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
Six "uncool" bike parts that are actually useful, from pie plates and reflectors to kickstands and bells—why we should reconsider ditching them.
The Garmin Fenix 2 is a feature-packed GPS watch perfect for mountain biking, with navigation tools, smartphone connectivity, and impressive multi-sport capabilities.
We compared the elevation accuracy of dedicated Garmin GPS devices to smartphone apps to see which is better at plotting climbs.
Are GPS units more accurate than smartphone apps for recording bike distances and elevations? We test to find out.
FSA's debut Afterburner hydraulic brakes impress with linear modulation, solid stopping power, and easy installation at $199 per wheel.
Lindarets created a "Rocks Belong" t-shirt protesting trail sanitization that proved so popular at Interbike, they're now selling it online.
The Motobecane NightTrain Bullet fat bike proved surprisingly capable on technical Atlanta trails, transforming gnarly terrain into rideable lines with massive traction and confidence.
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From helmets with removable chin bars to hydration packs with built-in back protection, here's our favorite enduro gear from Interbike.
Singletracks offers free, customizable trail widgets and tools that bike shops, clubs, and tourism sites can easily embed to showcase local trails and conditions.
From electronic shifting and suspension to smartphone mounts and GPS units, we spied the latest high-tech mountain bike gadgets at Interbike.
Plus-sized mountain bikes with 3" tires offer extra traction and cushioning without full fat bike bulk, as seen at Interbike.
Win a $6,799 Marin Mount Vision while supporting efforts to open more singletrack trails in mountain biking's birthplace, Marin County.
The RockShox Bluto transforms fat bikes from winter-only rigs into year-round shredders with 120mm of smooth, predictable suspension that actually works.
Kind Shock expands their popular Lev dropper post lineup with a new 65mm travel option, plus introduces carbon Ether bars and stems.
From solid tire inserts to laterally-moving pedals and gearbox drivetrains, Interbike's "Lab" section showcased unusual MTB innovations that challenge conventional bike technology.
Mountain bike tires are getting wider and tubeless-ready, and Maxxis is leading the charge with new XC, freeride, 29+, and fat bike options.
GPS units from Garmin and Magellan are getting smarter with features like automatic route generation, segment tracking, and smartphone connectivity to compete with phones.
Thomson expands beyond static components with new dropper post travel options, singlespeed Crate Motor cranks, and elegant Lynsky-built titanium hardtail frames.
The Pivot Mach 6 Carbon's lightweight frame, supple DW-link suspension, and impressive climbing ability make it the best trail bike we've tested this year.
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The official Interbike Award winners are in, with the Intense Tracer T-275 taking Mountain Bike of the Year honors.
Niner's BSB 9 RDO cyclocross bike and ROS 9+ fat bike stay true to 29-inch wheels with high-end touches we expect.
Rocky Mountain's Thunderbolt and Element offer playful, aggressive handling across XC and trail categories, maintaining the brand's signature agile ride characteristics.
The Austin-based Chumba Ursa is a steel 29+ bikepacking rig built to tackle long distances over unpredictable terrain with bombproof reliability.
The Felt Virtue Nine is a lightweight carbon 29er with 130mm travel that climbs like an XC racer yet descends with confidence.
Shimano's XTR Di2 electronic shifting delivers precise, easy-to-adjust gear changes, but requires adaptation to reduced tactile feedback and servo sounds.
The Salsa Bucksaw is a full-suspension fat bike that transforms the category from snow-specific novelty into a serious year-round trail ripper.
Fat bikes aren't just for snow: their wide, stable tires make them surprisingly capable year-round rigs that smooth out technical terrain and open up off-trail exploring.
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"Our reader poll reveals the best mountain bike gear of 2014, with surprisingly consistent preferences across regions, gender, and experience levels."
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This excerpt follows Singletracks.com's style by:
- Being direct and informative
- Highlighting the reader-driven nature of the content
- Teasing an interesting finding (consistency across demographics)
- Staying conversational yet factual
"Mountain biking from Lake Louise to Ross Lake offers scenic, technical singletrack and stunning glacial views in Banff National Park."
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Everything you need to plan an epic mountain bike trip to Banff, from trail-side lodging and bike rentals to post-ride brews and burgers.
Banff National Park features purpose-built technical trails like Topp Notch, proving world-class mountain biking and stunning scenery can coexist in protected wilderness areas.
IMBA's Epic trail retirements to Hall of Fame status in 2013 have sparked confusion, but trails can be reconsidered and reinstated based on updated criteria.
SRAM's updated RISE 60 wheelset features new hubs with 52 points of engagement and lighter hookless rims optimized for tubeless setups.
Maxxis drops a new Rubber Side Down episode with Ratboy, Walker, and Kabush, plus we spy prototype 29+ Chronicle tires in the wild.
Achieving true expert status in mountain biking requires 10,000 hours of practice—a journey that takes most riders decades to complete.
IMBA's updated Epic criteria retired popular trails like Monarch Crest and Kingdom Trails, now requiring 80% singletrack, 20+ miles, and true backcountry experiences.
Niner's new ROS 9 Plus is a playful steel 29er with 3-inch tires, short chainstays, and slack geometry for $2,999.
Help us identify the best mountain bike gear brands of 2014 by taking our quick survey—results coming soon!
SRAM's Type 2 clutch derailleur reduces chain slap and adds solid shifting feel, but won't completely eliminate chain drops on standard chainrings.
Survey reveals berms and rollers are the most universally loved trail features, while mountain bikers average just one volunteer hour per 20 riding hours.
The first-ever Nite Nationals 12-hour night race combines technical singletrack, sleep deprivation, and a $7,500 purse at Alabama's Chewacla State Park.
The 2015 Motobecane NightTrain Bullet is a $1,499 fatbike equipped with a RockShox Bluto fork that's ready to tackle any terrain.
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Whether you're rolling sponsored-rider deep or dirt-bagging it, Park City delivers world-class mountain biking for every budget and riding style.
Mountain bikers love Strava for tracking rides, but these five improvements would make the app even better for off-road adventures.
Kaenon's Trade sunglasses offer goggle-like coverage and exceptional optics in a murdered-out finish that'll make you feel like Batman on the trail.
The Canyons Bike Park offers expertly-built downhill trails ranging from beginner to double black diamond, plus top-notch instruction for riders of all abilities.
The HEXO+ is an autonomous drone that follows mountain bikers down the trail, capturing GoPro footage at speeds up to 45mph for $599.
Park City is already on every mountain biker's wishlist as a top destination thanks to hundreds of miles of trails, excellent scenery, and plenty of in-town amenities for riders and families alike. So, since you're going to Park City--here are the five things you have to do while you're in town!