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
A proposed housing development near Corona, California threatens to close the historic "Troy Lee" trail and limit access to the intersecting Block Trail.
The Magicshine MJ-908 mountain bike light kit is designed for serious night riding, and the company makes some pretty big claims for this reasonably priced light set.
Mountain bikers in New Zealand discovered deliberately placed obstacles on popular trails, highlighting the ongoing problem of trail sabotage and rider safety concerns.
Beeline Bikes will offer free assembly and setup for bikes over $500 purchased on Amazon, potentially disrupting traditional bike shop sales.
Master stream crossings with momentum, smart line choice, and exit focus—avoid green rocks, scout rocky bottoms, and power up the far bank.
Today we talk about mountain bike helmets: the history of helmets in cycling, how helmets are constructed, and what mountain bikers should look for when purchasing a new helmet.
A Forest Service investigation reveals details of a fatal grizzly bear collision with a mountain biker and offers recommendations for riding in bear country.
Niner's updated JET 9 Alloy goes longer and slacker with 120mm rear travel, delivering impressive descending performance and climbing efficiency at a budget-friendly price.
Fox's new Proframe helmet promises to be one of the lightest, most breathable DH-certified full face helmets available, featuring integrated MIPS protection.
US Border Patrol agents are using mountain bikes to patrol rugged terrain along the southern border, with some units riding full-suspension trail bikes.
This is part two of a two-part podcast about my 29 Trails in 29 Days challenge.
While the "GPS always overestimates distances" camp is fairly vocal, there's an equally vocal camp that argues the opposite.
A proposed solution to gentrified bike trails in Atlanta, Georgia.
I challenged myself to ride 29 different mountain bike trails in 29 days, and this is how it all went down.
We took a red-hot knife to various mountain bike parts because the internet made us do it (and it's oddly satisfying).
We debate whether that's really true and speculate about what might be coming next.
With so many great GPS apps for smartphones available these days, many mountain bikers are asking themselves: “should I ditch my GPS unit and just use my smartphone on the trail?”
These are some of the most popular mountain bike trail segments, according to Strava.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I share our tips for taking great mountain bike photos.
Hybrid bikes work fine for urban commuting and neighborhood rides, but their geometry, tires, and lack of suspension make them poor choices for singletrack trails.
Illinois mountain biking offers surprising terrain with flowing singletrack, technical challenges, and passionate riders defending trails from Peoria to Chicago's metro area.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Jeff recounts his hut to hut adventure, mountain biking from Durango, CO to Moab, UT with a group of friends.
We look at prices for used mountain bikes that are between one and three years old to see how much bikes depreciate.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron and I talk about some of the science behind sports drinks and hydration for mountain biking.
Here's a 24-word excerpt in Singletracks.com style:
Taking a friend mountain biking for the first time requires careful planning—from choosing the right bike and trail to setting realistic expectations and providing proper support.
We test two smartphone apps and four dedicated GPS devices to see how accurate they are for recording bike rides.
The US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship returns to Wrightsville Beach, NC in March, featuring 8- and 24-mile races through sand and obstacles.
Use these tips to find the right size mountain bike based on sizing charts, standover height, and riding style.
The USA Cycling National Fat Bike Championships head to Michigan's Indian Trails Bike Park January 28, with the state championships following January 29.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I discuss categories of mountain bike products that frustrate us, including hydration packs, helmet cameras, dropper posts, shoes, and more.
IMBA launches a new US national enduro series with six races, $12,000 in equal prize money, and volunteer trail days at each stop.
A round up of 44 fat bike tires on the market.
The Vee Snow Shoe 2XL is more than five inches wide.
Frosty's Fat Bike Race Series adds gravity racing to winter fat biking, with lift-served downhill courses at ski resorts alongside traditional XC events.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I share (almost) everything you need to know about mountain bike brakes.
Strava shares aggregated user data with land managers and trail groups to monitor usage, create accurate maps, and support trail building and maintenance efforts.
Schwalbe's new Treadcutter tool lets riders customize tire tread patterns by precisely trimming knobs to adjust rolling resistance and traction characteristics.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and Jeff talk about their favorite winter mountain biking destinations.
Thinking through a mountain bike purchase: should you buy a low-spec bike and upgrade later, or invest in a high-end build from the start?
When upgrading your old mountain bike starts to cost as much as buying new, it's probably time to start shopping for a fresh rig.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I talk about some of the most memorable trails and destinations we explored in 2016.
12 stout beers, taste tested and ranked from worst to best.
Trek recalls Bontrager Flare RT and Ion 700 RT lights that may turn off unexpectedly, offering free replacements plus $20 coupons to affected customers.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we talk with Kate and Andrew Gates from Mulberry Gap about what it's like to run a mountain bike getaway.
Smartphones have largely replaced dedicated GPS units for mountain biking, offering convenient tracking, navigation, and data sharing through powerful apps at a fraction of the cost.
Burley's new 16+ Wheel Kit features 3-inch-wide tires designed to make hauling kids and cargo through snow and sand much easier.
The Yakima Showcase 15 cargo box offers 15 cubic feet of sleek, secure storage that's quieter and more aerodynamic than roof-mounted bikes.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, and I discuss our favorite bikes from 2016 and talk about the bikes we really want to test in 2017.
5
