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
Here's a 24-word excerpt in Singletracks.com style:
Taking a friend mountain biking for the first time requires careful planning—from choosing the right bike and trail to setting realistic expectations and providing proper support.
We test two smartphone apps and four dedicated GPS devices to see how accurate they are for recording bike rides.
The US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship returns to Wrightsville Beach, NC in March, featuring 8- and 24-mile races through sand and obstacles.
Use these tips to find the right size mountain bike based on sizing charts, standover height, and riding style.
The USA Cycling National Fat Bike Championships head to Michigan's Indian Trails Bike Park January 28, with the state championships following January 29.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I discuss categories of mountain bike products that frustrate us, including hydration packs, helmet cameras, dropper posts, shoes, and more.
IMBA launches a new US national enduro series with six races, $12,000 in equal prize money, and volunteer trail days at each stop.
A round up of 44 fat bike tires on the market.
The Vee Snow Shoe 2XL is more than five inches wide.
Frosty's Fat Bike Race Series adds gravity racing to winter fat biking, with lift-served downhill courses at ski resorts alongside traditional XC events.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I share (almost) everything you need to know about mountain bike brakes.
Strava shares aggregated user data with land managers and trail groups to monitor usage, create accurate maps, and support trail building and maintenance efforts.
Schwalbe's new Treadcutter tool lets riders customize tire tread patterns by precisely trimming knobs to adjust rolling resistance and traction characteristics.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff talk about their favorite winter mountain biking destinations.
Thinking through a mountain bike purchase: should you buy a low-spec bike and upgrade later, or invest in a high-end build from the start?
When upgrading your old mountain bike starts to cost as much as buying new, it's probably time to start shopping for a fresh rig.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I talk about some of the most memorable trails and destinations we explored in 2016.
12 stout beers, taste tested and ranked from worst to best.
Trek recalls Bontrager Flare RT and Ion 700 RT lights that may turn off unexpectedly, offering free replacements plus $20 coupons to affected customers.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we talk with Kate and Andrew Gates from Mulberry Gap about what it's like to run a mountain bike getaway.
Smartphones have largely replaced dedicated GPS units for mountain biking, offering convenient tracking, navigation, and data sharing through powerful apps at a fraction of the cost.
Burley's new 16+ Wheel Kit features 3-inch-wide tires designed to make hauling kids and cargo through snow and sand much easier.
The Yakima Showcase 15 cargo box offers 15 cubic feet of sleek, secure storage that's quieter and more aerodynamic than roof-mounted bikes.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I discuss our favorite bikes from 2016 and talk about the bikes we really want to test in 2017.
Indiana's Griffin Bike Park honors fallen soldier Sgt. Dale Griffin with 300 acres, 20+ miles of trails, and a world-class terrain park.
Mountain bikers are split between wet and dry chain lubes, with ProGold ProLink taking the top spot in our reader survey of favorite brands.
The Bryton Rider 330 GPS promises budget-friendly performance, but mediocre accuracy and minor software quirks undermine its value proposition against established competitors.
In this illuminating episode of the Singletracks podcast, we talk about mountain bike lights, briefly touching on the history of bike lights before diving into the key things every mountain biker needs to know about lighting up the trail.
In this episode, Aaron and I talk about how GPS works and what that means for mountain bikers who use GPS devices for training and trail navigation.
why is stiffness important to mountain bikers, and aren't bikes stiff enough already?
The 2017 Trek Fuel EX 9.8 gets slacker, longer geometry and more travel, transforming into a confident descender that still climbs surprisingly well.
North Carolina's Eleven Bikes offers a US-made aluminum fat bike with 167 million customizable build options, starting at $2,895 and engineered by motorsports professionals.
Aaron and I discuss the history of waterproof gear, from animal skins to Gore-Tex and everything in between.
From early bikepacking to folding eMTBs, the US military has been quietly shaping mountain bike technology and riding culture for over a century.
GoPro recalls all 2,500 Karma Drones after reports of mid-flight power loss, dealing another blow to the company following massive third-quarter losses.
We discuss both subjective and objective measures of trail difficulty, and explain the difference between technically and physically difficult trails.
These are the best mountain bike grips according to Singletracks readers and our editors.
Singletracks tests the third generation Santa Cruz Tallboy in North Carolina.
Specialized's updated Epic Hardtail is their lightest frame ever—yes, even lighter than their road bikes—with slacker geometry and dropper-post routing.
Mountain bikers are turning contaminated brownfield sites like former mines, quarries, and landfills into exciting trail systems, improving the environment while gaining new riding opportunities.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we discuss the history of mountain bike suspension and the advantages hardtail mountain bikes still have over their fully squishy brethren today.
Here's a suggested excerpt in Singletracks.com style:
"We checked out the first-ever Fall Cyclofest at the US National Whitewater Center, discovering diverse trails, major brands, and some shocking surprises."
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The DirtySixer hardtail mountain bike rolls on 32-inch wheels.
In this episode, Aaron, Greg, and I share tips for choosing a great bikepacking route and attempt to dispel the myth that you need fancy gear to get started.
We've selected some of the highest-rated, beginner-friendly singletrack mountain bike trails on Singletracks to help both newbies and friends of newbies get started.
Specialized claims their new S-Works 6 XC are the world's lightest mountain bike shoes at just 270g, with a $400 price tag.
After thieves stole their trail-building DitchWitch, SORBA mid-TN gets help from Moots with a titanium frame raffle to fund a replacement.
One of the best ways to get to know a mountain biker is to ask what kind of bike they ride.
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