Jeff Barber

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 mountain bike resting on rocky terrain, overlooking a scenic valley with green hills and distant mountains under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
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Image description for alt tag: An advertisement introducing Trek's Gary Fisher collection. It features a man wearing glasses and a striped shirt, standing outdoors with a thoughtful expression. The background is dark with blue accents. Text highlights the collection's innovative design and encourages viewers to explore more.
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A panoramic view of Cypress Bend Resort, showcasing the golf, spa, and conference hotel surrounded by lush greenery and a serene body of water in the background. The resort features multiple buildings with elegant architecture and well-maintained landscaping. The sky is clear and blue, enhancing the tranquil atmosphere of the setting.
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A red bicycle lying on its side with a flat tire, positioned near a tree in an urban setting. The background features partially visible apartment buildings and a fenced area. The ground is sandy and shows signs of wear.
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A compact tracked skid steer loader with a black and red exterior, featuring a front bucket attachment, parked on gravel. The machine is slightly muddy, indicating use in outdoor terrain.
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A cyclist navigating a rugged dirt path surrounded by dense vegetation and greenery in a forested area. The cyclist is wearing a blue helmet and appears focused on the terrain. The ground is uneven with some rocks and patches of mud.
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Map showing trailheads and clusters in the Golden, Colorado area, with marked locations for trailheads (blue) and approximate trailhead locations (light blue), alongside various parks such as Windy Saddle Park and Matthew Winters Park. The map features options to toggle between different views: map, satellite, hybrid, and terrain.
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A hiker with a backpack stands on a rocky, sloped ridge surrounded by rugged terrain under a cloudy sky.
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Winding dirt path through a forest covered in pine needles and leaves, with sparse trees and undergrowth visible.
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A young man in a blue plaid shirt sits in a bike store, smiling at the camera. The background features various bicycles and cycling gear, with bright orange and neutral color tones. The image is part of a story about a helmet camera capturing an incident involving a cyclist and a car.
A red digital scale displaying a weight of 24.08 pounds is suspended from a hook attached to a bike seat. The setting is a basement with wooden beams and a bicycle partially visible in the background.
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A black cycling shoe with white accents, featuring three adjustable straps and a buckle, resting on a grassy surface.
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A cyclist riding a mountain bike over a dirt jump in a wooded area, surrounded by mounds of reddish-brown dirt and trees in the background.
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A group of cyclists riding in a race on a roadside, with one cyclist dressed in blue and black bringing up the rear. The scene is from the Tour de Georgia, 2005, with cars parked alongside the road in the background.
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A large group of cyclists wearing colorful clothing and helmets gather on a city street, with "Welcome" signs visible above. The scene captures the energy of a biking event, showcasing riders in various outfits as they prepare to set off. Trees line the street, and buildings are faintly visible in the background.
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A unique motorcycle sculpture constructed from animal bones, featuring a skeletal frame and intricate details. The bike has a distinct design, resembling a creature in motion, with a stylized skull at the front and a long spine leading to the back. The sculpture is set against a neutral background, highlighting its artistic and unconventional nature.
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A collage featuring two sections: on the left, a person riding a mountain bike on a dirt trail surrounded by trees, with a highlighted area on the ground indicating a measurement point; on the right, a graph displaying the relationship between trail grade and estimated cross-sectional area (CSA), with lines representing different gravel cover percentages.
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Close-up view of the rear section of a bicycle, featuring the drivetrain, gears, and rear wheel. The bike includes two water bottle holders, with one bottle visible, and has branding that reads "Smith & Wesson." The bike is predominantly black with some white components.
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A scenic view from a high vantage point overlooking a valley, with a small town visible below. In the foreground, a sign warns of a 200-foot cliff and instructs to dismount, ensuring safety for those in the area. The backdrop features rugged terrain with distant snow-capped mountains under a cloudy sky.
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Two mountain bikers racing on a dirt trail surrounded by trees. The lead cyclist, wearing a blue and white jersey, is depicted in motion, reaching forward with one hand while pedaling. Behind him, another cyclist in black shorts and a blue jersey is closely following. The terrain is uneven, with a mix of dirt and gravel. The scene captures the excitement of an outdoor biking competition.
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A mountain biker in an orange and black outfit is airborne as they jump off a wooden ramp in a forested area. The bike's wheels are off the ground, and trees surround the jump, showcasing a dirt trail in the background.
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Side view of a vehicle displaying a colorful wrap featuring the logo of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) with autumn-themed graphics. The design includes the text "INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BICYCLING ASSOCIATION" and a Canadian flag icon, emphasizing a connection to mountain biking in Canada.
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A collection of craft beer labels and a bottle. On the left, a bottle of Cottonwood Endo India Pale Ale. In the center, a colorful label for Fat Tire Amber Ale featuring an illustration of a red bicycle surrounded by floral designs. On the right, a label for Singletrack Copper Ale depicting a scenic mountain landscape with a bicycle.
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A grid layout of four sections related to mountain biking, featuring topics such as beginner gear, how to mountain bike, mountain bike repair, and additional beginner information. Each section includes a title and a brief description of the content, focusing on tips, techniques, and resources for mountain biking enthusiasts.
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Mountain bike with a black and white frame design, featuring front suspension, disc brakes, and thick tires suitable for rough terrain.
A mountain biker in a red shirt leaps off a dirt ramp in a forested area, with tall trees surrounding the scene and dust kicking up from the ground.
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Map of the United States with highlighted locations and a message promoting community change through biking initiatives, featuring the phrases "We're creating change in our own communities" and "places for bikes."
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A black and blue mountain bike stands on a bed of pine needles in a forest. The bike features a visible suspension system and thick tires, surrounded by tall pine trees in a natural setting.
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A person riding a blue kick scooter with large wheels, wearing a helmet, a white t-shirt, and shorts. The scooter has a flat deck and is designed for standing while riding.
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Two men are sitting outdoors in a wooded area, one on the ground holding a wooden item and the other seated behind him with a mountain bike nearby. The setting appears to be a biking trail, with trees in the background and a sunny day. The man with the bike is wearing a helmet and casual attire, while the other man is in a jacket and smiling at the camera.
A graphic design featuring a stylized mountain bike rider performing a trick, positioned above a jagged, upward-angled line on a dark textured background. The line represents a path or trajectory, suggesting movement or progress in biking.
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Map showing a route through Arizona with a red path indicating a specific travel or tracking route, and a list of active checkpoints on the left side, including various names and locations. The map features regions like Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson, with terrain details visible.
A completely white bicycle is propped against a wooden pole in a grassy area. A sign is attached to the pole, featuring printed text. The bicycle's wheels, frame, and handlebars are all painted white, blending into the surrounding environment.
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Two black rubber bicycle handlebar grips with a textured diamond pattern, one positioned upright and the other slightly tilted to the side. The grips have silver end caps and a small light indicator on one of them.
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Image featuring various downhill mountain bike gear, including handlebars, wheels, helmets, and tires. Products displayed are the Easton MonkeyLite DH handlebars, Easton Havoc DH wheels, Crank Brothers Opium wheelset, THE Industries Celtic ONE helmet, THE Industries Tiki ONE helmet, and ITS Intruder tire. Each item is accompanied by star ratings.
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Banner for the 3rd Annual Kona Shoot the Ride Photo Contest featuring the text "SHOOT THE RIDE" and "THE 3RD EDIT," along with various action shots of mountain biking and participants. The design includes a collage of photos showcasing biking stunts, joyful expressions, and event highlights, promoting the contest's revival on konaworld.com.
Close-up of a bicycle pedal attached to a crank arm, showcasing the pedal's cleat mechanism and design. The pedal is slightly dirty, indicating use, and is mounted on a wooden platform with a blurred bicycle tire visible in the background.
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A group of mountain bikers wearing helmets and brightly colored jerseys gather on a paved path surrounded by trees. Some riders wear red and white jerseys, while others wear orange and black. In the background, a person wearing a yellow shirt observes the group. The scene captures a moment of discussion or preparation before riding.
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Alt text: A webpage for the Singletracks MTB Video Contest featuring sections for video submissions, a leaderboard displaying video titles and their votes, and a countdown timer for contest duration. The background includes images of trees, suggesting an outdoor theme related to mountain biking.
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Logo of the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour featuring a stylized "fmb" in bold black letters with a green and black globe graphic above it, all enclosed in a rounded shape.
A businessman in a suit and tie confidently poses while sitting on a mountain bike, with his arms crossed and a slight smile, against a white background.
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A sleek black and white Trek mountain bike featuring a full suspension design, prominent front and rear shock absorbers, and durable alloy wheels, positioned on a white background.
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A helicopter is parked on a grassy field with a backdrop of rolling hills and a cloudy sky.
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A cyclist performing a trick on a bicycle, lifting the front wheel off the ground while navigating outdoor concrete steps. The sun is shining brightly in the background, creating lens flare effects in the image.
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A cyclist descends a staircase on a bike during a mountain biking event. Traffic cones and race barriers are visible along the course, with a large sign indicating the "24 Hours of Adrenaline" race. The surrounding area features hills in the background and a pathway lined with more cones to guide participants.
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A vibrant yellow hiking backpack with gray accents rests on a wooden surface. The pack features adjustable straps and a mesh back for ventilation, showcasing small reflective details for visibility.
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Two mountain bikers navigate a winding dirt trail on a mountainside, with lush green hills and rocky terrain. Snow-capped peaks rise in the background under a clear blue sky, while winding paths extend through the landscape.
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Wooden sign for Blue Mound State Park surrounded by greenery, displaying "BLUE MOUND STATE PARK" and "DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES."