Find My Latest Work Here
If you've dropped by this website lately, you'll notice that there haven't been many updates. While perhaps this might lead you to think that I haven't been writing, that's just simply not the case. On the contrary: I've been so busy writing and working as a writer and Editor in Chief that I've neglected to spend any...
Review: Easton EC70 Carbon Trail 29er Wheels
Weighing in at a claimed 1,345 grams, you might think these gorgeous carbon wheels are intended for mere XC race duty… but you’d be wrong. The Easton EC70 wheels are designed for trail riding, meaning that they’re more than happy blasting through the rocks and up and over mountains… but...
News: Cannondale's OverMountain Team Switches to Lefty SuperMax Fork
Photo: Cannondale Bicycles. The new fork reportedly has new internal components which “increase the small bump sensitivity and high-speed suppleness of the fork.” Cannondale claims that the dual-crown single-leg design make this long-travel enduro fork both stiffer and lighter than the competition. Read the full...
Review: Tifosi Duro Sunglasses
I took to the Duro glasses very naturally. The light weight, solid coverage, and sporty features combine with a rather casual styling quite nicely. But don’t get confused: these are performance glasses through and through. Since I picked them up at Interbike in September, I’ve ridden well over a thousand miles with these...
Returning to the Monarch Crest after a 5-Year Absence: Why Did I Ever Leave?
I first rode the Monarch Crest back in 2008, and while we had been through Salida several times since then, I hadn’t had a chance to ride the crest again. That first ride, back in 2008, was hellaciously daunting, yet fantastically memorable. Thanks to a wrong turn, getting caught in a rain storm without a jacket, destroying...
The 13 Best Spring Break Mountain Bike Destinations
It’s the middle of March, and cabin fever is afflicting mountain bikers all across the United States. Thankfully, if you want to escape the vice-like grip of snow and cold temperatures, there are plenty of places to catch some rays and roll on dry dirt.Here are 13 fantastic choices for a spring mountain bike getaway:Read...
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Ride Report: Hardesty Mountain and South Willamette Trail, Oakridge, Oregon
Most of the big-name, well-known rides are located on the Alpine Trail side of the valley, and while there were definitely trail options and variations off the Alpine Trail that I hadn’t ridden yet, I decided I wanted to try a big shuttle on the southern side of the river. After doing a good bit of reading and a lot...
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Ride Report: Larison Rock + Off the Bike in Oakridge
Flying between the trunks of massive trees at extremely high speeds with a sheer drop off on one side is a white-knuckle experience. Even though I tried to let off the brakes and flow as much as possible, I think my pads were still sizzling in an effort to control the steep, treacherous freefall back down the flanks...
Ride Report: Alpine Trail, Oakridge, Oregon
After rolling into town, we wasted no time: we dropped by Wilamette Mountain Mercantile, purchased a map, got some trail recommendations, set up camp, and prepared to ride!While this was our first visit to Oakridge, after reading reviews on Singletracks there was one trail that I knew I had to ride first:...
Join Us in Taking the 30 Days of Biking Challenge!
The 30 Days of Biking challenge is beginning its 5th year, and it’s a pretty simple concept: bike every day, without fail, for all 30 days of April. There’s no time or distance requirement, and not even a requirement to ride a certain type of bike. Whether it’s just riding around the block, to the grocery store, an adventurous...
First Look: Brand-New WTB Breakout 27.5/650b Tires
The Breakout is a large volume all mountain tire that’s designed for both speed and dangerous traction, making for a deadly combination. The tread pattern features square and oval-shaped knobs with consistent spacing and pitch. This tire looks like it should roll fast, despite its 2.5″ width.Read the full article he...
Hey John, thanks for the great post! This is an interesting question, and I think it’s an important discussion to have. However, I disagree with you on most of your points.
For points #1 and #3, I think it depends largely on the attitude of the people posting and viewing on social media. Posting your adventures doesn’t have to be narcissistic, and viewing others’ adventures doesn’t have to create jealousy and anger. Why the heck can’t we just be happy for one another? Also, I’ve found that generally, what goes around comes around: just because I see a Facebook “friend” posting photos while skiing massive peaks in Alaska, BC, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Utah, and everywhere that I might have missed in between doesn’t mean I need to be jealous of him. I just enjoy getting to see cool photos from his experiences… it definitely beats baby photos and crappy memes!
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Ride Report: Phil’s Area Trails + Camping in Bend
If you spend any amount of time in Bend, you’ll hear about the Phil’s Trails. With roughly 55 miles of singletrack in the Phil’s Area (with numerous trails connecting into Phil’s from the massive network in the surrounding Deschutes National Forest), there is plenty to explore… and if you want to ride from town, you...
Ride Report: Deschutes River Trail + Breweries in Bend
We began our ride from the trailhead closest to town, and decided that we would only go out as far as we wanted and would then turn around and make our way back, as it was an out-and-back route. We packed some sandwiches for a leisurely lunch on the river bank, then set out.Our chosen trailhead was located about a mile...
Ride Report: Tumalo Falls, Bend, Oregon
Still, once I embraced the dry conditions and got acquainted with maintaining traction in the dusty corners, I was able to relax and rip into the descent. It felt so fulfilling to be shredding downhill in the big mountains again! While the three-day drive to Oregon was extremely tedious, it was all paying off now.Read...
Review: Hydrapak Bishop 12L
The Hydrapak Bishop is the most comfortable, most stable, and best weight-bearing mountain bike hydration pack I have ever used. While I can’t claim to have tested every pack, I’ve used quite a few… so that’s saying something! While in the past I would run smaller hydration packs for short rides and reserve my bigger...
Best Valentine's Day Bike Memes
Apparently, bike-y Valentine’s Day Facebook posts/memes have become a thing. Anybody who is really serious about bikes just has to express their love for bikes, or their love for their significant other by using some sort of bike-related reference, on Valentine’s Day. I’m still unsure if this...
In Search of Dry Land, Volume III: Section 13, Canon City, Colorado
Canon City, located an hour down the road from my new hometown of Salida, Colorado, sits about 1,700 feet lower in elevation and generally receives even less precipitation than Salida… which isn’t easy to do. I’d previously driven down there to ride the new Oil Well Flats trail system, and after a few weeks...
Review: Kenda Nevegal X Pro 29er Tires
I mounted a pair of the Nevegal X Pro 29 tires up tubeless on my new Easton EC70 wheels, which I put onmy Airborne Goblin. Now, the Nevegal X Pro is billed as a trail/all mountain tire, not a cross country tire, but putting more aggressive tires on my hardtail 29er was more than fine with me. I hate sacrificing traction...
Review: Easton EC70 Wide Carbon Flat Bar
The EC70 Wide is a carbon flat bar that’s designed to offer the leverage and control that have led to the popularity of wide bars, without the added height from the riser that has often accompanied the increased width.Read the full article her...
Review: Hincapie Arenberg Zero Jacket
However, the jacket obviously adds in sleeves, and the sleeves are well-worth noting. The Arenberg sleeves take a page out of the snowsports book and incorporate a weather protective hem, which creates an excellent glove-sleeve interface. Read the full article her...
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On Review: GT Force Carbon Pro 27.5/650b
Essentially every high-end mountain bike company makes bikes that ride and perform really well… but not all of them make bikes that perform well and are pleasing to look at. With the curvy carbon lines of the Force’s frame, not only is it functional, but is extremely good looking too! Read the full article her...
CDT / Wyoming Trail #1101: Dumont Lake to Buffalo Pass, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Starting off as a doubletrack, the tread quickly narrows into singletrack. This section of the CDT passes through numerous high-alpine meadows, bursting with wildflowers of all colors of the rainbow. Every mile or so (it seems) the trail passes a high alpine lake, natural, clear, and isolated from civilization. ...
Chantry Flats, Arcadia, California
The Upper Winter Creek and Lower Winter Creek singletrack trails are where the real riding is at. Some sections are super tech and probably will force you to dismount, but for the most part it is awesome benchcut singletrack! I definitely went the wrong way around the singletrack loop: try going clockwise (Upper Winter...
Photo Ratings on Tripleblaze
Now, when you rate a photo four stars or higher, the photographer will get a quick email giving them kudos for taking awesome photos. Also, the photo gallery rankings and trail thumbnails are now instantly updated based on your photo ratings (previously, there was a delay). Now if you see a photo that you really like,...
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Review: Bell Super Helmet
Over the past two years, the Bell Super has become the quintessential all mountain/enduro helmet. Now it seems like I can hardly click on a riding video without seeing someone who’s wearing “my” helmet. Read the full article her...
Feature Friday: Photo Ratings on Singletracks.com
Now, when you rate a photo four stars or higher, the photographer will get a quick email giving them kudos for taking awesome photos. Also, the photo gallery rankings and trail thumbnails are now instantly updated based on your photo ratings (previously, there was a delay). Now if you see a photo that you really like,...
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Singletracks Strava Club + Strava Segments on Trail Pages
Here on Singletracks, we love Strava… at least, for the most part. Jeff, Leah, and I, as well as almost all of the members of our editorial team, use Strava on a near-daily basis. As a result, we are currently working to capitalize on a some of Strava’s innovative features, and mesh them with Singletracks.Read...
Do we take mountain biking too seriously?
Now, I’ll be the first to claim that road bikers take themselves way too seriously, and way more seriously than the average mountain biker does. While I enjoy road biking too, Sacred Rides’ recent article titled “10 Reasons Mountain Biking Is Better than Road Biking” is right on the money. And while mountain...
Bull / Jake Mountain Trail System, Dahlonega, Georgia
Some people have mixed feelings about the Bull/Jake Mountain trail system, one thing is certain: this trail system is one of the premiere mountain bike destinations in North Georgia. Sure, there are better trails in North Georgia, but there are definitely worse trails, too. If you're looking for riding in the Dahlonega/Dawsonville/Helen...
Brown's Creek Trail, Salida, Colorado
The Browns Creek Trail starts just down the road from the Browns Creek Trailhead, according to the map. The lower portion (1.2 miles) of the Browns Creek trail is horribly washed out and extremely rocky, filled with massive baby heads. I would advise against trying to ride up it, although it's rideable (except for...
Blankets Creek Trail System, Woodstock, Georgia
Blankets Creek is one of the premiere mountain bike trail systems in the Atlanta Metro Area. While perhaps not technically in the metro area (depends who you ask), this Woodstock trail is close enough to the city to draw a flood of riders up here every day of the week. Read the full trail description her...
Blackjack / Raspberry Ridge, Pine, Colorado
Blackjack is advertised as a technical, black diamond freeride trail. Don't believe it because all of the other trails at Buffalo Creek are so buttery smooth? Believe it. Read the full trail description her...
Blackburn State Park, Dahlonega, Georgia
Blackburn State Park really isn't a state park anymore as it was shut down back in the 70's or 80's. There has been talk of late of Lumpkin County taking over the park and developing mountain bike trails here. This would be a great area to create a trail system for beginner to intermediate riders, as the Bull Mountain...
Bent Creek Trail System, Asheville, North Carolina
Bent Creek is the go-to trail system for the greater Asheville area, and with the deeply-ingrained mountain bike culture in the Asheville/Brevard area, and Western North Carolina in general, Bent Creek sees a ton of traffic. There are several different trailheads and ways to access the trail, and many weekends all of...
Arkansas Hills Trail System, Salida, Colorado
The Arkansas Hills Trail System is the closest singletrack trail system to downtown Salida... and by that I mean that it begins directly from downtown! Just cross the F-street bridge, hang a right through the fence, and follow the tire tracks to mountain bike heaven! Read the full trail description her...
In Search of Dry Land, Volume II: Oil Well Flats, Canon City, Colorado
As the singletrack climbed up the hillside, I began to encounter more and more rocks along with some fantastic views of the surrounding area. All of the rocks were easily rideable on the XC rig I was aboard, but there were plenty that served up great drops and jumps. As I climbed higher and higher, the high-quality construction...
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Photo Blog: My 2013 Mountain Bike Highlights
It’s hard to believe that 2013 has already come and gone! I don’t know about you, but my 2013 was packed from beginning to end with awesome, unique mountain biking adventures! With over 3,500 miles of riding (road + mtb), I covered a lot of territory and accomplished quite a few goals.Without further ado, here are some...