and vans, situated in a desert landscape. In the background, hills and power lines are visible under a cloudy sky. A sound icon is superimposed in the center of the image.
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Close-up view of a bicycle handlebar featuring components such as a Shimano XT brake lever, cables, and a Merida branded handlebar. The image highlights the intricate details of the bike's braking system and overall design.
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A turquoise mountain bike positioned on rocky terrain, with a clear blue sky in the background. The bike features a full suspension system, knobby tires for traction, and is set against earthy, desert-like surroundings.
A black and orange mountain bike resting on rocky terrain with desert hills in the background under a clear blue sky.
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A mountain biker navigates a curved trail through a lush forest, with greenery surrounding the dirt path and trees in the background.
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A bright green mountain bike is positioned on lush greenery, surrounded by tall plants. The bike features a sturdy frame, front suspension, and knobby tires suitable for off-road terrain. Trees and foliage can be seen in the background, suggesting a natural outdoor setting.
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A wooden board on soil with several screws protruding from its surface. A person's foot, wearing a sneaker, is partially visible in the corner of the image.
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A close-up view of a mountain bike's handlebars, featuring a digital display with data such as time, speed, and elevation, set against a backdrop of green foliage. The handlebars include branded components, and the display shows various metrics related to a ride.
A blue hydration reservoir placed on green grass near a small, muddy body of water, with a drinking tube attached.
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A person holding a cycling device with a colorful map display, featuring GPS navigation and various cycling metrics. In the background, multiple cycling accessories are partially visible on a blue table.
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A winding dirt bike trail in a wooded area, featuring a smooth curve surrounded by trees and scattered leaves on the forest floor. A rope is visible marking the trail boundaries.
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Two CamelBak Elixir electrolyte hydration products are displayed against a brick wall. The first tube is labeled "Tangerine Orange with Energy," and the second is "Watermelon Kiwi." Both tubes are white with colorful labels, featuring the CamelBak logo and hydration details. Surrounding them are small plants and leaves on the ground.
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A mountain biker performing a backflip in mid-air above a dirt jump, set against a dramatic landscape of layered red rock formations and mountains under a cloudy sky. A crowd can be seen in the lower left, observing the stunt. The scene captures the thrill of extreme sports in a picturesque outdoor setting.
Close-up of the waistband and buckle of mountain bike shorts with the text "10 Best MTB Shorts" overlaid.
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An illustration showing two bicycle rims side by side. On the left is the Frequency i25 Team 29 rim featuring a white and red design with a logo. On the right is the KOM i25 27.5 rim, characterized by a sleek black design with a bold 'KOM' logo in gray. Both rims are displayed in a curved position to highlight their profiles.
An orange mountain bike is positioned on rocky terrain, with a scenic backdrop of canyons and hills under a partly cloudy sky. The bike's tires and frame are prominently displayed, highlighting its rugged design suitable for outdoor adventures.
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Map showing the most popular mountain bike trails in the United States and Canada for 2016, highlighting various locations across the two countries with trail names marked in each state or province.
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A mountain biker navigating a dirt trail through a scenic mountainous landscape, with lush greenery and distant hills in the background. The rider wears a helmet and a backpack, displaying an active outdoor lifestyle.
Close-up view of a bicycle's disc brake rotor and hub, showcasing the intricate design of the metal rotor and spokes against a textured surface with some greenery in the background.
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A triptych image showing three different hiking or biking paths: the left side features a rocky, uneven trail labeled with "+9%," the center displays a grassy, well-defined path marked with "+31%," and the right side shows close-up tires labeled with "+11%."
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Three bicycle seat posts from the brand Thomson, displayed on a round table. The seat posts feature different finishes: one in gold, two in black, with the top one having a red accent. Each post has markings for height adjustment and a black clamp mechanism at the top. There is also a small round object and a piece of tape visible on the table. The background is blurred, focusing on the seat posts.
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Bar graph comparing mountain bike (MTB) travel lengths with wheel sizes of 26, 27, and 29 inches. The x-axis represents the travel lengths in millimeters ranging from 0mm to 180mm+, while the y-axis shows the frequency of wheel sizes for each travel length. Different shades indicate the number of bikes associated with each wheel size and travel length combination.
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A vibrant, wooded trail surrounded by lush green ferns and trees, with a cheerful blue turtle-like character standing on the path. The scene captures a sunny day in nature.
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A mountain biker stands beside a blue bicycle on rocky terrain, wearing a bright yellow jacket and helmet, with snow-capped mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
Close-up of broad, green leaves arranged in a cluster, showcasing a variety of textures and slight imperfections. The background features soft green hues of foliage and moss, indicating a natural, outdoor setting.
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A mountain biker navigates a rocky trail surrounded by red rock formations, showcasing the challenging terrain of a desert landscape.
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A mountain biker performing a jump over a dirt ramp in a wooded area, surrounded by trees and greenery, with a trail visible in the background. An audio symbol is superimposed on the image.
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