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
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!
Photo: Harry Potter 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…
With radical changes taking place within IMBA, many people are wondering: where does IMBA go from here?
All photos courtesy of Terrene Terrene is adding another tire to their lineup: the "McFly." This new plus tire will fill the 2.8" hole in their…
G-Form was one of the first companies to really push soft body armor as a viable alternative to the classic, storm trooper-style hard plastic protection. And now, years later, almost every…
We review the G-Form Pro-X elbow pads for mountain biking.
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 and…
Photo: MORC Facebook Page We've been hearing rumblings from all corners of the United States of significant IMBA Chapters leaving the Chapter Program, and others considering leaving.…
photo: nickesares Colorado really needs no introduction to anyone who might utter the phrase, "I am a mountain biker." The mountains in Colorado are some of the biggest and most majestic you'll…
Rocky Mountain announced the new-and-improved version of their venerable Slayer in late 2016. The latest rendition features everything you could want in a modern, aggressive enduro bike: Full-carbon frame Boost spacing Wide…
Photo: Strava Strava has just announced the addition of new types of content onto their platform, including "stories, photos, questions, gear tips, race reports, recommendations, workouts…
Back in February, a trail runner was impaled by a deliberately-planted spike at Pinnacle Park in Sylva, North Carolina. Now, local lawmakers have introduced a domestic terrorism bill that would qualify spiking…
After my Mavic Crossride Elite shoes disintegrated during a hike-a-bike up a Colorado mountain, Mavic sent me a pair of their higher-end Crossmax XL Pro shoes to see if they would handle the…
The new Code RSC brakes. All photos courtesy of SRAM SRAM has just announced that they're bringing some of the technology from their Guide brakes to…
All photos courtesy Santa Cruz Santa Cruz has just announced a brand-new 29er version of their venerable V10c World Cup Downhill race rig... and according to their…
Photo from Yarra Trails near Melbourne, Australia. Photo by ottodavies According to a report on The Age.com, three mountain bikers in Australia were attacked by a…
Getting some out-of-control practice in Moab. Photo: Aaron Chamberlain Editor’s Note: “Over a Beer” is a regular column written by Greg Heil. While Greg is the Editor…
Photo: Greenway of Grand Forks Facebook / valleynewslive.com In what might be the nastiest trail booby trap yet, a thin rope full of nails was found tied across…
The smooth curves and glossy paint of the Kuat NV 2.0 are both subtle and complementary when paired with a vehicle.
All photos courtesy of Bontrager Bontrager has just announced updates to their wheel offerings with the new Line and Kovee wheels. "Bontrager is unveiling new additions…
Ibis has just launched the third generation of their Ripley 29er trail bike. The bike still sports 130mm of travel up front and 120mm in the rear. [caption id="attachment_213324" align="alignnone"…
Transition Carbon Hardtails from Transition Bikes on Vimeo. Transition is introducing two new carbon hardtails to their line: the Throttle with 27.5" wheels and the Vanquish with 29" wheels. Despite…
All photos courtesy 9point8 9point8 has just announced their brand-new Fall Line R dropper post, which they are claiming is the "lightest dropper post you can…
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 by Selective Vision, courtesy of Pivot Cycles Pivot Cycles has just come on board as a platinum-level sponsor of the Utah NICA league for 2017 and 2018,…
Everything mountain bikers need to know about visiting and riding in Pisgah National Forest.
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