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
Find the most difficult mountain bike trail in every US state. Each of these black diamond bike trails offer advanced riders a true technical challenge.
Guerrilla Gravity is the marriage between a made-in-the-USA ethos and a focus on getting sendy and shredding gnarly trails. Their head badge logo? The sign of the horns. Most brands…
Trail: Jewel Pass, Canmore, AB. Rider: Ryan Kikauka. Photo: Greg Heil Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is…
Every single rider has a set of brakes on their mountain bike. Whether you ride full suspension or hardtail, with 30 gears or 1, a new bike or an old one, we all…
The Launch model has been one of Pearl Izumi's signature baggy shorts for many years. Spring 2017 saw a refresh of this model, and I've been testing the latest for most…
There were bikes to be ridden, notes to be taken, people to network with, but Aaron and I had to stop for just a few minutes to…
After a six-day manhunt in the Pisgah National forest, the fugitive pictured above, Phillip Michael Stroupe, II, was apprehended late last night, according to an article on WLOS.com. According to reports, Stroupe…
Giant has just announced their new and improved Reign for 2018. According to Giant, this is "the most shreddable Reign ever. This new enduro crusher delivers flat-out speed and control on…
Photo: Stelios Psaroudakis Stelios Psaroudakis of Calgary publicly claimed that he had hit a barbed wire booby trap with his neck while mountain biking on a popular trail…
The suspect, Phillip Michael Stroupe III Two mountain bikers were held up at gunpoint in Pisgah National Forest on forest Road 477 on Saturday, according to reports. The…
The Kali Interceptor is a lightweight XC helmet.
Photo: Aaron Chamberlain Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is the Editor in Chief for Singletracks.com, any opinions…
Photo: Aaron Chamberlain When it comes to traveling with your mountain bike in North America, the road trip is king. Until gas prices climb back up…
Revelate Designs has been in the bikepacking game since the very beginning. Founded in Anchorage back in 2007, Revelate has been making frame bags for a decade and has a wide…
It comes as no surprise that Breckenridge, Crested Butte and the Grand Valley are among the top mountain bike destinations in Colorado.
Photo: Stelios Psaroudakis's GoFundMe page. Recent reports of a mountain biker being clotheslined by a booby trap consisting of barbed wire strung across a popular mountain bike trail…
A mountain biker's neck was sliced open by a string of barbed wire that was tied across a mountain bike trail at West Bragg Creek Provincial Park in Alberta, multiple sources…
The Chuckbucket is a handlebar snack bag that's designed to accommodate up to a 1-liter Nalgene water bottle or a 40-ounce Klean Kanteen.
The Gearjammer is Oveja Negra's take on the classic seat bag--a must-have for any and every bikepacker.
All photos courtesy Santa Cruz Santa Cruz has just announced a brand new bike: the Hightower LT with 150mm of rear travel. The new Hightower LT doesn't…
Real life takes place behind bars. Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is the Editor in Chief for…
A review of the Topeak Ninja C bicycle multi-tool.
A review of the Topeak Mini 10 bicycle multi-tool.
After twisting and turning through the maze of options in the greater Slaughter Pen complex, Back 40, in contrast, promised a lengthy 30-mile loop with minimal navigation required.
We knew going into it that the Upper Buffalo Headwaters Trail System was in the middle of nowhere--close to two hours of driving from our base for the weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Rider: Greg Heil. Photo: Nathan W. Building the profile of a mountain bike destination is a nebulous art form. Movers and shakers in towns who want to capitalize on mountain bike tourism are…
Rider: Eddie O'Dea. Photo: Greg Heil Eddie O'Dea is an accomplished ultra endurance racer from Georgia who has set records in the Trans North Georgia, the…
The Pivot LES 27.5: World Cup Performance from Pivot Cycles on Vimeo. Pivot has just announced a new addition to their LES hardtail line, the LES 27.5. Previously the LES…
Pivot Cycles Mach 4 Carbon from Pivot Cycles on Vimeo. Pivot has updated their go-fast full suspension bike, the Mach 4 Carbon, for 2018. New for next year is "a fully…
Rider: Thomas Genon. Photo: Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool “Fear isn't only a guide to keep us safe; it's also a manipulative emotion that…
Defining the term "affordable" is impossible. What is affordable for one person is astronomically expensive for another. Yet too often, when we talk about affordable mountain bikes, I think we…
All photos courtesy Scott Sports After testing the new Scott Spark last year in both the plus and 29er versions, I've been waiting eagerly for Scott to bring…
In many ways, downhill can be viewed as the pinnacle of the sport of mountain biking. Above and beyond the extreme difficulty of this discipline, the equipment required is the burliest…
Rider: Zach. Photo: Greg Heil Mongoose's self-proclaimed purpose in life is to help get more people into riding bikes and then once they're hooked, helping them…
2018 Mongoose Teocalli Pro. Photo: Greg Heil Mongoose has just lifted the curtain on the drastically revamped Teocalli for model year 2018, and I traveled to…
Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is the Editor in Chief for Singletracks.com, any opinions expressed in this column are his alone…
A review of the Topeak Joeblow Booster bicycle tire pump.
Can you boil water in a plastic-sided pot?!
You know your ride has gone sideways when... Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is the Editor in…
Photo courtesy Ibis Cycles Ibis has just announced the 4th generation of their venerable Mojo HD enduro bike. This full-carbon enduro destroyer continues to feature 153mm of…
This hardtail mountain bike buyer's guide is designed to help you get the best value for your money and includes our choices for the best hardtail mountain bikes under $500, $1000, $2000 budgets.
Trek's New Session 9.9 29er. All photos courtesy of Trek Trek has just announced their new Session 9.9 DH bike, and while the new frame will…
I've had a front-row seat to an interesting product trend over the past couple of years: mountain bike shoes that are marketed for "enduro" mountain biking that simply don't endure. Rather,…
Photo: Marcel Slootheer Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is the Editor in Chief for Singletracks.com, any opinions…
All photos courtesy Pivot Cycles Pivot has just released their new Mach 5.5 Carbon, which features 140mm of rear wheel suspension, 160mm up front, and is…
All photos courtesy of Kali Kali has just announced the redesign of their Shiva full face helmet, dubbed Shiva 2.0. It's available in two models: the…
If you're currently hauling a bulky or heavy mat in your bikepacking kit, the Sea to Summit UltraLight mat could take your kit to the next level.
I was absolutely shocked by how lightweight and compact this sleeping bag is!
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