Greg began mountain biking in 2005, and since then, the pursuit of singletrack has taken him around the world. While Greg first started adding trail reviews to Singletracks in 2008, his career in mountain bike media officially began in 2010. He started writing for Singletracks in 2011 while simultaneously finishing his formal secondary education in writing and publication. Greg has the distinction of being the first employee that Singletracks ever hired, and he went on to serve for seven years, including five years in the Editor in Chief role. After a six-year hiatus, Greg is back at Singletracks, serving in the Managing Editor role.
While Greg has reviewed innumerable mountain bikes and products over the years, his true passion lies in writing about mountain bike trails and destinations. Greg has ridden over 8,000 trails and visited 21 countries (and counting). He recently spent four years traveling full-time, including two spent living in a camper van with his wife, Christine. In between epic trips, he now resides in Durango, Colorado.
Author snapshot
MTB Background and expertise
- Riding experience: Primarily trail and enduro, with experience including endurance XC, bikepacking, downhill, and gravel riding.
- Mountain biking since: 2005
- Number of trails ridden: 8,000+
- Number of countries visited: 21+
- Current stable: Pivot Switchblade V3, Pivot Vault, Scott Big Jon
Education and writing experience
- Bachelors of Arts, English: Writing and Publication, University of North Georgia
- Other publications: Strava, FATMAP, Dirt Rag Magazine, MTB Project, Hiking Project, GearJunkie, Outside 365
What upgrades can improve your mountain bike's performance? Consider new tires, a saddle, and more mtb products each under $100.
If you mountain bike for long enough, your time will come to pay the gods of Pain and Suffering.
Despite numerous statements from IMBA, questions concerning their testimony on bill HR 1349 in the House of Representatives, supported by the Sustainable Trails Coalition, have remained unanswered. We attempt to explain the issues in this detailed article.
IMBA is asking for your opinion on eMTBs. Take their survey now.
The proposed bill to reverse the blanket ban on mountain bikes in Wilderness has passed the House Natural Resources Committee with a vote of 22-18.
Singletracks readers share the 5 things that frustrate them most about the sport of mountain biking.
The mountain bike industry faces 3 major challenges in 2018, which are all interrelated: ebikes, trail access, and connecting with the customer.
The Sustainable Trails Coaltion testified on December 7, 2017 during a congressional hearing for H.R. 1349, which has the goal of opening some Wilderness trails to mountain biking. Here are the highlights.
Despite claiming unity with the Sustainable Trails Coalition in 2016, IMBA has changed their tactics, testifying against the STC's bill in Congress.
The Ibis Mojo HD4 is the latest version of the company's acclaimed enduro bike. Recent updates have made this mountain bike better than ever, showcasing the current pinnacle of mountain bike design and technology.
How do you define "success" in your own life? What makes a person successful? There are no easy answers to be found in this Over a Beer column.
Watch this trailer for a documentary about the Trans North Georgia bikepacking race.
The top 10 gloves for mountain biking, according to our readers, are all full-finger gloves. Yet some of these full-finger gloves are designed for XC, others for DH, with many in between. Fox dominates this list with 5 gloves in the top 10.
In this Over a Beer column Greg looks at the arguments that some people give for discriminating against one type of mountain biking or another, and points out the beauty of mountain biking's diversity.
Niner Bikes will be selling to an undisclosed investor group based in Colorado.
Eagle County, Colorado is the least obese county in the United States, according to the CDC.
The Spanish Pyrenees provide some of the best mountain biking in the world, and Sierra de Guara is no exception!
A female mountain biker was shot by a hunter while riding near Elm Brook Park in New Hampshire.
The Apollo 3P is a lightweight tarp shelter pitched with a center pole that has more than enough room for two riders and all their gear.
The Nemo Equipment sleep system, comprised of the Argali 15F sleeping bag and the Tensor Insulated 20R sleeping pad, is extremely warm and comfortable--perfect for bikepacking. The unique waterproof tub design keeps the pad and the bag together, making for a very restful night's sleep.
What motivates us? Where do our desires to do certain things come from? Why do we want what we want? There are no easy questions in this Over a Beer column, but hopefully professional freeride mountain biker Cam Zink can give us some insight.
These are the 10 best fat bikes according to a survey of Singletracks readers. Top fat bikes include the Trek Farley, Specialized Fatboy, Salsa Beargrease, and more.
No more excuses! Give mountain biking at night a try.
Pearl Izumi's X-Project P.R.O. mountain bike shoe promises to be the one tool for all of your mountain biking needs, including hike-a-bikes. But in real life, it doesn't live up to its bold claims.
As you're confronted with the next obstacle between you and your goals, ask yourself: "how bad do I want it... really?" And, "what kind of pain am I willing to sustain?"
The Yakima Dr.Tray hitch-mounted bike has sliding trays which eliminate bike-on-bike contact while driving to the trailhead.
I found the Michelin Wild AM bike tire performs well as a lightweight rear tire in aggressive big mountain terrain. As a front tire, the Michelin Wild AM is a bit lacking.
The Zerode Taniwha enduro bike features a Pinion C1.12 gearbox transmission and a carbon frame with 160mm of suspension travel. It's expensive at $6,500-$9,500, but moving more drivetrain weight to the bottom bracket makes for a well-balanced mountain bike.
Look has just released their new X-Track mountain bike pedals, which they claim provide the best weight to contact surface ration on the market today. The X-Track XC SPD pedals provide 515 mm
The Flowtron dropper seat post from FSA features 125mm or 150mm of travel and a paddle-style remote, all for a reasonable price.
Riding the Bear Creek section of the Rainbow Trail. Rider: Greg Heil. Photo: Marcel Slootheer A rider was out on the popular Bear Creek section of…
The Yeti winter bike shoe from Northwave is designed for fat biking and has an SPD cleat attachment, is rated to -13
Helmet manufacturers are working on new designs to reduce the effects of rotational impact forces to the head in the event of a crash. While MIPS was the first on the scene,…
Worrying about the future and obsessing about the past--these two things rob us of embracing and enjoying this present, singular moment. Autumn teaches us to embrace these fleeting moments that collectively make up our lives.
GoPro has just released two new cameras: the Hero6 Black and the Fusion, which shoots spherical video.
Kuat and Yakima have released nearly identical hitch mounts that allow a bike rack to swing out of the way of the rear of a vehicle.
The KHS SixFifty 6600+ is a carbon full suspension enduro 27.5+ bike... and it only costs $4,000!
Patrol is launching a new 140mm 29er full suspension trail bike: the 591.
Thule's EasyFold XT ebike rack claims a 66-pound bike weight limit and includes a ramp to roll the bikes onto the rack.
Osprey's new TrailKit, SnowKit, and BigKit gear hauling bags are superbly engineered and feature-rich.
Pearl Izumi's first-ever flat pedal bike shoe, the X-Alp Launch, is light enough for all-day rides.
Pardus Cyclone The Pardus Cyclone is currently a prototype, but prototype or not this full suspension carbon bike was a real head-turner at Outdoor Demo. That's…
Tantrum's new, patented Missing Link suspension design promises revolutionary climbing efficiency, without sacrificing descending prowess.
The Half Bottle adapter from Wolf Tooth adds a second mount for a tool to an existing water bottle mount.
Photo from Interbike 2016. Courtesy of Interbike. Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is the Editor in Chief…
Unless you only ride park, baggy shorts can start to feel pretty warm during 90-degree mid-summer rides. While you could easily strip down to the bare essentials and rock XC bibs,…
The XA Pro Under Bib Shorts from Mavic offer excellent ventilation and a thick, comfortable chamois. The chamois is very absorbant, so much so that it left me feeling dry.
The Gunnison National Forest in Colorado is home to some of the best mountain bike trails in the world, including Trail 401, Doctor Park, and Mt. Crested Butte.
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