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 hiker walking along a narrow dirt path through a dense forest, surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a dappled light effect on the ground covered with fallen leaves.
A bike mount displaying three different mobile devices, including GPS navigation and smartphones, showcasing various maps and interfaces. The mount is attached to a handlebar, highlighting its functionality for navigation on bicycles.
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This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
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A long-sleeve athletic shirt featuring a white base color with black accents and a red logo. The shirt has a modern design with a high neckline and contrasting panels on the sleeves and sides, suitable for sports or outdoor activities.
Close-up image of a small fan mounted on a bike handlebar, featuring a black casing and a four-blade propeller, designed to provide cooling airflow while riding.
Cover of the magazine "MBR" (Mountain Bike Rider) featuring a mountain biker in green apparel riding on a rocky trail. The cover includes text highlighting features such as "Skill School," "Best Trail Centres," and "Budget Bouncers."
A Garmin Edge 605 GPS device displaying a map screen with speed reading of 29.6 mph and heading direction marked as north. The device has a gray casing and buttons for navigation.
This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
A creative bike rack designed to resemble a bull, with a red bull head and black legs. Several bicycles are parked beside it on a sidewalk, with traffic cones and a sign indicating "DO NOT ENTER" visible in the background.
A wooden footbridge winding through a lush, green forest, surrounded by tall trees and underbrush. The path has a rustic design, with some sections elevated and others connecting through the natural landscape.
This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
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Garmin Edge 605 GPS device displaying a map with speed and heading information.
A green plastic tray with a curved edge and a handle, designed for carrying or organizing small items. The tray has a smooth surface and a contoured bottom for stability.
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A cyclist in a racing jersey with the number 59 is falling off their bike while riding on a snowy slope. Snow is flying up around them as the bike flips over. In the background, there are snow-covered hills and a clear blue sky. Red and white tape is visible marking the course.
A mountain biker in mid-air performs a jump over a rugged canyon, with spectators watching from both sides. The scene is set in a natural landscape featuring green hills in the background. At the top of the image, there is a memorial text honoring Mark Reynolds, listing his birth and death dates.
A mountain biker is upside down, falling off their bike while attempting a trick on a sandy slope. The rider is wearing a helmet, gloves, and protective gear. A caution tape line is visible in the background.
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This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
Silver mountain bike with thick tires and front suspension, positioned against a dark background.
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This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
Black and red sock featuring the text "Fruita Fat Tire Festival" and the US Bank logo, along with a website URL for Fruita Mountain Bike.
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Black t-shirt featuring a logo design inspired by the NBA logo, depicting a silhouette of a BMX rider, with red and blue colors on either side of the figure.
Black Garmin Edge 705 cycling GPS device displaying speed and heart rate data on a colorful map interface.
Two mountain bikers are seen in mid-air as they jump over a barrier during a cycling event. In the background, a grassy landscape stretches out under a partly cloudy sky, with spectators watching from the side. A vehicle is parked along a nearby road.
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A pair of black cargo shorts featuring a drawstring waistband and multiple pockets on the sides, designed for comfort and utility.
This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
A red and silver bicycle helmet with aerodynamic design and multiple ventilation slots. The helmet features the brand name "Giro" prominently displayed.
  1
Alt tag: "A map showing a trail outline in red, located near Lake Lafayette and Tom Brown Park, with surrounding geographical features labeled."
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This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
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This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
  1
A mountain biker in a red outfit jumps off a steep dirt ramp, suspended mid-air against a backdrop of blue skies and fluffy clouds. Trees and rocky terrain are visible in the surrounding landscape.
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This weekend I got the chance to check out a couple north <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/database.php?terms=name&state_id=10">Georgia mountain bike trails</a> I hadn't ridden in a while so I thought I'd let you know what's up. We camped out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=574">Fort Mountain State Park</a> and the main mountain bike loop looked pretty overgrown. Ok, pretty overgrown might be a bit generous since the Powerline section looked nearly impossible to follow with briars covering even the wide doubletrack downhill. Fortunately we didn't attempt to bike the outer loop this time, I would have been pissed if I had done all that climbing for nothing...

At Fort Mountain I did see a poster for the <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=152712.0.1.5">Georgia Muddy Spokes club</a> which I had never heard of before. Apparently if you ride at all 11 state parks with bike trails in Georgia you can earn a free t-shirt - a pretty cool program if you ask me. Mudhunny and I rode out at Fort Yargo State Park just last weekend, too bad we didn't get our punch card ;) You do have to pay $10 just to get your card (plus $2 parking at each park) so I guess the t-shirt isn't free after all.<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude" />

<a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/my/view_profile.php?user=TheRandomDude">Rick</a> and I rode out at <a href="http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=557">Bear Creek near Ellijay</a> on Saturday and it was my first time back in at least 10 years. The trail really hadn't changed all that much, though one of the locals we spoke to was complaining about some new water bars on the downhill section. There is also some new trail in the area including a portion of the Pinhoti trail so I definitely need to get back and explore a bit more. We also saw a HUGE group of SORBA riders celebrating someone's birthday with a group ride, fortunately they were finishing up just as we started.

<img width="577" height="433" id="image883" alt="bear-creek-trail.jpg" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=
A mountain bike resting on a rock, overlooking a scenic view of rolling hills and a cloudy sky. The foreground features tall grass and foliage, while the background shows layers of blue mountains fading into the distance.
A Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS running watch features a rectangular display with a graph and various buttons on the side. The watch has a black and purple design and a durable strap suitable for athletic use.