Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast

MTB Passion - Go All In! With Special Guest Johnnie U From Mountain Bike Q&A! [RNL S1, Ep 59]

The final episode of Ride and Laugh Season 1 with guest star Johnnie U from MTB Q&A is all smiles as we discuss finding and following your passion, mountain bike enthusiasm, hugs over fist bumps, trail pizza, ebike joy, MTB friendships, stoke and of course; unlimited gratitude & appreciation!  Learn about Sage's crazy '1 minute hug rule', magnetic pedals, dropper posts & bike geo, Florida jump trails, MTB tan lines, fitness vs. health and much more!  

Gratitude and appreciation to all our listeners and supporters!  Mountain bikers are the best!!  Ride & Laugh is taking a short break BUT we still have weekly content for you!!  The laughs, stoke and progression are unlimited!  Stay tuned! 

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: R&L Podcast - As season 1 comes to a conclusion, Dan is reflective on how awesome & fun the Ride & Laugh Podcast has been.  Dan appreciates his friendship with Sage.  Gratitude for the listeners, progression, joy and many friendships that have come out of the podcast.  We're super excited to see what happens next! 

Sage: R&L Podcast Listeners - Sage has so much gratitude to all our listeners and new friends.  We're sharing the stoke of MTB each week and we're eternally grateful for all our listeners.  If you're listening and reading this right now, we appreciate you!  Thank you!  

Johnnie U: MTB community - Johnnie has gratitude for the MTB community.  Mountain bikers are the best!  Riding and connecting with all types of mountain bikers is its own kind of payment.  Gratitude for all mountain bikers sharing a smile, encouragement and the joy of riding bikes on dirt!  Thank you Johnnie for joining us this week!!  

MTB Tip of the Week:

Get Yourself Out There - Take Action!  Say "yes" to life and "yes" to riding.  Put yourself out there and Go For It.  You are worthy!!  Meet riders, make friends, learn skills, be open to receive and see what happens!  We are ALL UNLIMITED!!  You got this!! 

Featured Riders:

Johnnie U - https://www.instagram.com/mtb_qa  
DennyJanetty MTB - https://www.instagram.com/dennyjanettymtb
Harlan Price - https://www.instagram.com/takeaimcycling
Sploosh MTB - https://www.instagram.com/sploosh_mtb
Nikky Shreds https://www.instagram.com/lowkey.mtb  

Additional Links

Johnnie U MTB Q&A https://www.youtube.com/@MTBQandA
Ride & Shine - https://www.instagram.com/rideandshine.mtb
Mag Pedals - https://www.instagram.com/magpedna
NICA (Youth MTB) https://www.instagram.com/NationalMTB
Virginia Key MTB Trails https://www.instagram.com/VirginiaKeyTrails  

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PORoOIH2uqQ

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

Riding Laps and Hitting Big Gaps – How Routines Can Help on Hard MTB Features! [RNL S1, Ep 58]

Learn a valuable MTB breathing and visualization routine to apply to your next mountain bike ride featuring intimidating jumps, drops rocks and gnarly trails.  Choose your riding partners carefully as group vibes matters when you're looking to take your mountain bike riding to the next level.

How much time do you need to get ready at the trailhead (Dan needs too much!?)  What makes mountain bike jumps different from traditional dirt jumps?  Dan and Sage discuss how to find your peaceful presence and use living in the moment to add confidence and stoke to all your mountain bike rides.  Boosting jumps adds control and steez in the air.  The human body is amazing as we discuss multi-day stage races, bulldog mentality, mega climbs, clipless pedals on dirt jumpers, flat pedals and more!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: Ray's Review on Apple Podcasts - Dan was really touched by listener Ray's awesome review of Ride & Laugh Podcast.  Ray's testimony of the R&L stoke, vibe and mission was perfect and touching.  Gratitude Ray!

Sage: Steve & Vinnie! - Sage appreciates the 'tow-in' speed on two difficult and intimidating features!  Thank you fellas for showing Sage the speed and the line! 

MTB Tip of the Week:

Pay attention to the riding styles of people in your group.  Who would be a good rider to follow for your style of riding?  Find the right people to follow.  Someone who matches your style and skills.

Featured Riders:

Ryan - https://www.instagram.com/wrolb/
Jacob - https://www.instagram.com/jacobtrimble15/
Steve - https://www.instagram.com/bentspokesmtb/  
Nik - https://www.instagram.com/lowkey.mtb/
Mike -  https://www.instagram.com/ceresmtber/
Vinnie - https://www.instagram.com/vin.vec/

Additional Links

TrailSage Mindset video - https://youtu.be/1izecvPmnj4  
BC Bike Race - https://www.instagram.com/bcbikerace/
TransRockies SingleTrack6 - https://www.instagram.com/transrockies/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/9xKLhszfbPs

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

Ride Dynamic, Fist Bump vs. Handshakes, Pump Track Skills, Hip Hinge & More! [RNL S1, Ep 57]

When you're open, present, and centered on the mountain bike, all your skills will flow effortlessly.  Use your excitement to be active and dynamic on the bike as you confidently ride all the jumps, drops, tech, steeps, skinnies and climbs.

Settle the debate... mountain bike fist bump vs. hand shake (or bro-hug!)?   Are some features visually misleading or actually harder to ride?  Dan 'focuses on not focusing' in order to enter the mountain bike flow state!  Sage rides awesome trails in Virginia such as Ragged Mountain, Western Slope and O Hill.  Callouses are normal for mountain bike hands (though storing them in a jar is still not normal!). 

Dan commits to trying RevGrips on his DJ!  Don't burn out your quads on the MTB downhill with a proper 'hip-hinge.'  Can smaller jumps actually be harder than bigger jumps?  Overcoming crash memories on Sunset Ridge Trail at Hawes.  Trying Continental Kryptotal tires and discussing loose terrain riding technique.  Join us for all the high vibes, encouragement, laughs and fun!  We appreciate you!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: DJI Osmo Action Mini Extension Rod - Dan is grateful for this pocket-sized extendable tripod made specifically for the DJI Action Camera.  With this nifty tripod in his pocket, Dan is able to record extra B-roll for the podcast. The tripod is small, light and super easy to use!  Gratitude DJI!  DJI Tripod - https://amzn.to/3R7Ik5n (Affiliate Link)

Sage: Sage's MTB friend in Virgina, Pili Pardo! - Pili invited Sage to MTB in Virginia for a weekend and it was a welcome break and ton of fun. Gratitude to Pili and MTB friends everywhere.  Mountain bikers are awesome, MTB travel is awesome and we are all unlimited!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Carry a Chain Quicklink! - Save a ride with this simple solution!  Carry a spare chain link, aka 'quick-link' in your pack.  These clever chain links are designed to quickly and easily repair your chain trailside!  Quicklinks are inexpensive, light and easy to carry.  Stash a couple in your pack now & thank yourself later! SRAM Eagle PoweLock / Quicklink - https://amzn.to/4huujtk  (Affiliate Link)

Featured Riders:

Harlan Price "Take Aim Cycling" - https://www.instagram.com/takeaimcycling/
Justin - https://www.instagram.com/mynameiscalleddisturbance
Pili Pardo  - https://www.instagram.com/pilipardo
Endeavor Cycles - https://www.instagram.com/endeavor_cycles

Additional Links

Callous Performance - https://amzn.to/41JakBd (Affiliate Link)
RevGrips - https://www.instagram.com/revgrips
Contintal Kryptotal MTB Tires - https://amzn.to/3FonNan (Affiliate Link)
O Hill - https://www.trailforks.com/region/observatory-hill-17238/
Western Slope - https://www.trailforks.com/region/western-slope-19618/
Ragged Mountain - https://www.trailforks.com/region/ragged-mountain-natural-area/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/xz6Al-eVf0k

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

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.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through the above links. Commissions earned through the Amazon Affiliate links help support this channel's content creation. Thank you!

Drop Your MTB Limits, Set Bold Goals, Add New Skills, Thrive at Enduro Races & More! [RNL S1, Ep 56]

We are what we believe we are so let's CHOOSE to believe that anything is possible on a mountain bike!  Your Passion for mountain biking will reveal your true talent for riding bikes on trails with all the cool jumps, drops, tech and features you can imagine! 

Sure, hikers and other non-riders may think we're nuts but that's fine with us!  We are shifting our mindset to "YES" for anything on a mountain bike (and in life!).  Join the guys in selecting your next mountain bike skill to learn, debate flat pedals vs. clips and learn how to refine bike jumping techniques.  Also discussed this week, why mountain bikers are better athletes than you may think, more evidence that the mountain bike community is awesome, prime enduro race vibes, National Trail in Arizona and more! 

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: Lyte Show Travel Packets! - In case of dehydration... do a shot of pure electrolyte liquid!  The perfect combination of salt and minerals. Dan appreciates being able to drink this electrolyte shot directly. Especially in the heat of the Arizona desert! These Lyte Show packets are great for travel but even better for hot weather mountain biking!  LyteShow Packets - https://amzn.to/3DsfcTt (Affiliate Link)

Sage: Reading Glasses! - Sage appreciates his reading glasses!  With the 'readers,' Sage can now read and write in his gratitude journal.  Manifesting MTB Progression, joy & stoke!  If you're having trouble with anything... it's OK to accept help! Surrender to the moment and see that the answers may be closer than you realize!  

MTB Tip of the Week:

Sunglass travel wipes! - As the weather thaws, Sage has noticed mud splattering onto his riding glasses.  These inexpensive sunglass wipes are a great way to clean your glasses, sunglasses or mountain biking goggles of mud.  They work equally well in the summer for sweat and debris!  Some wipes even have an anti-fog element to them for added utility! ZEISS Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030E4UIQ

Additional Links: 

RevGrips - https://revgrips.com/
SuperRider - https://www.youtube.com/@SuperRiderTV
Red Bull Hardline Tasmania 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT2CF0B-7cc

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5s03rNU8lpU

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

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.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through the above links. Commissions earned through the Amazon Affiliate links help support this channel's content creation. Thank you!

The Hardest MTB Feature, Intuition, RevGrips, DJ vs Gravel Bikes, and More! [RNL S1, Ep 55]

Certain MTB features are visually unsettling and can get stuck in our heads!  The dreaded "downward facing drop" may require more technique on our mountain bike trails than we're accustomed to!  Access your MTB intuition, trust your skills, stay present and effortlessly flow through any and all features on your next mountain bike ride! 

Do calloused hands mean we're gripping the handlebars too hard?  Does an electric Dirt Jumper actually make a lot of sense?  When can gravel biking be considered mountain biking?  What the heck is cyclocross?  Join the guys for a fun conversation about hitting features for the 1st time, Dan's ride at Gold Canyon, e-bikes, perfect trails and more!  

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: Email from Listener Nick Haas! - Dan & Sage received an awesome email from Nick about the positive vibes of the R&L podcast.  Nick noted how the pod is helping his mindset for more fun, flow & stoke on the bike.  Where we decide to put our attention and what we consume matters. Thank you Nick for your kind words and encouragement!  We appreciate you and all of our awesome listeners! 

Sage: Sticker Mule! - New Ride & Laugh Stickers are here!  Sticker Mule does a great job with their stickers.  Next time you see us, don't be shy & ask for a shiny new Ride & Laugh sticker! Sticker Mule - https://www.stickermule.com/

MTB Tip of the Week:

How to warm up your winter gloves pre-ride! You're driving to the trails for a cold, winter ride but you don't have to warm your riding gloves on the dashboard defroster anymore.  Turn on your seat heaters and sit on those gloves!  Now your winter riding gloves are nice and toasty when you arrive at the trailhead! 

Additional Links: 

RevGrips - https://revgrips.com/
Keswick Cycles - https://www.instagram.com/keswickcycle.paoli/
Specialized Gravel & CX - https://www.specialized.com/us/en/shop/bikes/gravel-bikes  
MTB Q&A - https://www.youtube.com/@MTBQandA

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/E8nc9ygRJqI

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

Are We Born With It? The Love of Mountain Biking Starts with These Innate Talents! [RNL S1, Ep 54]

From the pros racing Red Bull Hardline Tasmania to brand new riders, all mountain bikers possess the three prime MTB talents of balance, coordination and comfort on a bike.  What makes some people fall in love with mountain biking but scares others away from ever taking a bike on a trail again? 

Join the fellas for a fun debate on how soon new riders know if they love or hate mountain biking?  Are all mountain bikers fans of progression?  Does mountain bike social media inspire or scare new riders?  How important is proper mountain bike coaching/instruction for new riders?  The guys also discuss MTBer time travelers from the past, comfort vs. progression, enduro bikes on Hardline courses, talent vs. experience, red light healing and much more! 

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: Red Light Therapy! - After Dan injured a quad muscle, he has gratitude for the healing power of red light therapy!  Certain frequencies of red light have been scientifically proven to increase blood flow and stimulate cell regeneration.  Dan has utilized red light therapy to accelerate the healing of many injuries.  Thank you red light therapy! Red Light Therapy Wraps: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFTY5CHR

Sage: Jeff Jackson! - Sage asked Jeff for some video of night riding and Jeff came through in a huge way with awesome footage of night riding at South Mountain.  And this wasn't footage that Jeff already had... The guy went out of his way to get awesome and fresh footage of mountain biking at night for the Ride & Laugh Podcast!  Jeff consistently has insightful and helpful comments on the R&L YouTube and he often promotes the show on Instagram.  Jeff Jackson is a fixture in the Arizona mountain bike scene and he made sure to introduce Dan to many of his awesome MTB buddies in AZ!  Thank you Jeff Jackson!!  We appreciate you!  https://www.youtube.com/@jeffjacksonmtb

MTB Tip of the Week:

Demo a MTB!  A great way to try mountain biking for the 1st time is to demo a bike!  Bike shops and bike companies offer opportunities to demo a bike.  When you go to a mountain bike "Demo Day" you'll have the opportunity to ride recommended bikes and talk directly to the bike mechanics.  Whether you're trying mtbing for the 1st time or deciding on your next mountain bike, "Demo Day" is a great idea!  Call your local bike shops or look online for mtb demos near you!    

Additional Links:

Redbull Hardline Tasmania: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT2CF0B-7cc 
Dan's Oldschool MTB DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Roam-Collective-2-Andrew-Shandro/dp/B000FUWFIU
JeffJackson MTB: https://www.instagram.com/jeffjacksonmtb/
Stick  https://www.instagram.com/stephenstoccardo

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/eMkDKYbjQT4

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

Your Best NEXT Mountain Bike May Surprise You! E-bike vs. DJ for Progression! [RNL S1, Ep 53]

We can all agree that hardtail mountain bikes and full suspension bikes are great choices, but what is the best NEXT bike for most riders to excel on?  E-bikes (aka E-MTBs) allow almost limitless laps and miles on your trails, but e-bikes are expensive while Dirt Jumpers (aka DJs) are inexpensive and demand precision from riders.  Listen to the episode & then let us know which you would choose: e-bike, DJ, or something else! 

The fellas debate the best bike to own AFTER your hardtail and full suspension trail bike.  Dan & Sage make some surprisingly compelling arguments for e-bikes vs. dirt jumpers.  Who do you agree with?  Which bike would  you recommend and which bike would you buy?   The guys also discuss riding 'blind' vs. sessioning drops/features, icy Pennsylvania mountain bike trails, night riding, bike jump 'mastery', Dan in Arizona, riding centered/riding confident, and Sage's New Bike Day! 

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: 500 Subscribers on YouTube for Ride & Laugh! - The fellas have so much gratitude and appreciation for all our listeners and viewers on YouTube.  Sage especially puts a tremendous amount of work into the YouTube episodes.  We're unlimited and we're so excited to see what's next for Ride & Laugh and for all of our awesome listeners and viewers!

Dan: The State of Arizona - Dan is grateful to Arizona for the sun, positive vibes and healing energy.  Dan shares that his amazing wife, Lauren, has been fighting cancer and explains how he followed his intuition to move to Arizona for her healing.  Open to intuition, open to flow.  There is appreciation to be found in everything.  Be in the moment.  We got this.

MTB Tip of the Week:

When riding at night, use TWO lights.  The handlebar light will be your main headlight but a 2nd light on your helmet is key.  The helmet light will swivel with your head and also bail you out should the 1st light fail!  Night riding is fun and modern trail lights are amazing! 

Additional Links:

Specialized Stumpjumper 15 - https://www.specialized.com/us/en/shop/bikes/mountain-bikes/trail-bikes/stumpjumper
Magicshine MJ-902s review - https://youtu.be/6UTCUobPMUg
Desert Trails Bike Park - https://www.visitmesa.com/directory/desert-trails-park-parks/
Phoenixville Bike Park https://www.phoenixville.org/2861/Phoenixville-Bike-Park
JeffJackson MTB: https://www.instagram.com/jeffjacksonmtb/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/50Us8VF4WAU

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

Buy THIS Bike – Hardtail, Full-Sus or E-bike! Ideal 1st MTB to Own! [RNL S1, Ep 52]

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