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
I've gone through various 1X drivetrain configurations on my mountain bikes over the years and during that time, I've had a chance to try a number of different chainrings. Recently I picked up…
On this Episode In this episode we talk about the connection between mountain biking and craft beer and offer up our favorite beer styles and breweries. Plus, we try to answer the…
Over the weekend authorities confiscated more than 45 mountain bikers' bikes after the riders were found trespassing on Marine base property in California. The riders started out on trails in the Sycamore Canyon…
On this Episode In this episode, we talk about staying warm on the bike this winter and give tips for using winter wear you already own for riding on the trail. Spoiler…
On this Episode In this episode, we talk about our personal pet peeves when it comes to preventable mountain bike trail damage. How do you determine if a trail is too wet to…
By Mamatus (Own work) via Wikipedia. Fat bikes have obliterated the notion of a finite mountain bike season but let's be real: riding in the snow eventually starts…
On this Episode It's time to start planning your epic mountain bike trips for 2016 so we thought we'd share some tips we've learned over the years. We try to answer questions like, what…
photo: Walter Rhein People keep asking: "Is fat biking a fad?" Well, judging by the events on the Singletracks race calendar for the next two months, the answer is…
On this Episode This is the time of year when mountain bikers plan to do epic shit and building endurance is often the first step to making things happen. In this episode we…
One of the biggest things that can kill the buzz on a winter ride is cold feet. And once our feet get cold on a ride, it seems like it's nearly impossible to get…
On this Episode In this short episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss their personal mountain biking goals for 2016 and talk about what's in store for Singletracks next year.
On this Episode In this episode we discuss who is buying really, really expensive mountain bikes and what they mean for the industry and for our sport as a whole. What's it like…
On this Episode In this episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff talk about the top stories on Singletracks this year and the trends that have shaped the MTB news in 2015. We cover…
On this Episode In this episode we try to answer the question: Are fat bikes the biggest MTB innovation since full suspension was introduced in the early 1990s? We also discuss some…
On this Episode Listen to part two of Greg's interview with Sustainable Trails Coalition (STC) founders Ted Stroll and Jackson Ratcliffe as they discuss why certain trail groups oppose bikes in wilderness…
On this Episode Greg talks with Ted Stroll and Jackson Ratcliffe of the Sustainable Trails Coalition (STC) about their plan to lobby for mountain bike access in US Wilderness areas. In part one of…
Most--ok, all--true mountain bikers would rather be out on the trail than sitting inside playing video games, but we know life isn't all singletrack and sunshine. So when boredom strikes or the trails…
On this Episode In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of buying a mountain bike online. We talk strategies for test riding bikes and share our experiences with assembling bikes delivered…
Back in February, Singletracks moved down the road into a larger space, which has been great--not only do we have space for more desks, we finally found a space for bike storage…
On this Episode In this episode we talk with Dustin at Southern Wheelworks about the advantages of Boost 148 and why hub standards are continuing to evolve. Dustin also fills us in…
Ok, so I lied in the title: I didn't actually teach my kid to ride her bike. She basically taught herself, so it seems a little dishonest to take any credit for…
On this Episode Happy Turkey Day! This is probably one of those podcasts where Aaron, Greg, and I will listen again in 20 years and think, "man, we didn't know anything back…
Earlier this year Trek made a big splash by announcing online bike sales, an announcement that was met with its share of controversy. For many years it seemed as if online bike…
So many bike brands available for purchase online nowadays including Santa Cruz, Niner, Pivot, Devinci and more.
On this Episode It seems as if mountain bikers have a love-hate relationship with flow trails and in this episode, we discuss some of the pros and cons of the flow trail.…
On this Episode In this episode we talk to Vince from Chumba USA about fat bike designs, adventure biking, and why designing short chainstays on steel bikes is more challenging than it…
On this Episode In this episode we talk about illegal-ish mountain bike trails, or as Greg wanted to call it, "50 Shades of Gray Trails." We'll define the concept of gray trails…
If you spend a lot of time in the saddle, you're probably familiar with the problem of hand and arm fatigue. Even with the most dialed stem / bar / grip configuration,…
On this Episode In this podcast we talk with healthcare professional and Singletracks writer Chris Daniels about eliminating pain on the bike through bike fit and other techniques. We also discuss the…
On this Episode In this podcast Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss mountain biking at night. We talk about the reasons we ride at night, provide recommendations for lights, and strategies for getting…
In this episode we talk with Maxxis bike marketing specialist Bobby Brown about plus size mountain bike tires and wheels.
Look closely at the bike in this pic and you'll notice that it has an electric motor. photo & caption: IMBA IMBA is taking a survey of mountain…
Smith riders Rosara Joseph, Sarah Rawley, and Liz Cunningham got to race the first ever Trans Cascadia Enduro race in Oregon last month and it looks like it was a blast! Can't wait…
On this Episode In this episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff discuss ways to choose the best bikepacking bike plus we introduce a new segment titled, "What's grinding our gears and stoking our…
On this Episode On this episode, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff talk about the recent controversies surrounding the Redbull Rampage and mountain biking 14ers, plus the mythical "do-it-all" mountain bike. Production note: Going…
The 7,000 foot descent down Pikes Peak is a mountain bike dream.
Yesterday Fox Racing Shox announced they would be buying "certain assets" from Marzocchi. According to Fox's CEO, Larry L. Enterline: We are excited to announce the agreement to acquire certain assets of the…
What do you get when you cross a burly downhill tire with a lightweight, fast rolling one?
In today's episode, Jeff, Greg, and Aaron discuss the issue of e-bikes on mountain bike trails. We cover a recent study by IMBA and new regulations out of California and also talk…
On this Episode Singletracks Editor in Chief Greg Heil gives us the lowdown on the mountain biking around Helena, MT.
On this Episode The Singletracks team talks about Greg's review of the Santa Cruz Bronson plus tips for selling bikes online and $80 helmet cameras.
photo: REEB Ranch On this Episode In this episode Jeff reviews an $80 helmet camera and shares a list of 8 must-visit mountain bike getaway resorts. Plus, John reviews the KTM Myroon…
At the Singletracks confab back in August I got a chance to ride two different bikes on back-to-back days along some of the most challenging trails in Colorado. A few weeks ago…
On this Episode In today's episode we share two bike reviews: the Orbea Occam TR and Breezer Supercell plus tips for selling your used mountain bike online.
The SOOCOO C10 is an HD action camera priced well under a hundred bucks, and you can pick one up for $79.95 online. It looks just like a GoPro, but the important…
photo: Maureen Gaffney On this Episode In this episode, we share Greg's review of the updated Santa Cruz Bronson, Maureen's Clif Bar Cykel Scramble race report, and reviews of two paris of…
Greg, along with Mark, at the end of the Agate Creek trail in late August. On this Episode Relax, it's Friday--hopefully your bike is close by and ready for the weekend! Singletracks…
photo: Greg Heil In this episode we share Greg's Intense Tracer review, Michael's list of 50 essential items for an MTB emergency kit, John's review of the Marin Pine Mountain, and a…
3
