What type of mountain bike do experienced riders recommend for new MTB trail riders? Join a "Ride & Laugh" mountain bike debate about hardtails, full-suspension, e-bikes, skills, fun, budget, weight, passion and much more!

How important is the right bike to a new mountain bike rider's joy of our amazing sport? Do most riders start on hardtails, or can we go right to a full-suspension trail bike? How much do we spend on a 1st bike before we know if mountain biking is for us? We may waver but eventually, Dan & Sage come to a definitive conclusion! Do you agree with the guys on this one? We want your feedback?

Also in this episode, Sage is stoked to eventually ride his new Specialized Stumpjumper 15! The guys discuss handlebar length, bike fit, South Mountain vs. UCI Downhill, underbiking and much more!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: Hawesfest Mountain Bike Festival! Thank you to Hawesaholics, Hawes Trail Alliance and all the other organizations and volunteers who made Hawesfest 2025 possible! So many cool people who love bikes and the Hawes trails! The festival was well attended, the vendors were awesome and the vibe was super high! Mountain biking is awesome & Mtb’ers are the best! Gratitude Hawesfest!

Sage: Sage appreciates the positive feedback R&L is receiving for the YouTube version of the podcast. Sage and Dan put an enormous amount of time and energy into adding MTB video; which makes the R&L podcast on YouTube really unique and special. Thank you to all our viewers and we appreciate the positive response and feedback!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Get a professional bike fit! We spend a lot of money on our bikes and gear. Let’s make certain we’re fit for optimum performance on all of our current and future bikes! Avoid injuries, add comfort, and maybe get faster at the same time! A good bike fit can be invaluable.

Additional Links:

Specialized Stumpjumper 15 - https://www.specialized.com/us/en/shop/bikes/mountain-bikes/trail-bikes/stumpjumper TrailSage - Mt. Lemon https://youtu.be/MZzloNVev-o Hawes Trail Alliance https://hawestrailalliance.com/ TrailSage - Stumpjumper 15 Review - https://youtu.be/DA2WWv2s8JI Keswick Cycles Paoli https://www.instagram.com/keswickcycle.paoli/ AJ Steeber - R&L Realtor! https://www.instagram.com/aj_steeber/ Ride Reactive - https://www.ridereactive.com

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/dcccggrqAGM

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

Maximize the fun and excitement of mountain biking on a new trail for the 1st time, aka “Riding Blind!” Learn the top tips to boost your confidence, speed and flow on new and old MTB trails!!

Is it still riding blind if you’re following another rider? Dan rides partially blind (Pirate style!?) on the double black "Old Man Trail" at South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. Does a ‘big’ bike with more suspension travel, such as the Pivot Firebird or Yeti SB160 add confidence when riding blind on new trails? Sage discusses how he utilizes multi-day fasting to optimize health for mountain biking. Dan is surprised by what he learns riding his hardtail MTB on the famed National Trail at SoMo. Also discussed are clipped-in pedals vs. exposure, gap jumps at Hawes Trails in Mesa, AZ, pumptrack fitness, ideal tire PSI, anxiety vs. intuition and much more!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: DennyJenettyMTB “Rider Spotlight” series - Dennis interviewed TrailSage as part of his new “Rider Spotlight” series. Dennis is interviewing MTB YouTubers and riders with his unique perspective and sense of humor. Sage had a blast talking to Dennis and has gratitude for their friendship! Check out Dennis’s interview with Sage and support his Rider Spotlight series! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGD6BNe6Tgw

Dan: Meeting Kyle Anderson and Rob Drew! - Dan and “SoMo Jeff” met Kyle on a recent ride climbing up the gnarly National Trail at South Mountain. Kyle was as friendly as he was talented! This guy loves mtbing and was stoked to share some crazy lines and options we had never even considered! We then met Kyle’s good friend, the legendary Rob Drew himself! Rob was super cool and showed us how he climbs up the massive waterfall feature on National Trail. Awesome people, awesome riders, awesome day on the bike!

MTB Tip of the Week:

When riding a trail for the 1st time and following someone, JUST FOLLOW. Ask only about trail features that are above your comfort level. Don’t ask for too much detail, your job is to stay present and ride. The ride leader’s job is to shout-out any features you may not be comfortable with. Use the techniques discussed in this pod to slay new and old trails alike! You got this!!

Featured Riders:

Jeff W - https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20/ A.J. - https://www.instagram.com/aj_steeber/ Jordan - https://www.instagram.com/jbowersrealestate Kyle - https://www.instagram.com/mr_anderson480 Rob Drew - https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew/

Additional Links:

Sean at Sticks & Stones: https://www.instagram.com/sticksandstonestrailco/ Denny Jannetty MTB: https://www.youtube.com/@DennyJannettyMTB

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/aUqafNj9oB4

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

Do we need to 're' unlock mountain bike skills we have already learned but not used on the trails in a long time? Episode 50 is a classic as we discuss the "Ride and Laugh Cabin/Museum," breakaway pants, hardtails on hard-trails, hip packs and much more!

Dan and Sage learn the best way to land your mountain bike while discussing how much water we need on a ride, hip-pack vs. hydration packs, more winter ride tips, and demos of Pivot Cycles at South Mountain. Can a modern XC bike possibly replace a trail or enduro bike on gnarly trails? What happens on the trail, stays on the trail!? Join us for all the laughs, jokes, stoke, tips, encouragement and mountain bike joy!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Shimano MW 501 - Sage appreciates these high performance winter shoes. The Shimanos are great on all but the coldest of rides. The shoes are light-weight, waterproof and comfortable. A good pair of fall/winter shoes is a worthy investment that should last many seasons! Check out Sage’s review here: https://youtu.be/1rX7cOGaTuk

Dan: Hector's portable, mini, electric air compressor! - This tiny air compressor saved Dan a ton of time on the trail as it not only re-inflated his flat tire, but seated a tubeless tire to the rim! This powerful little compressor was super impressive, so Dan immediately bought one! Mini-Air Compressor: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8JGD9X8

MTB Tip of the Week:

When climbing on your mountain bike, shift your weight to the front of the saddle. This weight shift will keep you balanced and keep your rear wheel glued to the trail! You are crushing your next climb!

Featured Riders:

Brian on The Bike - https://www.instagram.com/brian_on_a_bike/ Sean - https://www.instagram.com/saguarosingletrack/ Stick - https://www.instagram.com/stephenstoccardo/ Arturo - https://www.instagram.com/byclas_mtb/ Hector - https://www.instagram.com/pa.ncho6744/ Jaime – https://www.instagram.com/jaime_rued/

Additional Links:

Pivot Demo - https://global.pivotcycles.com/collections/demo-bikes USWE Pack - https://uswe.com/en-us/bike Desert Trails Bike Park - https://www.visitmesa.com/directory/desert-trails-park-parks/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/i1VtXSJ7hZY

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

There is no doubt that utilizing beginner to expert level "Trials Skills" on a trail will unlock infinite progression, confidence and ability on your next mountain bike ride! Old habits may die hard, but when we practice being present on the bike, we can unlock all the balance, skill and ability we want!

Sage was super stoked to ride with "The Trail Boss," Jeff Lenosky at Mt. Penn in Reading, PA. Jeff's incredible skills and experience teach us that anything is truly possible! Sage also enjoyed being back on a smaller mountain bike as he sends a new trail gap at Brandywine Park in Delaware. Dan experiences the exact ride he needs in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. Besides incredible beauty, Sedona boasts all the slabs, tech, climbs and jumps any mountain biker could ask for! National Trail in Phoenix, AZ claims a victim in a nasty crash but the ride is saved in an expected way!

The guys also discuss the new "Ride & Laugh" Strava group, mullet bikes vs. 27.5 bikes, trail gaps, breaking old riding habits, clipless pedals vs. flat pedals and so much more!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: Web MD / Internet Search! - After Neil dislocated his shoulder on a ride on National Trail at South Mountain, the guys learned how to 'relocate' a dislocated shoulder from the internet! While still on the trail, they were able to instruct Neil how to pop his shoulder back into the socket and get back to the trailhead. Gratitude to the internet! Mountain bikers are awesome! Heal up Neil!

Sage: Sage's Ibis Mojo 3 - As Sage contemplates adding a new mountain bike to his garage, he is overwhelmed with gratitude for the excellent and trusty Ibis Mojo 3. The Mojo has brought countless hours of flow, fun, joy and progression to Sage on the trails. Thank you Ibis Mojo 3!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Endo Turn/ Nose Pivot! Hit the front brake to unweight your rear tire then swing the bike to either side. Practice small endo turns on the trail 1st. You don't need to go very fast and put yourself on a slight turn to make the endo turn easier to initiate.

Featured Riders:

Jeff Lenosky - https://www.instagram.com/jefflenosky/ Brian on The Bike - https://www.instagram.com/brian_on_a_bike/ Stick - https://www.instagram.com/stephenstoccardo/ Vaughn - https://www.instagram.com/v.spencer_mtb/ Arturo - https://www.instagram.com/byclas_mtb/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/_mojoe_/ Jeff W. - https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20/

Additional Links:

Ride and Laugh Strava Club: https://www.strava.com/clubs/1335621 Jeff's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JeffLenoskyTrailBoss TrailSage Holbert Video: https://youtu.be/Mji_9T5eogA Sedona Bike Park: https://www.instagram.com/sedonabikepark/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/WP_V4x0bmBk

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

Mountain bikers may struggle to learn new skills or add fitness and that's completely normal. However, we can learn, progress and become stronger riders without the mental suffering! Give yourself grace, recognize your inherent worthiness and celebrate all the small wins on this amazing mountain bike journey!

Share the stoke, progression and MTB lessons as Dan recounts two awesome South Mountain rides in Phoenix, Arizona! First up was a National Trail Technical Climbing CLINIC with new friends Mike & Stefanie McDaniel! The very next day Jeff, Joe, Ryan and Dan embarked on a massive 5 1/2 hour South Mountain Epic Trail Ride called "National Trail Coast to Coast." Progression on tech, climbing, descending and fitness all in one massive ride!

The guys also discuss giving grace to ourselves around the holiday season (and all the extra eating we may have done!). Let go of judgement and step into presence on the trail and in life! Join the conversation as we debate MTB trials skills vs. moto skills, radial tires for MTB, tech climbs, body position, short travel vs. long travel bikes, learning from better riders and much more!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Nick, Christian & the Infinity Demo! - Sage sessioned some frozen jumps and learned from expert level jumpers. Thank you Keswick Cycles for the Specialized Stumpjumper 15 demo!

Dan: Dan appreciates all the riders he's met in Arizona so far. Gratitude to all the people he's met and who have welcomed him on group rides. Special shout out to listener Jeff Jackson for getting this all started! Mountain bikers are the best! Jeff’s Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jeffjacksonmtb

MTB Tip of the Week:

Follow Riders Better than You! If you have the opportunity to ride with mountain bikers better than you, take it! Observe, ask questions, learn and progress!

Featured Riders:

Mike - https://www.instagram.com/rosenfieldmike/ Sean - https://www.instagram.com/saguarosingletrack/ Stefanie - https://www.instagram.com/m0sstef/ Jeff - https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/_mojoe_/ Ryan - https://www.instagram.com/ryanwilliamjames/ Nick – https://www.instagram.com/jns1014/ Christian - https://www.instagram.com/_______christian_/

Additional Links:

Schwalbe Radial Tires - https://www.schwalbetires.com/radialtires-mtb/ CST Tires - https://www.csttires.com/us/tires/bike/ American Classic Tires - https://www.amclassic.com/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Eh6WHHETRvQ

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

2025 means unlimited progression on our mountain bikes! Join us as we refine our bike jumping skills, improve body position, increase confidence and unlock more flow & joy on the trails!

Dan & Sage discuss their 2025 MTB & Podcast goals. Move forward from fear, make 'shapes' in the air and be open to advice! How much does beer/alcohol play in your mountain biking? Why is jumping a smaller bike more technical than a larger mountain bike? Practice being present on easy trails, so you're 'locked in' and present on the harder trails!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: Godeson Presta Tire Gauge - Dan appreciates this little gadget for checking mountain bike tire PSI before each ride! Tire PSI is so important in mountain biking and this simple gadget confirms that Dan's tires are exactly where he wants them before each ride. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09GF2D326/

Sage: Ceres MTB Crew (Steve, Nic, Ed, and Mike) - Sage is incredibly grateful for the tour, advice, encouragement and stoke from this awesome crew of riders! The trail building and the riding at Ceres has been a huge part of Sage's progression, jump journey and MTB joy! Thank you fellas!

MTB Tip of the Week:

How to stay 'present' on the trail! Before your ride, set an intention or a goal to work on. Focus on one or two skills to practice and look for opportunities to practice as you ride. Not only will this keep your mind in the moment, the practice will make you a better rider!

Featured Riders:

Nik “Salty Shredz” https://www.instagram.com/jns1014/ Mike - Ceres MTber https://www.instagram.com/ceresmtber/ Steve - Bent Spokes MTB https://www.instagram.com/bentspokesmtb/ Ed https://www.instagram.com/chefboyar_edd/

Additional Links:

Lee Likes Bikes - https://www.llbmtb.com/ Ceres Park: https://www.trailforks.com/region/ceres-park/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/gfPjo1siZ5g

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

We're upgrading our mountain bike operating system from moving backwards with fear to moving forward with aggressive confidence! Take a deep dive into clever techniques and new thought patterns to perfectly balance on the bike and attack the trails with increasing confidence!

The 'fear response' of leaning back on the bike is not serving Dan so Sage suggests a new 'fear response' of moving forward with trust in our MTB skills! We do not need to be the kind of riders we thought we were. Let's all update our belief systems to be the best riders we can imagine! Also discussed are trials bikes, BMX & moto for MTB Skills, tips for riding trails "blind," best MTB tires and much more! Flow on the bike, flow in life! Anything is possible and you're unlimited! We got this!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Demo of the new Specialized Stumpjumper 15! Thank you Sean at Specialized for making it happen! Early reports from Sage are that the Stumpjumper feels incredibly stable/planted on the ground and instantly comfortable in the air! The bike wouldn't allow a pre-ride. It goes! Huge gratitude to Sean, Keswick Cycles and Main Line Cycles for making this demo happen! Specialized Stumpjumper 15 https://www.specialized.com/us/en/stumpjumper

Dan: Dirt Therapy Project! Helping military veterans find healing through mountain biking! Everything we love about mountain biking all wrapped up in a great cause. Fun, stoke, community, joy, laughter, progression and appreciation! Happiness through Mtbing! Consider joining your local Dirt Therapy chapter, donating or buying some swag to support this great cause! Dirt Therapy Project https://veteransfuture.org/pages/dirt-therapy

MTB Tip of the Week:

When you're leading a group ride, you have to pay attention to all elements of all riders. Set a pace that is comfortable, provide a good warmup and choose progressive jump and/or tech features that everyone can enjoy.

Featured Riders:

Alena https://www.instagram.com/alayna_mtb Andrew https://www.instagram.com/heyitsblandrew Mike https://www.instagram.com/mikepetruzzi Danae https://www.instagram.com/danae.dearden JeffJackson MTB: https://www.instagram.com/jeffjacksonmtb

Additional Links:

Slanted Ground - Breaking the Glass Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJjcfVS78VE Keswick Cycles https://www.instagram.com/keswickcycle.paoli Mainline Cycles https://www.instagram.com/mainline.cycles Hawes Trail Alliance: https://www.instagram.com/hawestrailalliance/ Mt Penn: https://www.trailforks.com/region/mount-penn-preserve

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Mrmcg7vn1gM

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

Unlock safer and bigger jumps on your mountain bike with this key piece of mountain bike wisdom! Override the fear response, drive your bike forward and super-coffee your way to maximum MTB confidence!

Dan & Sage discuss how the 'fear response' sneaks into our rides in multiple different ways. The universe provided Dan with some of the best MTB advice ever! Chin forward, push the bike, don't be pulled and be intentional. We're breaking bad MTB habits and progressing into the riders we know we are! The skills are in there! You are unlimited!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Evelyn “Pili” Pardo - Pili is a TrailSage Patreon member and she gifted Sage a pair of Animoz MTB pants! Sage is excited to try out these cool 'long-sleeve' shorts! https://www.instagram.com/animoz.ridingwear

Dan: "Unsolicited Advice!" The universe gave Danny two incredibly helpful pieces of advice this week! Riders helping riders. People helping people. Open to receive! Thank you Josh. Thank you Cole! Mountain bikers are awesome!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Adjust your mountain bike brake levers for your attack position, not your seated (casual) position. Setting your brakes to match your attack position will encourage proper form when the trails get gnarly or sendy!

Additional Links:

Evelyn “Pili” Pardo https://www.instagram.com/pilipardo/ Salesianum Mountain Biking https://www.instagram.com/sallies_mtb/ Desert Trails Bike Park https://www.visitmesa.com/directory/desert-trails-park-parks/ Phoenixville Bike Park https://www.phoenixville.org/2861/Phoenixville-Bike-Park

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ATx_xpeWCkE

The Ride and Laugh MTB podcast is hosted by Dan @the_ride_abides and Sage @TrailSage. Join us as we discuss all things mountain biking! Riding technique, MTB gear, bikes, nutrition, fitness, mindset and more! Feel the gratitude. Flow on the trails, Flow in life! Please enjoy the content then like and subscribe. Join the Ride & Laugh community in the comments and/or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips