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
 
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A mountain bike resting next to a large rock on a forest trail covered with fallen leaves, surrounded by trees in a wooded area.
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Close-up of a Contour HD action camera attached to a bicycle frame, secured with a pink strap. The camera features a wide-angle lens and is designed for outdoor recording.
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Image showing a Contour GPS action camera on the left and a smartphone on the right, connected by a Bluetooth symbol in the center, indicating compatibility for wireless functionality. The smartphone screen displays a scenic view captured by the camera.
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Close-up view of a mountain bike's front fork and wheel, showcasing the white suspension fork labeled "Mr. MiniUT 26" and a black tire with "Maxxis" branding, set against a backdrop of a forested area with trees and earthy ground.
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A mobile app interface displaying a line graph for altitude over time, featuring a yellow line that fluctuates between values ranging from approximately 882.5 to 1197.4. The graph is titled "Altitude/Time" and includes buttons for navigation and adjustments.
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FORT WILLIAM, SCOTLAND 6 JUNE 2009 - during the fourth Downhill and 4X round of the UCI World Cup in Fort William, Scotland. Photo by Gary Perkin
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Text graphic featuring the phrase "29 Trails in 29 Days" over a textured rock background with moss.
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Close-up view of a muddy mountain bike rear suspension component, showcasing dirt and debris accumulated on the frame and parts after a ride.
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A young man with a playful expression holds a silver medal and a large check for $7,500, celebrating his 2nd place finish in the men's slopestyle event. He is wearing a black cap and a medal around his neck, with a snowy slope and competition backdrop behind him. The image has a green border and includes event branding in the corners.
Close-up of a person with a muddy face, wearing glasses and showing teeth in an intense expression. The background is blurred, suggesting an outdoor environment. In the top right corner, there is a logo featuring a star and the words "Titus Tempe, Arizona." The overall image is in black and white.
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Abstract graphic featuring a bold red and white design with curving shapes and a textured appearance, against a black background.
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A mountain biker wearing a yellow jacket and a face cover rides through a muddy trail in a foggy environment. The background features lush greenery and a fence line, creating a rugged outdoor scene. The biker's gear includes a helmet and a race bib number 124.
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A blue and white mountain bike featuring a lightweight frame, front suspension, and disc brakes, prominently displaying the "GIANT" brand logo. The bike is positioned against a plain background, showcasing its sleek design and sturdy tires.
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A man wearing a black t-shirt with the "LIVESTRONG" logo in yellow is standing in a casual setting. He appears to be engaged in conversation with another man nearby. The background features a neutral-colored wallpaper.
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A black Yakima bike rack attachment sitting on a wooden surface covered with various colorful stickers. The attachment has a cylindrical shape with a prominent white "YAKIMA" logo and features two metal arms for mounting.
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Two mountain bikers navigating a wooden bridge on a trail through a lush green forest. One rider is mid-jump, while the other rides behind on a dirt path. The scene features tall trees and scattered foliage, creating a natural woodland environment.
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A promotional flyer for Ray's Indoor MTB Park, featuring events for two locations: Cleveland, OH and Milwaukee, WI. The flyer includes a bright blue section announcing a grand opening BBQ, event dates, times, and activities such as a membership drive and celebrity BBQ events. Images of food, including BBQ sausages, are prominently displayed, along with contact information for event coordinator Eric Schuett.
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Aerial view of a mountain bike race starting line, featuring a group of cyclists riding through a rustic dirt path beneath a blue archway. Surrounding the track are trees and sparse vegetation, with a vehicle parked off to the side.
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A white mountain bike with a sturdy frame, black handlebars, and wider tires. The bike features a single gear setup and disc brakes, positioned at an angle to display the wheels and seat.
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Two mountain bikers navigating a winding dirt trail through a dense forest. One rider is wearing a black and red jersey, while the other is dressed in an orange and black jersey. Both cyclists are focused on their path, surrounded by tall trees and lush ferns.
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Cover of the Mountain Bike magazine featuring a mountain biker navigating a trail through a wooded area. The headline highlights "Singletrack of the Future" and mentions "11 Hot Bikes 2011" along with articles on Colorado's trails and a profile of mountain biker Gary Fisher.
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Image of high-tech sports eyewear featuring a heads-up display system. The display includes metrics such as heartrate, cadence, power, speed, and time, designed for athletes to access performance data while training. The product is branded with "Sport-iiiiis."
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Mobile screenshot of the Singletracks website, displaying a navigation bar with links to trails, reviews, and blog. The page features an advertisement for Waterford Bikes, along with a section labeled "Peavine Creek Check-ins" showing the username "trek7k" and a timestamp of "mon @ 1:03pm."
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A group of seven people, including adults and children, posing together in a forested area. They are wearing helmets and casual clothing, and several are holding bicycles. The scene conveys a sense of camaraderie and enjoyment of outdoor biking activities.
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Image of a Delorme GPS device and satellite communicator. On the left, a small black satellite communicator with indicator lights; on the right, a larger device featuring a color display and various buttons for navigation and settings. The two devices are shown with a connection symbol between them, indicating they can communicate with each other.
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A close-up image of a mountain bike featuring a solid gold carbon fork and a thick tire, against a blue background. The bike frame showcases a sleek design with a focus on the fork and wheel detail.
A mountain biker navigates a rocky trail surrounded by tall trees under a clear blue sky. The rider wears a helmet and protective gear, showcasing an intense focus as they tackle the challenging terrain. A red and white sign indicating a race course can be seen in the background.