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
The Topeak Bikamper ditches tent poles and uses your bike's wheels and handlebars to support this lightweight, three-season shelter for solo bikepacking adventures.
GoPro's new Karma drone and Hero 5 cameras promise to solve mountain biking's shaky POV problem with removable gimbals and built-in stabilization.
Three jaded mountain bikers discuss the few bright spots at Interbike while questioning why new product releases just aren't that exciting anymore.
In this better-late-than-never episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron, Greg, Helena, and I talk about the bikes we tested at Outdoor Demo on Tuesday.
The OutBraker system prevents endos and enables single-lever braking, making it ideal for new riders, adaptive cyclists, and anyone seeking simplified brake control.
The Lamere Dopamine claims to be the world's lightest full suspension fat bike frame, offering 130mm travel and multiple wheel size options.
The Indonesian Patrol 671 is a smartly-spec'd 160mm enduro bike offering Fox suspension and XT components at an affordable $4,399 price point.
The KTM Scarp Prime is a lightweight, carbon XC race 29er with 90mm rear travel that climbs efficiently and retails for $8,295.
Mountain biking remains dominated by white males aged 24-44 with higher incomes, though organizations are working to diversify participation across gender and ethnicity.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron and I talk briefly about Interbike Outdoor Demo, Day 1.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron talks about his recent mountain bike trip to West Virginia.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, Aaron and I offer tips for responsible mountain biking.
The Leatt DBX 6.0 Carbon full face helmet delivers exceptional safety features, remarkable comfort, and thoughtful design in a surprisingly lightweight package.
Canadian brand Staran offers the FSM-140, a well-spec'd 140mm trail bike with X-Fusion suspension, 1x11 XT drivetrain, and quality components for just $3,600 CAD.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we talk about some of the barriers to getting started with mountain biking and share specific ideas for improving fitness and technical skills.
It seems the topic of trail booby trapping, AKA trail terrorism, has been in the news a lot lately. We sat down to discuss just what the heck is going on out there.
At $37, the Trywin D1 GPS offers basic ride tracking and waterproof design, but poor accuracy and clunky data export make it hard to recommend.
Stop drinking from that funky bladder and follow these tips to get your reservoir back into pristine condition!
In this episode we discuss the use of electronics on the trail, everything from GPS to cameras, smartphones to music.
Survey says 38% of mountain bikers still run tubes, so here's your nudge to go tubeless with setup guides, repair tips, and product reviews.
Interbike's Fall Cyclofest hits Charlotte with demos, races, and a volunteer trail work day—though a post-event cleanup might be smart too.
Advanced Sports International acquires Performance Bicycle's 106 stores, combining bike brands like Fuji and SE with retail outlets in new omni-channel strategy.
Olympic XC mountain biking takes center stage this weekend on a purpose-built course featuring rock gardens, berms, and rhythm sections in Rio.
All sports drinks are designed to provide hydration, but taste is important too.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, I talk about an extremely hot mountain biking ride from a few years ago that could have ended in disaster.
Specialized's new Torch collection features a color-changing S-Works Epic frame that shifts from yellow to orange based on temperature.
Limited $30 tickets for the 11th annual Red Bull Rampage go on sale August 10 at 11am MDT on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What are the most popular shorts among Singletracks members?
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we talk about some of the bikes we have in for testing and preview some of the destinations we're visiting this summer.
The 2016 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame class includes five inductees honoring pioneers in media, racing, youth cycling, and the preservation of mountain bike history.
An Australian mountain biker suffered severe burns when his iPhone exploded in his pocket after a minor crash at Manly Dam.
WTB introduces 29mm internal width versions of their Frequency and KOM rims, designed to optimize performance with wider 2.3-inch-plus tires on standard mountain bikes.
Still not sure what enduro even means? Then you definitely don't want to miss this episode!
Singletracks ranks the most popular mountain bike trail in each US state and Canadian province based on member reviews, visits, and ratings.
In this episode we talk about our top 10 USA mountain bike destinations.
PowerTap's G3 Rear Disc Hub power meter is one of the few MTB-compatible options available, offering accurate data collection and seamless integration with existing devices.
A survey reveals 58% of mountain bikers don't own a dropper post yet, but these resources might convince you to join the revolution.
Based on detailed power meter testing, mountain biking requires 50-150% more effort than road riding, depending on trail conditions and obstacles.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we talk about dropper posts: how they work and why you need one.
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Survey data from 6,000+ mountain bikes reveals clear wheel size preferences: 29ers dominate under 130mm travel, 27.5" rules 140-160mm, and 26" still leads above 170mm.
Pokemon Go overlays a virtual game on real-world trails, potentially drawing new riders outdoors—but will they watch their phones or the trail ahead?
ate fills us in on his recent win at the Scott Enduro Cup in Moab and tells us what it's like to bikepack above 15,000 feet in Bolivia.
Mountain bikers face poison ivy and poison oak on trails nationwide—learn to identify these itch-inducing plants and how to prevent and treat exposure.
Of course not all mountain bikers enjoy technically challenging trails, but for those who do, we put together a list of some of the most technical mountain bike trails the USA has to offer!
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast we offer up our tips for riding in the summer, including tips for hydration, treating poison ivy, and removing ticks.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we talk with Seth Alvo, the man behind the insanely popular YouTube channel, Seth's Bike Hacks
Today we talk with Nathan Powell from TrackMTB about mountain biking in Spain.
In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we talk with Donald Hoefer and Kinzer Hewitt about bikepacking the Trans North Georgia route.
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