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
While it's still unclear when things will get back to "normal," clearly we'll be much happier when we can enjoy our favorite aspect of mountain biking once again.
A rider is fined for "unnecessary travel" on the way to the trail, another is rescued in Pisgah, and a Dutch study suggests riding 20 meters apart to avoid germs.
A 6-pack of beer can be an appropriate tip for your bike mechanic, but timing is everything.
The Cane Creek Helm Works 130 is a burly trail fork for mountain biking that is easily tunable.
Chris Cocalis is the founder and president of Pivot Cycles based in Tempe, Arizona. Pivot is known for creating cutting-edge, high performance mountain bikes and also for sponsoring many talented athletes over the years while giving back to the community.
No one likes to go our for a mountain bike ride unprepared. But some items are more critical than others.
Close the trails because they're too crowded? Seems like a better solution is to just build more mountain bike trails!
Mountain bike trail grand openings have been put on hold indefinitely, and even trail building efforts have slowed considerably over the past few weeks, but we expect a surge of news this spring and summer.
Maurice Tierney, co-founder of Dirt Rag magazine, talks about how mountain bike gear and culture has evolved over the past three decades, and his recent decision to cease operations at the iconic publication.
And the people say, "not enough!"
At least high-end bikes cost much less than high-end cars.
In this wide-ranging interview, Kate Courtney talks about getting started in MTB, technical skills work, Coronavirus, Red Bull sponsorship, the move to Scott bikes, getting young women on mountain bikes, and much more.
Rancho Cacachilas in Baja, Mexico elevates the idea of what a mountain bike destination can and maybe should be.
The novel Coronavirus is having unprecedented effects on human life as we know it, and everyone seems to be dealing with it in different ways.
Dude's a masochist. He rides his bike UP the hill, then hikes back DOWN.
Chris shares how Niner got its start, weighs in on the mountain bike wheel size debate, and talks about the latest from the brand.
There are plenty of options for getting your bike to the trail these days, and some solutions seem to be more popular than others.
A waterproof, breathable jacket is great for mountain biking. That is, as long as you use it the right way.
If you've never ridden the epic Brutal Loop near Ellijay, Georgia, this is your chance!
Oskar Blues is known primarily as a beer company, but the brand also has a big toe in the mountain bike world with the Reeb bike brand based in Lyons, Colorado.
A while back we asked you how wide your mountain bike handlebars are, and on average you said 763mm. When it comes to hand position, the other half of the equation is the stem length.
Mountain bike drivetrains can be confusing.
The Schwinn Axum is a 29er with 2.6-inch-wide tires and a one-by drivetrain for under $500.
Professional mountain biker Rebecca Rusch shares how she approaches challenges, talks about why gravel riding is so attractive to all types of riders, and tells us about what her foundation is doing to help others around the world.
Do you mountain bike with a helmet camera often, sometimes, or never?
The mountain bike trails at Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Alabama were officially opened to the public in February, 2020.
The e*Thirteen Race Carbon handlebar and Base 35 stem are a good choice for a comfortable trail bike cockpit.
In this episode, we dig deep into the design decisions that go into creating clothing that mountain bikers want to wear on the trail and in the world.
Mountain biking is an incredible way to experience the natural environment, and many of us ride to explore new places and ecosystems.
Professional mountain bike photography Paris Gore talks about how he got his start, and offers tips for capturing the moment.
With full face mountain bike helmets becoming lighter and better ventilated, and convertible helmet offerings increasing, more and more riders seem to be upgrading the safety of their skid lid.
The Gloworm XSV is a bright and versatile light for mountain biking at night with performance-oriented features.
When it comes to mountain bike handlebars, wider is better... up until a certain point.
We'll find out what macro nutrients are, and how tracking them can help mountain bikers reach their fitness goals. Keri weighs in on current diets and intermittent fasting, muscle imbalance in cyclists, and the idea that food is fuel.
Mountain bikers rely on chain lube to perform a number of vital functions, and optimizing one often means trading off another.
This year is off to a rockin' start with big mountain bike trail openings from New Zealand to Arkansas.
In this podcast episode I'll share two recent stories about e-bike trail access and a study that looks at the health benefits of riding an electric mountain bike, and how riders' perceptions change (or don't change) after riding one.
Everyone knows bikes aren't free but beyond that, we rarely agree on how much a good mountain bike should cost.
The Pactimo Ridgeline Hoodie is a mid-weight jacket that's purposely designed for the bar first, mountain biking second.
The latest iteration of the Yakima HoldUp bike rack is even more compatible and user-friendly than previous versions.
Luv Trails is an app that makes it easy to give back to the mountain bike trails you ride, no matter where you go.
The Sage Powerline titanium 29er mountain bike features timeless construction with a fairly progressive design that should serve riders for years to come. It's like getting an XC race bike, bikepacking rig, and everyday trail bike in a single package.
The reviews in this show include an affordable drivetrain from Box, a knock-off 4K helmet camera from VanTop, bikes from Marin and Raleigh. I'll also share nine tips for saving money from Singletracks contributor Ray Southwick.
Some mountain bikers prefer fingerless gloves, while others like full-finger models. Some riders don't wear gloves at all!
What happened to the fat bike class of 2015? We dig in to see where models introduced more than four years ago are today.
The Pro Koryak mountain bike dropper post is easy to install, is solidly constructed, and proves to be reliable on the trail.
Kurt Refsnider is a badass bikepacker who is the only person to have won all three events in the Triple Crown of Bikepacking. Connect with Kurt at Ultramtb.net and bikepackingroots.org.
Leaves make it harder to see obstacles on mountain bike trails and tend to provide unreliable traction, but they can serve to protect the soil beneath
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