Lawyer by day and mountain bike journalist by night, Richard brings a unique perspective to his coverage on Singletracks. He's been riding mountain bikes since 2010 and has been a NICA Level 2 coach since 2019. Richard resides in Tallahassee, Florida, and has ridden extensively across the Southeast. He's been a regular contributor to Singletracks since 2018.
Author snapshot
MTB experience
- Mountain biking since 2010
- Certifications: NICA Level 2 Coach
- Current bike stable: Surly Krampus, Surly Karate Monkey
- Favorite place to ride: Tsali Recreational Area and Fire Mountain in North Carolina
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in History with General Honors and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami.
Big Branch Bike Park near Jacksonville, NC, was so popular from day one, the locals decided they needed to double the singletrack mileage from 6 to 12.
"While the kids racing bikes is awesome, it’s the clear development of the whole person through stewardship and service, through fitness and fun, and through immersion in nature in ways that can lead to lifelong love of the great We’re a lot more than just a youth sport.”
The story behind Finland's first flow trail, and how it's transforming the Finnish mountain bike scene.
Rhett Jones, the teen MTB entrepreneur from Texas, has just launched his latest venture: a protection and clothing line named "Cased."
The WinMan Trails in Winchester, Wisconsin, are an outdoor wonderland. These professionally-built mountain bike trails have quite the unusual back story...
Trek, Southern Gravity, and Scarab have all teased or launched new steel bikes recently. Are steel bikes experiencing a renaissance right now, or is this just a passing fad?
Thanks to a $10.6 million investment, the Turkey Mountain trails in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have become a mountain bike mecca, complete with MTB-only downhill runs.
Fishers Peak State Park in Trinidad, CO, is home to 16+ miles of brand-new singletrack, with up to 100 miles planned.
Some mountain bikers favor bikes that make riding harder, not easier. Here's how underbiking works... and why it can be rewarding.
A lottery winner helped fund the new trails at Rocky Branch Park near Charlotte, North Carolina and the project greatly benefitted from a master planning process.
WheelsUp in Albany, New York is steering kids away from trouble and onto singletrack to show them the joys of mountain biking.
Ride those tricky switchbacks with ease, following these tips from Dylan Renn at A Singletrack Mind.
Dylan Renn from A Singletrack Mind fills us in on how to mountain bike down steep slabs and trails with finesse.
Midland, Michigan, inspired by Bentonville, is on a mission to create an urban mountain bike trail network.
The UCI announced in October that the next U.S. MTB. round will be in Lake Placid, New York in 2024. Here's how the small Upstate town won the bid.
Station Mountain Bike Park near Austin, Texas recently opened. The park's founder is a high school senior.
We get the story behind the 1199 trail in Whistler, made for racing and dedicated to a legend.
You might be surprised to find a park full of progressive singletrack on Miami's Virginia Key.
An Indiana family channeled their grief from a fallen son into community bike park with national recognition.
Some California bike parks are right on track to open. Others...not so much.
Take on tabletops and doubles head on with these tips from Jeremiah Stone.
Last year a massive lawsuit following a life-changing injury shuttered Oregon's Skibowl bike park. We learned how the series of events led to the paralyzed rider winning the case.
Which trail maintenance tasks can and should everyday mountain bikers perform? We asked an expert trail builder.
We have the tips to stick the skinnies on your next mountain bike ride.
We check in with two local Boise, Idaho mountain bikers to learn about the best trails to ride.
Riding off-camber trails can be tricky. Jeremiah Stone shares his tips for balance, body position, and bike setup.
Jeremiah "Scratch" Stone shares tips and techniques for riding rock gardens with confidence.
For quick trips to the trailhead, the Evoc tailgate pad is a great way to transport multiple bikes by truck.
More riders are flocking to Bentonville, Arkansas trails and the local fire department has seen a serious uptick in rescue calls as a result.
Tallahassee, Florida might be off the beaten path from other tourist hotspots in the state, but for mountain bikers the trails are well worth the trip.
There are miles of both accessible and challenging singletrack in and around Austin, Texas that's maintained by dedicated mountain bikers.
Building mountain bike trails in sandy terrain is tricky but these trail builders, with the support of the local community, made it happen. Now Onslow County, NC residents can ride much closer to home.
Squeezing your mountain bike bars through tight spots on the trail can be tricky. These tips from skills coach Jason Gainey can help.
Wet or dry, roots can be intimidating when mountain biking.
There are ways advanced riders can help beginners before, during, and after rides to really help them enjoy mountain biking.
We speak with the staff and volunteers who are working to make youth mountain biking more inclusive and accessible to all.
The experts and research point to shorter mountain bike crank arms benefitting many riders.
Loose terrain is soft, amorphous, and a bear to ride. Climbing up will leave your legs and lungs burning, and descending is a sketchy proposition at best.
Analyzing the mental math that goes into deciding when to take a risk on the trail, and when to take a pass.
For many mountain bikers, riding in the summer can be hot and at times, miserable. Yet, it's still a great time to get on the trail!
The current pandemic has given the sport of mountain biking an unexpected opportunity for growth and improvement.
Many mountain bikers are turning to online retailers to get the parts they need right now, but buyer beware.
Four ideas for mountain biking responsibly on the trails where we're still privileged to ride.
What are the most irritating mountain biker behaviors at the trailhead?
Making sure your mountain bike is rust- and corrosion-free will keep it running in top condition and will help it last a long time.
Mountain biking is both a sport and a community. Here are 3 riders' stories about how they are dealing with serious injury.
Ed Sutton, an established mountain bike trail builder from the south, explains his process of trail building.
While mountain biking is a recreational activity, there are four aspects of our sport that we should take seriously.
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