Greg began mountain biking in 2005, and since then, the pursuit of singletrack has taken him around the world. While Greg first started adding trail reviews to Singletracks in 2008, his career in mountain bike media officially began in 2010. He started writing for Singletracks in 2011 while simultaneously finishing his formal secondary education in writing and publication. Greg has the distinction of being the first employee that Singletracks ever hired, and he went on to serve for seven years, including five years in the Editor in Chief role. After a six-year hiatus, Greg is back at Singletracks, serving in the Managing Editor role.
While Greg has reviewed innumerable mountain bikes and products over the years, his true passion lies in writing about mountain bike trails and destinations. Greg has ridden over 8,000 trails and visited 21 countries (and counting). He recently spent four years traveling full-time, including two spent living in a camper van with his wife, Christine. In between epic trips, he now resides in Durango, Colorado.
Author snapshot
MTB Background and expertise
- Riding experience: Primarily trail and enduro, with experience including endurance XC, bikepacking, downhill, and gravel riding.
- Mountain biking since: 2005
- Number of trails ridden: 8,000+
- Number of countries visited: 21+
- Current stable: Pivot Switchblade V3, Pivot Vault, Scott Big Jon
Education and writing experience
- Bachelors of Arts, English: Writing and Publication, University of North Georgia
- Other publications: Strava, FATMAP, Dirt Rag Magazine, MTB Project, Hiking Project, GearJunkie, Outside 365
The Flowtron dropper seat post from FSA features 125mm or 150mm of travel and a paddle-style remote, all for a reasonable price.
Mountain biker discovers $4.2 million illegal marijuana grow operation on Colorado's popular Rainbow Trail, leading to four arrests by authorities.
The Yeti winter bike shoe from Northwave is designed for fat biking and has an SPD cleat attachment, is rated to -13
Kali Protectives' Low Density Layer technology reduces rotational and linear impact forces, now available in the affordable $100 Alchemy helmet.
Worrying about the future and obsessing about the past--these two things rob us of embracing and enjoying this present, singular moment. Autumn teaches us to embrace these fleeting moments that collectively make up our lives.
GoPro has just released two new cameras: the Hero6 Black and the Fusion, which shoots spherical video.
Kuat and Yakima have released nearly identical hitch mounts that allow a bike rack to swing out of the way of the rear of a vehicle.
The KHS SixFifty 6600+ is a carbon full suspension enduro 27.5+ bike... and it only costs $4,000!
Patrol is launching a new 140mm 29er full suspension trail bike: the 591.
Thule's EasyFold XT ebike rack claims a 66-pound bike weight limit and includes a ramp to roll the bikes onto the rack.
Osprey's new TrailKit, SnowKit, and BigKit gear hauling bags are superbly engineered and feature-rich.
Pearl Izumi's first-ever flat pedal bike shoe, the X-Alp Launch, is light enough for all-day rides.
The Pardus Cyclone prototype features a fully-enclosed rear shock inside its carbon frame, designed by Niner co-founder Steve Domahidy for maximum protection.
Tantrum's new, patented Missing Link suspension design promises revolutionary climbing efficiency, without sacrificing descending prowess.
The Half Bottle adapter from Wolf Tooth adds a second mount for a tool to an existing water bottle mount.
Greg Heil reflects on a dramatically smaller Interbike, finding that face-to-face industry relationships remain the show's true value despite declining attendance and exhibitors.
Mavic's XA Pro shorts weigh just 6.7 ounces yet proved durable through 76 miles of Colorado Trail bikepacking in hot summer conditions.
The XA Pro Under Bib Shorts from Mavic offer excellent ventilation and a thick, comfortable chamois. The chamois is very absorbant, so much so that it left me feeling dry.
The Gunnison National Forest in Colorado is home to some of the best mountain bike trails in the world, including Trail 401, Doctor Park, and Mt. Crested Butte.
Bikepacking is both complex, and yet very simple.
The Mountainsmith Bike Cube hauls massive amounts of mountain bike gear to the trailhead, but lacks refined, bike-specific features for the price.
Greg Heil argues that 27.5+ tires are overrated, citing weight, flimsy casings, poor cornering, tire bounce, and lackluster traction in loose conditions.
Nipika Mountain Resort offers an off-grid escape deep in British Columbia's Kootenay National Park, with exposed singletrack along dramatic gorges and pristine wilderness riding.
The Scott Genius runs 29", 27.5+, or standard 27.5" tires with adjustable geometry, TwinLoc suspension, and weighs just 26.68 pounds.
Spank injects their vibration-damping Vibrocore foam into new wide, shallow-profile Spike 350 wheels, claiming better tracking and increased strength.
Fernie, BC delivers over 100 trails ranging from loamy beginner flow to gnarly old-school descents, plus world-class lodging in a mountain town.
Exploring whether true contentment comes from within or if choosing the right place to live matters more than Stoic philosophy suggests.
WTB's new Koda saddle was designed with female riders in mind, featuring a wide center channel, short nose, and two width options.
Terrene's new Cake Eater fat bike tire offers a faster-rolling tread than the aggressive Wazia, with studded versions starting at just $150 MSRP.
ENVE's new M Series wheels feature Wide Hookless Bead and Protective Rim Strip technologies designed to nearly eliminate pinch flats while improving durability.
MRP's new Ribbon Coil fork brings coil suspension performance to trail bikes with only a 203g weight penalty over its air-sprung counterpart.
Sacred Rides' Bring Your Partner Adventure solves vacation conflicts by combining epic mountain biking for riders with hiking, yoga, and adventure activities for non-riding partners.
The Spot Mayhem 29er's innovative Living Link leaf spring suspension and lightweight build create a versatile trail bike that climbs like a rocket.
Transition launches the Sentinel, a 140mm 29er with slack geometry, and updates its entire lineup with "Speed Balanced Geometry" for 2018.
Golden, Colorado's Proudfoot Cycles builds lightweight steel full suspension mountain bikes, and the playful 120mm Primed 29er weighs just 30 pounds.
Greg Heil explores why introverts need solo rides to recharge, away from group ride debates about trails, components, and meaningless mountain biking minutia.
Syncros' new Hixon iC integrated carbon bar/stem combo weighs just 290g and looks futuristic, but lacks adjustable bar roll.
Two mountain bikers tackle Colorado's Cottonwood Trail, climbing from 7,000 to 9,500 feet to test how quickly one can adapt to high altitude riding.
The hottest, most innovative mountain bike products of 2017 include drivetrain upgrades, electronic suspension tuning, and onboard tool storage.
Mountain bike advocacy support is greatest at the local level, with fewer seeing the need for trail advocacy at the national level.
Niner has re-introduced an aluminum version of the AIR 9 mountain bike with updated geometry and specs.
A 24-year-old mountain biker was killed by lightning while riding near Telluride, Colorado despite shelter attempts and extensive resuscitation efforts.
Find the most difficult mountain bike trail in every US state. Each of these black diamond bike trails offer advanced riders a true technical challenge.
The Guerrilla Gravity Shred Dogg is a USA-made aluminum shredder with quick-adjusting geometry that climbs fast and descends with precision on 135-145mm travel.
Mountain biking doesn't need justification through racing or fitness goals—it's worthwhile simply because we enjoy it, making the journey itself the destination.
We surveyed over 2,000 mountain bikers to find the best brakes, and Shimano XT dominated with more votes than all other brands combined.
Pearl Izumi's Launch shorts offer durable, stretch fabric and great features for gravity riding, though they run warm in hot weather.
Greg Heil explores two approaches to living in the moment: packing every second with activity versus intentionally slowing down to find peace.
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