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 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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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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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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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 view of a black mountain bike frame in a desert landscape, featuring a handlebar and symbol marked with question marks. The background shows rocky hills and sparse vegetation under a clear blue sky.
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A package of Finish Line Gear Floss, a microfiber rope designed for cleaning bicycle components, displayed on a stand. The packaging features a black and white checkerboard design with the product name prominently labeled.
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A man in a green t-shirt stands in front of a display featuring bicycles and bike components. He is holding a white bicycle handlebar with both hands and smiling at the camera. In the background, there are visible bike wheels and a staircase.
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Two packets of Clif Shot energy gels are displayed on a metal surface. The packet on the left is labeled "CLIF SHOT TURBO" in silver, featuring "Double Espresso + Caffeine," while the packet on the right is labeled "CLIF SHOT ENERGY GEL" in brown, with "Chocolate" written on it. Both packets indicate the “New Formula.”
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A black bicycle with yellow handlebars positioned on rocky terrain, set against a backdrop of desert hills and a clear blue sky. The bike features thin tires suitable for off-road cycling, and there are sparse shrubs in the surrounding area.
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A mountain bike positioned on rocky terrain, with a background showing another cyclist on a trail. The setting is a dry, desert-like environment with sparse vegetation and distant hills under a clear blue sky.
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Mountain bike resting on rocky terrain, with a backdrop of red and brown hills under a clear blue sky. The bike features a sleek design with a black and white frame, prominent tires, and visible gear components, showcasing its suitability for rugged outdoor trails.
A large cardboard box labeled "Trek 7K Bicycles" with caution stickers indicating "DO NOT FLAT" and "FRAGILE." The box is positioned in a parking lot with a clear blue sky and mountains in the background.
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Graphic design featuring a circular gear symbol at the top with the text "2010" above and "BEST OF MTB" below, accompanied by two green ribbon tails.
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Close-up view of a Cannondale mountain bike frame featuring bold green and black lettering. The bike's shock absorber is visible, highlighting its suspension system. In the background, other bicycles and people are partially blurred, indicating a busy outdoor event or exhibition.
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