Travis is a Singletracks staff writer who's deeply embedded in the mountain bike industry. His articles have appeared in Freehub Magazine, Mountain Bike Action Magazine, and The Loam Wolf, and he's a regular contributor to Singletracks. Travis has been riding since 2003 and currently resides in the mountain bike mecca of Bend, Oregon.
Author snapshot
MTB experience
- Mountain biking since 2003
- Current bike stable: Revel Rail 29
- Favorite place to ride: The Pacific Northwest
Writing experience and education
- Education: Masters in Teaching
- Other Publications: Freehub Magazine, Mountain Bike Action Magazine, The Loam Wolf, Bend Magazine
Mud Springs brings flow trails and beginner-friendly terrain to Moab, with 7.5 miles open now and more intermediate options currently under construction.
The High Above Cascadia hip pack stays locked in place and features durable construction, but lacks water bottle holders for riders who prefer bottles over bladders.
Thunder Mountain Bike Park in Juneau uses locally-sourced crushed shale to build weather-resistant trails that require minimal maintenance in Alaska's wet climate.
The 2026 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame class includes Max Commencal, Stan Day, Greg Minnaar, and Tracy Moseley, and all four will be honored in Lake Placid next month.
Eden Valley Trails wraps up construction on a five-mile directional descent at North Fork Park, using creative engineering to avoid conflicts with multi-use trails.
At Faull Line Gravity Park, Eric Faull is a one-man crew, building trails and driving shuttles. The park features jumps, rollers, and 600 feet of descending.
Red Bull Rampage returns to its original Virgin, Utah venue for 2026, marking 25 years since the freeride competition first launched there.
Gearbox bikes offer performance and maintenance advantages, though wider adoption is being slowed by a couple of key concerns. However, recent racing successes could convince everyday riders weight isn't one of them.
The Cline Buttes Recreation Area trail network is complete with over 30 miles of progressive singletrack, from beginner-friendly mountain bike loops to advanced technical descents.
Anaconda, Montana, is building a new trail system on former copper smelting lands, with eight miles of beginner-friendly singletrack now complete.
Canyon built a custom 3XL Grizl gravel bike with 32-inch wheels for 6'9" NBA player LeBron James, and it's one of a kind.
The USDA proposes rescinding the Roadless Rule protecting 58 million acres of National Forest land from development. Public comments are due by September 21.
Dyfi Bike Park in Wales opens new summit trails and plans future e-bike-specific development, moving beyond traditional shuttle-only access as rider preferences evolve toward self-shuttling.
The Mt. Bachelor Redline Rally, held near Bend, Oregon, has evolved from a pro-focused event to a platform where young riders launch freeride careers.
Heavenly Mountain Resort near South Lake Tahoe on the California/Nevada border now offers gondola-accessed mountain biking, with a new connector trail linking riders to existing descents.
Calgary's UNREAL indoor bike park aims to offer 200,000 square feet of progressive jump lines, pump tracks, and slopestyle features when portions of the facility open in spring 2027.
Hattie Harnden claims the first elite World Cup DH win on a belt-driven bike in Les Gets, France, earning the Gates €100,000 prize.
Bluewood ski area in southeastern Washington is adding a high-speed quad chairlift and planning to open lift-served mountain bike trails in fall 2027.
We spotted several US-made hardtails designed for trail riding at the MADE custom bike show, from a steel freeride frame to titanium builds.
Hammond Made debuts affordable handbuilt aluminum hardtails, featuring trail-ready geometry and innovative rack options.
Frame builders showcased handmade full-suspension mountain bikes at MADE in Portland, featuring titanium, steel, and aluminum designs from boutique brands.
Leadville teacher Jeff Spencer started last at the Leadville 100 and passed 1,390 racers to to raise scholarship funds as the Leadville Dream Chaser.
Crankworx announces plans to launch a new global enduro race series in 2027, filling the gap left by the UCI World Cup's cancellation.
The UCI is ending the Enduro World Cup after 2026 due to declining participation, though enduro will continue at World Championships events.
17-year-old Cruz Blue completed the Tour Divide in under 20 days, but prioritizes adventure on his bike over records and titles.
Mosaic Cycles launches Zero Components to manufacture 32-inch gravel forks for their new GT i55 32 titanium gravel bike.
TASU is building a new technical DH trail parallel to the popular Hell Hole shuttle trail, completing the Cliffrose Trail System, and looking at Pine Valley next.
Cypress Mountain, located outside Vancouver, BC, announces the return of its bike park after 20 years, with Gravity Logic building progressive trails opening in summer 2027.
The Lauf eElja is a uniquely lightweight e-bike featuring a single-pivot suspension, TQ HPR60 motor, and unconventional geometry for playful trail riding.
TAMBA is completing five miles of new singletrack to connect Meeks Bay and Lost Lake, completing a 12-mile loop on Tahoe's West Shore. And it's all thanks to a massive donation.
Trooper Lake in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, brings six miles of new-rider-focused singletrack that NICA, IMBA, and PeopleForBikes hope to replicate around the country.
USA Cycling announces 49 riders for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, competing across XC and DH disciplines.
Mono Pond State Park will feature the first purpose-built mountain bike trails on state land in Connecticut, beginning with 4.4 miles of bike-optimized singletrack.
Cedar Flats Trail System in Columbia Falls, Montana breaks ground on Phase III, adding 13 miles of trail to complete a 25-mile multi-use network.
The 2026 Leadville 100 mountain bike race will run on an altered course next weekend, excluding the iconic Powerline climb and descent to avoid fire-affected areas.
Steamboat Bike Park has made 15 of its 17 downhill trails adaptive-friendly, becoming one of North America's most accessible bike parks.
Big Sky, Montana now offers a beginner-friendly shuttle trail called Hot Dog, complementing the intermediate Mountain to Meadow with free public transportation access.
Santa Cruz's 5th generation Blur moves up to 120mm of travel and slackens more than 2° at the head tube to handle the more aggressive modern XC courses.
Sam Hill's trail building company has constructed what may be the world's longest public dual slalom track at Pine Ridge Bike Park.
Norco just released the new Fluid but have already issued a voluntary recall due to potential seat tube failures "under certain use conditions."
Here is some of my favorite summer mountain bike clothing — including a jacket from 7Mesh — plus new jerseys and pants from Arc'teryx, Fox, and Backcountry.
Odessa Mountain Bike Park in Texas could be demolished to make way for residential and commercial use despite a petition with over 1,500 signatures.
Colorado Springs just opened seven miles of new singletrack at Blodgett Open Space, including three miles of dedicated downhill trails and bike park-like features.
I like dogs, but just not on the trail, and especially not on the group ride.
Ministry Cycles introduces a new high-pivot option, the Zahn, in collaboration with Yueh Sports. Only 20-30 frames will be produced in the first batch.
The Rimpact TMD tuned mass damper installs inside your bike fork steerer tube, using a spring-suspended weight to reduce handlebar vibration and rider fatigue on rough terrain.
A small Alberta town near Banff is building a 50km mountain bike trail network, having already completed 30km in just three years.
Mont-Sainte-Anne is building three new pro-level trails for its first-ever Crankworx, including Quebec's longest lift-served jump line at 2.2 kilometers.