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
The Schwalbe Wicked Will is a lightweight, fast tire designed for light trail and downcountry riding with excellent transitions and firm cornering grip.
Last year Eddie O'Dea became the first person to bike the entire 5,900+ mile Eastern Divide Route from Newfoundland, Canada to Key West, Florida. Here's what he found along the way.
The Classified Powershift drivetrain pairs a 12-speed cassette with an internally geared, wireless, 2-speed hub that effectively serves the same purpose as a front derailleur on mountain bike drivetrain systems.
Walmart launches a new hardtail in three sizes, under $400 with the Ozark Trail brand name.
VMBA Executive Director Nick Bennette talks about managing trails on private land, eMTB access, and why nearly 10K state riders choose to support the organization financially.
The Mucky Nutz MugGuard rear fender is designed to keep your shock and/or back side mud- and dirt-free.
For this survey we're interested in which sub-$2,000 mountain bike you think offers the best value.
The Ninja MTB Performance Stoke bike stand holds bikes securely, and with a stylish design.
Cut the crap. Ride more. Get stoked.
SRAM is completely reinventing the mountain bike drivetrain, starting with killing the derailleur hanger. Here's what you need to know.
Trek Factory Racing team manager and technical director Ryan Gaul talks about testing prototypes, modifying bikes to fit conditions, and how pro athletes set up their bikes for World Cup racing.
Mountain biking can be tough, both physically and mentally. Experts and research suggest there are tricks for improving our mental state during the most difficult times.
Some mountain bike trail features are more fun to ride than others. Then, there are the features we try to avoid.
Restoring and riding a classic mountain bike holds a lot of appeal. Follow these expert tips for a successful and fun project.
We talk with Matt Shriver, General Manager and technical director for the Trek Factory Racing XC team, about how teams come together and the support system designed to help them win.
Good mountain bikes are expensive. When it comes time to buy a new one we can either take advantage of financing to make a purchase, or we can save our money and wait.
The Jamis Renegade S2 gravel bike is a fun, capable, and stylish choice for exploring gravel backroads and singletrack connector trails.
Muc-Off surveyed 5,000+ bikers in 46 countries about tire punctures, and these results pop out.
Sports psychologist Dr. Kristin E. Keim explains how mental skills training can lead to a winning mindset and shares tips for developing confidence after a crash.
Mountain biking is referred to as a lifelong sport, though that's not to say that life won't get in the way sometimes.
Like a great punk rock band, Evil's The Following is a downcountry bike that's much more powerful than the sum of its parts.
If you haven't already blown your new bike budget this winter, you're in luck: Santa Cruz and Juliana are knocking 14-20% off the prices of pretty much all their mountain bikes.
The new Crankbrothers Mallet Trail pedals offer a medium-size platform for clipless riders who prefer a more flat shoe feel.
Tomorrow's weather could dictate whether our favorite trails are open, or at the very least, which jacket we should pack for the ride.
Karlos Bernart organizes and plans bikepacking routes in Florida including the Huracan 300, CFITT, and the Florida Divide.
Here are the top mountain bikes that readers would buy if they had $5,000.
In a word, how would you describe your mountain bike?
OR's Helium Bivy paired with a sleeping bag and pad might be the best possible sleep setup for bikepacking.
Lennard Zinn is a bike designer and frame builder, and is the author of Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance. We talk about bit fit, repair, tire rolling resistance, and fitness in this wide-ranging interview.
Mike Repyak explains how trail planners design rider experiences, outlines the cost of trail building, and fills us in on exciting builds that are in the works.
Patricia Druwen ended the 2022 season at the top of the Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour rankings, taking first place at two out of three stops last year.
Imagine a friend has $5,000 to spend on a mountain bike and wants to know which bike you would choose. What's your choice?
We look at what's the same and different about the Shimano GRX group, and provide MTB-focused recommendations for optimizing your setup.
The Lazer Coyote Kineticore mountain bike helmet is a fully featured lid that brings the brand's Kineticore rotational impact protection technology to a much lower price point.
In this episode we talk with professional bike fitter and sports scientist Jason Williams about mountain bike geometry, handlebar width, crank lengths, and sizing up or down.
The Maxxis Minion DHF is an extremely capable and versatile mountain bike tire.
When we're not riding, we're wrenching. At least, sometimes it feels that way.
In this episode Matt and Jeff discuss the results from a recent survey that asked, "What is the least useful mountain bike innovation?".
To someone “not in the know” bicycle insurance may sound silly, but the reality for any avid
mountain biker is that there will come a time when things just don’t go as planned.
Mountain bike festivals are a great way to have fun, make friends, and learn about the latest gear.
The WTB Raddler gravel tire rolls fast and grips hard, from pavement to singletrack.
Mountain bikers can't control the weather, no matter how much we'd like to. Rider and meteorologist Kristin Clark still has a few tips for us.
Choosing a mountain bike tire can be overwhelming given the number of options available. Aaron fills us in on the important considerations and the latest trends from MTB to gravel.
Collectively we all have a pretty good understanding of what it is that mountain bikers value when it comes to gear. Now, let's find out what you don't think is particularly useful.
Scarlet Zeigler is a young rider who has proven herself mentally and physically capable of conquering big bike rides.
Park Tool Director of Education, Calvin Jones, fills us in on the current state of repair in the bike world.
The new Hayes Dominion T4 hydraulic disc brakes bring smooth stopping power to trail and all-mountain bikes.
The Specialized Shuffle youth bike helmet delivers all the important safety features in a package that kids will have no problem wearing.
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