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
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."
(24 words)
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.
The Polar M200 GPS watch offers wrist-based heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, and smartphone connectivity for mountain bikers at just $149.
WTB introduces 26+ Scraper rims and Ranger tires, allowing 27.5" bike owners to convert to plus-size wheels with optimized 40mm width and multiple casing options.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Greg talks about his summer MTB trip to Spain.
SHRED enters mountain biking with helmets featuring Slytech 2nd SKiN impact absorption and MIPS-style concussion protection, starting at $159.99.
A Georgia XC rider falls for Surly's versatile Wednesday fat bike after a surprisingly impressive test ride at Bootleg Canyon's desert trails.
Drop bar mountain bikes from Bombtrack, Masi, Wilier, and Moots blend bikepacking capability with cyclocross handling and full-width mountain bike tire clearance.
From trail hardtails to bikepacking rigs, plus bikes continue their takeover with new models from Orbea, Norco, Moots, REI, and more at Interbike.
From self-inflating hubs to bottle cage beer openers, these weird and innovative products from Interbike prove small brands are pushing boundaries.
The Otso Voytek is a versatile carbon hardtail that can run 26 fat, 27.5+, or 29+ wheels using an adjustable dropout system.
We test rode a Ventana mountain bike with a Rohloff internally geared hub at Interbike.
The Razik Epitome carbon hardtail features a unique Isotruss framework design instead of traditional tubes, with interchangeable dropouts for 27.5 or 29er wheels.
Full suspension fat bikes are still being developed, with three new models spotted at Interbike alongside affordable rigid options and innovative winter accessories.
Kali Protectives' new Nano Core foam technology allows helmets to withstand multiple impacts without compression, unlike traditional EPS foam that crushes permanently.
The 2017 GT Sensor Carbon Pro pairs a unique bottom-mounted shock design with premium components, delivering balanced, planted trail performance at $5,860.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I reflect on this year's tradeshow and discuss some of the most interesting products we found.
The Cannondale Bad Habit Carbon 1 is a lightweight 27.5+ trail bike with a Lefty fork that climbs efficiently and descends with surprising precision.
REI replaces its 34-year-old Novara brand with Co-op Cycles, launching two affordable mountain bikes with muted colors and solid specs for outdoor enthusiasts.
Based on survey responses from 2,200+ Singletracks members, we reveal the most popular mountain bike forks for 2016 across XC, trail, enduro, and DH categories.
The 2016 Interbike Awards recognized standout mountain bike products, including the Specialized Stumpjumper sixFATTIE, Scott Spark RC, and SRAM Eagle drivetrain.
MagicShine's new 90X series lights pack up to 8 LEDs and 8,000 lumens, plus a bar-mounted remote and connected tail light.
The Topeak Bikamper ditches tent poles and uses your bike's wheels and handlebars to support this lightweight, three-season shelter for solo bikepacking adventures.
GoPro's new Karma drone and Hero 5 cameras promise to solve mountain biking's shaky POV problem with removable gimbals and built-in stabilization.
Three jaded mountain bikers discuss the few bright spots at Interbike while questioning why new product releases just aren't that exciting anymore.
In this better-late-than-never episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, Helena, and I talk about the bikes we tested at Outdoor Demo on Tuesday.
The OutBraker system prevents endos and enables single-lever braking, making it ideal for new riders, adaptive cyclists, and anyone seeking simplified brake control.
The Lamere Dopamine claims to be the world's lightest full suspension fat bike frame, offering 130mm travel and multiple wheel size options.
The Indonesian Patrol 671 is a smartly-spec'd 160mm enduro bike offering Fox suspension and XT components at an affordable $4,399 price point.
The KTM Scarp Prime is a lightweight, carbon XC race 29er with 90mm rear travel that climbs efficiently and retails for $8,295.
Mountain biking remains dominated by white males aged 24-44 with higher incomes, though organizations are working to diversify participation across gender and ethnicity.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron and I talk briefly about Interbike Outdoor Demo, Day 1.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron talks about his recent mountain bike trip to West Virginia.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron and I offer tips for responsible mountain biking.
The Leatt DBX 6.0 Carbon full face helmet delivers exceptional safety features, remarkable comfort, and thoughtful design in a surprisingly lightweight package.
Canadian brand Staran offers the FSM-140, a well-spec'd 140mm trail bike with X-Fusion suspension, 1x11 XT drivetrain, and quality components for just $3,600 CAD.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we talk about some of the barriers to getting started with mountain biking and share specific ideas for improving fitness and technical skills.
3
