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
Both bikes have 145mm of rear travel and a $6,199 price tag. We compare their geometry, suspension, build options, and frame features.
A new UCI rule starting in 2027 lets road teams earn bonus points when their riders place well at XCO World Cup and World Championship races. There's also one less MTB race this year.
Similar suspension and components make the Switchblade and MT close on paper, though differences in geometry, adjustability, and price may help you choose between them.
Pathfinder Trail Building's new Tree Fort hub at Cedar Hills Bike Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, connects four trails ranging from blue flow to black tech.
With K2-Play now open, the 18 Road Trail System in Fruita is complete, and recent upgrades include designated camping, a larger staging area, and a newly paved road.
A proposed update to the Forest Service's TMR would change the default access presumption for trails and exempt Class 1 e-bikes from motor vehicle designations.
Park City's silver mining history can be explored on a roughly 10-mile mountain bike route, complete with a free audio tour and 20 points of interest.
Cube's Zakarias Johansen raced the Enduro World Championships on a 30.5" front wheel, and Schwalbe says their tire is in early testing.
Construction has started on a high-speed quad chairlift in Mena, Arkansas, which will serve about 19 miles of downhill bike trails with roughly 1,100 feet of descent.
We tested the Trek Fuel in both its mid-travel EX and long-travel LX setups to see whether the modular tradeoffs are worth it.
Shae struggled to find a bike that fit him, so he built his own full-suspension steel frames, including an enduro bike, a trail bike, and an e-bike.
Red Bull has rescheduled the Hardline BC finals to Friday, October 16, citing weather. The rescheduling comes just days after Rampage was canceled.
The Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and county parks are proposing three new trails at Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve, including a hand-built descending-only trail.
Aventon's limited-run Current LTD brings top-tier RockShox suspension, Crankbrothers wheels, and a Maxxis tire upgrade, though competition at its $7,999 price is growing.
The redesigned Canyon Spectral:ON pairs the Avinox M2S motor with revised geometry and a claimed 45.8-pound top build, with more models following.
Pivot is asking the mountain bike community to watch for 12 missing demo e-bikes after a weekend theft that cut its UK test tour short.
High winds forced organizers to cancel the men's Red Bull Rampage finals after nine riders took their first runs, so no men's champion will be named in 2026.
The Ozark Trail dropper post costs $84, including a lever. It works as expected, though its 125mm of travel and 31.6mm diameter limit the bikes it fits.
Intradrive's GD8 combines an eMTB motor and 8-speed gearbox in one unit, and two brands, Obscur and Alutech, now offer mountain bikes built around it.
Ten years after construction began, Raging River gains two more intermediate descents and celebrates the trail system's completion.
Texas mountain bikers will need to wait for an event or make special arrangements to ride Reveille Peak Ranch, which has discontinued day use and camping.
At 19, Asa Vermette became the youngest DH World Cup overall champion, clinching the title in his first elite season.
Valnova's Kirkhills Bike Park near Boise features downhill trails, pump tracks, and plans for 20-30 miles of XC singletrack connecting multiple riding areas.
Step-over barriers meant to keep e-bikes off White River National Forest trails can be easily bypassed but likely block adaptive mountain bikers.
The overall Downhill World Cup title will be decided at Lake Placid, where Asa Vermette's lead could bring the trophy back to America.
The historic Johnstown Inclined Plane has reopened after major renovations, offering mountain bikers shuttle access to four miles of downhill-focused trails in Pennsylvania.
The CPSC has recalled numerous inexpensive bike helmets from online retailers this year, citing violations of “the mandatory safety standard."
Red Bull Hardline BC debuts at Cypress Mountain in three weeks, and while we know little about the course, it will feature a massive 25-foot ladder drop.
After decades of restriction, a proposed trails plan could finally allow mountain biking on singletrack at Mt. Tam in California.
New trail plan aims to broaden Oakridge's appeal beyond advanced riders with proposed bike park, beginner trails, and better town access across four zones.
EXT updates its dual positive-chamber Aria air shock with a redesigned reservoir orientation and slimmer profile to fit more bikes.
Kenda's new Ripper trail tire fills the gap between XC and enduro offerings, providing efficient rolling speed with surprisingly consistent traction.
PNW Components expands its Range lineup with new grips in two sizes and six colors, complementing the popular Loam grips at $29.
Bend's Flagline trail opens annually on August 15th after elk calving season, offering locals pristine backcountry singletrack at 7,000 feet elevation.
Oregon's Buzzard Butte expands with pro-built trails ranging from double-black jump lines to adaptive-friendly descents.
The new Magura Race Pro brakes swap composite materials for machined aluminum and claim more stopping power than previous offerings and competitors too.
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.
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