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 Abus MoDrop MIPS is a quality bike helmet for trail riding, and is compatible with the brand's Bluetooth crash sensor.
The Manitou Jack dropper post is solidly built with an easy-to-maintain design.
It's been a minute since we've seen this many in-stock, and on-sale mountain bikes available.
Dee Tidwell breaks down mountain bike performance training for us with the Power Pyramid, and shares tips for avoiding injury.
These are currently the best mountain bike destinations in the United States.
12-speed Shimano bike chains remain difficult to find, and a quick check shows them backordered everywhere from JensonUSA to REI and Worldwide Cyclery. However a few sellers on Amazon seem to have chains available.
Choosing the best mountain bike helmet is like choosing the best bike -- all that really matters is that you have (and wear) one.
Gary Moore is the executive director of the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA), a group that is dedicated to the interests of the Front Range mountain biking community in and around Denver.
Do you run a wider mountain bike tire up front, or is it the same width as the rear?
The Nicolai Nucleon 16 is a high-pivot, 160-180mm enduro 29er running a Supre Drivetrain.
The all new Trek Fuel EXe raises the bar for quiet, lightweight, and natural-feeling electric mountain bikes thanks to a unique drive system and smart tech.
Today Shimano announces new eMTB motors and derailleurs that can shift automatically, and without any pedal input.
We ask an expert in bike fitting and biomechanics about oval chainrings, common injuries, arm pump, saddle tilt, and cleat placement.
Mountain bikers tend to either love or hate riding skinnies.
The Deity Highside 35 alloy riser bar delivers a great ride feel in a straightforward package.
We tested several pairs of mountain bike sunglasses to see which ones fit our faces and riding styles the best.
We're on the hunt for the best mountain bike destinations of 2022. Nominate your favorites around the globe.
Mountain bikers have opinions about flow trails, and we want to know where you land.
The Donnelly AVL is an XC/trail tire that excels at technical climbs and sheds sticky Pisgah soil with ease.
Bikerafting combines biking and rafting, using an ultra-lightweight and packable raft. Kevin fills us in on the basics for getting started.
Wandrer.earth is an exploration game created by a mountain biker that encourages riders to explore new places by bike.
We put five tubeless tire sealants to the test to see which ones seal medium-sized punctures quickest and most effectively.
I think we can all agree that mountain bikes are great. Yet we all have slightly different ideas about what makes them great for riding trails.
While the WTB Venture isn't going to make the short list for most gravel races, it should be an excellent choice for riders who want a do-all gravel tire that feels comfortable and in control across a variety of surfaces.
With quality construction backed by a lifetime warranty, top-of-the line hubs, and a smart design spec the Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro mountain bike wheels are a premium pair that leaves little to be desired.
I think I speak for 99% of mountain bikers when I say the purpose of climbing is to get to the next descent.
The Panaracer Gravelking EXT tire is a good singletrack climber and a reasonable road rider. The Best of both worlds.
The new Donnelly GJT mountain bike tire offers a responsive ride feel, excellent transitions into the corners, and a grippy compound.
Mountain biking provides a temporary escape that can and does make us into better people. But you already knew that.
Aaron and Emily Kerson founded PNW Components in 2015. The customer-focused brand is known for offering quality components like dropper posts, handlebars, and now clothing at affordable prices.
The Alchemy Arktos 120 stands out among the crowded field of trail bikes thanks to its ability to chameleon between short-travel, trail, and all-mountain with a single frame, and the Sine Suspension System that places a premium on anti-squat while delivering a supple ride feel.
The Mesa County Sheriff's office reports that a 52-year-old mountain biker died on the Palisade Plunge trail on Saturday after suffering a "heat-related illness."
Brands design tires for many different uses and situations, giving buyers the ability to dial in exactly what they need.
Otis Guy has been there for many firsts in the sport of MTB including racing Repack in the 70s and the first World Champs in 1990. Today he's still building frames and mentoring the next generation of riders.
We tested the longest OneUp dropper post with 240mm of travel and we're finally getting as low as we want to go.
Maybe this is a dumb question, but is it ever too hot to go mountain biking?
The Shimano XC7 mountain bike shoes are incredibly comfortable and should fit a wide range of foot sizes.
The Diamondback Haanjo gravel bike excels at dirt road biking, and is fine for riding singletrack and tarmac too.
In this podcast episode we talk about how mountain bikes are specced, and how product managers make decisions about which parts to include.
Has anything ever caused you to regret a mountain bike purchase?
The Suunto 5 Peak GPS tracks all the usual metrics; speed, distance, and basic navigation for hitting the trail in a compact package.
Dedicated shin guards protect against pedal strikes and trail ejecta without the discomfort of knee pads.
It's gettin' hot in here. So what's in your water bottle?
The Abus Sportflex 2504 bike lock is easily one of the flimsiest the brand offers yet it's also one of the most clever and convenient.
By reading Singletracks and sharing comments, you're helping a global community of mountain bikers.
We speak with the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship executive director about the group's recent name change, professional trail building, and the science behind the MTB impact on trails.
The latest smartwatches and fitness trackers are pretty amazing. While the most basic can track our steps during the day, more advanced devices can watch our heart rate, track speed and distances, and even prevent us from getting lost.
Trail usage spiked in the early days of the pandemic, and data shows traffic hasn't slowed much since. And in some destinations, visits continue to grow even as bike sales slow.
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