Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast

How to dial in the perfect trail speed on your MTB to send big drops and features [RNL S1, Ep28]

Approaching new and big drops on your mountain bike can be very intimidating!  Look before you leap, ask other riders, trust your skills, fully commit, spot the landing and fully commit!

The guys are stoked to hit a new mega drop at their local bike park.  Sage sent the drop and inspired other riders to go for it!  Discuss how to determine the right speed for new features.  The skills are in there!  You got this!  New tech moves, "huck to flat" drops, meeting Ride and Laugh listeners and more! 

Additional Links:

Jess Buch: https://www.instagram.com/buchbikes/
Terry Haynes: https://www.youtube.com/@thaynes1832

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Blue Mountain Bike Park - Sage appreciates our local southeast Pennsylvania bike park.  Blue Mountain may not be large but they are constantly improving the trails, adding new trails and features!  Thank you Blue Mountain Bike Park! https://www.skibluemt.com/mountain-biking

Dan: Mountainsmith Mountain Bike Bag - Dan appreciates his trusty mountain bike bag!  This bag holds and organizes all his bike gear.  Everything is always in the right place.  A good mountain bike duffel bag is on every trip & every ride.  Thank you Mountainsmith Bike Bag!  https://mountainsmith.com

MTB Tip of the Week

Gnats swarming your head/face is part of the mountain bike experience in many parts of the world.  Sage shares the top speed of a gnat and how fast we need to pedal to outrun the annoying buggers!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/zY27-drE-Xs

The Ride and Laugh 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

I want to do that! Jumping mountain bikes is fun and adding style on jump trails is next level! [RNL S1, Ep27]

As you start to clear jumps on your mountain bike, when do you add in 'style' moves like whips and bar-turns?  We know moving the bike in the air looks awesome, but does it also add stability and flow to the jump?  

Ride along with us today as we discuss braking bumps, where they come from and our plea to avoid making more.  Tips to recapture motivation to train after a big MTB trip or race is over.  Do e-bikes change trail etiquette? Is it easier to get into a flow state on flow trails or a flow state on tech trails?  Details on how to plan a mountain bike trip, how to use Trailforks to make a route and Penny-farthing bike jumps!  What's up with that!?  

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: 1Up Bike Rack - Dan's bike rack is Sage's gratitude this week!  Sturdy, well made, modular, well designed and made in the USA.  The 1Up Bike Rack has been a great MTB travel tool!  Thank you 1Up! https://1up-usa.com/ 

Dan: Just past the 1 year anniversary of the bike crash that broke his jaw, Dan has so much gratitude for the Dr's that helped put him back together.  Dr. Foote and Dr. Koenig at UPenn Hospital as well as the Emergency Response Team, many more Dr's, nurses, friends and family!  Gratitude to everyone for all the healing support and love! 

MTB Tip of the Week

How to use Trailforks to find a place to ride.  How to use Trailforks to create a route to follow on your next destination ride!  www.trailforks.com 

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/rAQP8uVSe2o

The Ride and Laugh 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 you need a new bike to level up your skills and make you better on the MTB? [RNL S1, Ep26]

Did the new Pivot Firebird mountain bike increase Dan's confidence, skill or both? What happened when Sage rode an old-school MTB on tech trails for a couple months straight? 

Confidence can come from a shiny new bike but also from rocking success on an older, less capable bike.  Notice how the pressure of leading a MTB ride may help you commit to a tough jump or tech trail.  The guys also discuss mountain biking in the Olympics, e-bikes for fitness vs. fun, MTB jump coaching, the joy of a new MTB tire, meeting Ride & Laugh fans, tubeless vs. tubes and more!   

Additional Links:

WPL ForkBoost
https://wplbike.com/products/forkboost-4oz

Coffee Powered Cyclist
https://www.youtube.com/@coffeepoweredcyclist  

Pivot Firebird
https://global.pivotcycles.com/bikes/firebird

Phoenixville Bike Park
https://www.morekidsonbikespa.org/phoenixville-bike-park

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: USWE Hydration Pack - Dan appreciates his USWE pack and how well the "No Dancing Monkey" harness keeps the pack stable and comfortable in all conditions!  Thank you USWE for making a fantastic mountain bike hydration pack! https://uswe.com

Sage: Dell Precision 5570 Laptop - Sage appreciates the speed and power of this mountain bike video editing machine!  To watch, process, edit and render video from modern 4K action cameras you need a lot of computing power.  Sage appreciates his laptop.  Thank you Dell! https://www.dell.com 

MTB Tip of the Week

Hum or sing a tune while riding flow and jump trails.  Stay connected to the present moment, tame your mind and keep skills unlocked by singing to yourself.  Try it out & let us know if it worked for you and what songs are best!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/yPQQ7fTF0lg

The Ride and Laugh 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

Unlimited Stoke! - The many benefits of e-MTB's, high vibes and MTB jump repetition! [RNL S1, Ep25]

Stoke is unlimited and mountain bikers are awesome!  Letting go of judgements on the trail, MTB jump tips, insightful listener comments on ebikes, and bike parks we're excited to visit next!

Are analog bikes going to be a thing of the past? Dan & Sage continue to learn about and debate e-bikes/e-MTBs.  There are so many pros but what about the cons?  Is e-biking really a different sport than analog MTB?  The guys also discuss how certain riders raise the vibe of a ride.  Dan tells his hilarious story about confusing an entire bike park and finally, the guys also dish out some great tips for jumping on your mountain bike. 

Links:

Deborah Leedale-Brown - dlb2-Full Potential Coaching @bikegirldlb
Ride with Keeton - Raising Vibration! @rideandshred 
Highland Mountain Bike Park: https://highlandmountain.com/
Mountain Creek Bike Park: https://mountaincreek.com

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: His Wife! Dan is grateful to have a wife and partner who understands and supports him.  Lauren encourages Dan's passions (mountain biking!) but more importantly, Lauren is a kind, generous and incredibly thoughtful person.  Dan has so much gratitude to have such a loving, beautiful and supportive partner in this wonderful life.

Sage: Ibis Mojo 3! Sage is so stoked to have his bike back (repaired!) and now that he's clearing some big jumps on his Ibis Mojo 3, he knows with more certainty than ever that he is 100% unlimited on this bike!  Sage has so much gratitude for all the miles of progression he has shared with his Ibis Mojo 3 and he's ready for many more miles of smiles!

MTB Tip of the Week

How to ride wood when it's wet!  When the trail is wet, do your best to hit any wooden features, bridges or roots straight on.  Aim straight ahead to avoid needing to turn or brake on the wet wood.  Hit the wood straight on from the right angle. Commit!  You got this!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/VlkBvUZE50A

The Ride and Laugh 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 #eMTB #MTBtips #MTBPodcast

We ain’t half steppin! Peak fitness for epic rides – MTB Training [RNL S1, Ep24]

Peak fitness for epic mountain bike rides is essential to feeling good and flowing on the trails! Is easy training in Zone 2 enough to get you ready for your next destination MTB trip?

Dan and Sage debate, "The Loam Ranger" claim that Zone 2 Training on a MTB e-bike is all you need. Are you fit enough to tackle epic rides like the Whole Enchilada or Mag 7? What trails, rides, and bike parks are on your bucket list?  Do you think the reputation of a trail, or a feature, may make it harder ride? Listen to intuition, stack wins, feel confident and unlock your skills! Just like the ladies of the amazing F1RE team! 

Loam Ranger e-bike video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6MKWcKbiig&t=3s

If you want to learn more about F1RE please visit them at: https://f1remtb.com or check out their Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/f1remtb

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Grateful to see the man that his son Oliver is growing into. Oliver is smart, thoughtful and hard working.  Sage is a proud Pappa to see the obstacles he and his sons have overcome recently.  Mtbing adds positive positive vibes to our lives and our lives add positive vibes to mtbing. We are all connected and we are all unlimited!

Dan: After five consecutive days of mountain biking in oppressively hot weather, Dan reflects on how grateful he is for the dehumidifier in the laundry room! Place shoes, helmet, pack and pads by the dehumidifier after each ride and the gear is dry in the morning! The dehumidifier removes the moisture (and most of the smell!) so Dan is putting on dry shoes and gear for the next ride. Gratitude dehumidifier!

MTB Tip of the Week

Wipe down the stanchions on your dropper post, fork and rear shock before every ride to make sure dirt and grime don’t get dragged down into the internals. 

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Ya4DqIjG6vk

The Ride and Laugh 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 #MTBtips #MTBPodcast

Electrified Progression – We found a mountain bike cheat code! [RNL S1, Ep23]

An e-bike certainly means more laps, more jumps, more drops and more trails, but what are the downsides for us traditional mountain bikers?  Can an e-MTB be used as a tool for progression on your mountain bike? 

Dan & Sage are excited to demo Specialized Turbo Levo e-bikes for 3 days of riding!  The guys use these modern marvels to session jumps and unlock MTB skills!  Day 1 we went to the Trexler Nature Preserve and sessioned the Return of Brian's trail and Jack O Diamonds.  Day 2 and 3 we headed to Mt Penn to hit the Skyline jumps.  The progression we experienced over those 3 days was incredible!!!  But we also noticed some downsides concerning the weight of the bike and power modulation.

So the question is, will Dan & Sage want to buy e-bikes now?!  Listen and find out!  Join the conversation about the benefits and drawbacks. Join the conversation about the benefits and drawbacks of e-bikes at https://www.youtube.com/@RideLaughPodcast or rideandlaugh1@gmail.com

TrailSage video on Specialized Levo 1st Impressions: https://youtu.be/kojuHvACxDM

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Dirtsculpt is an east coast company specializing in designing and building mountain bike trails, pump tracks and bike parks.  Sage talks about his appreciation for the awesome job Dirtsculpt did building the amazing "Skyline" jump trail on Mt. Penn.  Sage has gratitude to have such well-built jumps to ride, session and enjoy!  Thank you Dirtsculpt!! https://dirtsculpt.com/

Dan: Keswick Cycles in Paoli & Specialized Bikes!  Huge thank you to Gary, Corey, Will and the rest of the staff at Keswick Cycles in Paoli.  Keswick Cycles provided the Specialized Turbo Levo e-bikes that Dan & Sage rode and talk about in this episode.  Keswick Cycles is a great shop for all gear and repairs.  They went above and beyond providing these e-bikes for The Ride & Laugh Podcast team!  We also want to thank Specialized Bikes for their demo program.  Thank you Keswick Cycles Paoli & Specialized Bikes!!  https://www.instagram.com/keswickcycle.paoli/

MTB Tip of the Week

Spray your bug repellent on your clothing/gear, not on your skin!  By spraying your helmet, shoulders and hydration pack, the bug spray won't sweat off your skin.  Keep the gnats away with a clean bug spray (essential oils, cedar, etc) and keep the bug spray on you longer by spraying gear & clothing instead of skin! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F5NEF8

Skyline Jump Trail at Mt. Penn: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/skyline-53365/

Specialized Turbo Levo: https://www.specialized.com/us/en/c/eturbolevo

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

The Ride and Laugh 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.  

#eMTB #MountainBike #eBike #MTBtips #MTBPodcast

It's a mountain bike thing - Part 2: Turns out we are nuts! [RNL S1, Ep22]

Risk, reward and progression on our mountain bikes resonates with our souls! Join us for the 2nd part of our discussion about overcoming fear, unlocking your MTB skills and going for it! 

Join the conversation and get stoked about unlocking your skills, focusing and overcoming obstacles! Riskier features and trails seem to be more rewarding to conquer on our mountain bikes.  What are the reasons that push mountain bikers to attempt dangerous trails, jumps, drops and features?  Would you (or have you already!) attempt the "White Line" in Sedona or "Portal Trail" in Moab?  Flow on the bike, flow in life!

Bamba (Berks Area Mountain Biking Association):
https://berksmountainbiking.org/

Phoenixville Bike Park: 
https://www.trailforks.com/skillpark/phoenixville-bike-park

TrailSage video on Phoenixville Bike Park:
https://youtu.be/f4FQOHRWmUM

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Danny & Main Line Cycles - After cracking the carbon on his trusty Ibis Mojo full suspension bike, Sage has enormous gratitude to Dan & his family for paying for the carbon repair.  Limitless gratitude to Sage's shop, Main Line Cycles, for arranging the carbon repair at an incredibly reasonable price.  A great shop you can check out at: https://www.mainlinecycles.com/ 

Dan: Phoenixville Bike Park! - Gratitude to this progressive bike park built in the small town of Phoenixville!  Dan is so impressed with how much benefit the bike park contributes to the community.  Kids and adults were outside riding bikes on a nice summer day.  Gratitude to the Phoenixville bike park and community bike parks everywhere! https://www.morekidsonbikespa.org/donate

MTB Tip of the Week

How to visualize conquering or completing a new feature or jump on your mountain bike.  Sage advises seeing yourself from a 3rd person perspective.  Like you're the star in a movie or video!  You are unlimited!  You got this!!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/tmP2WDX-ZOo

The Ride and Laugh 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 #MTBtips #MTBPodcast

It's a mountain bike thing - Part 1: Non-riders think we're nuts for this! [RNL S1, Ep21]

Trusting our bike skills and fully committing to a feature on the trail feels good!  Why do some mountain bikers thrive on high consequence challenges like jumps, drops, features and tech?

Entering the flow state on our mountain bikes is achieved with skill, enthusiasm and confidence!  When we're flowing, we know that anything is possible!  We seek out challenges on the trail that may seem risky or silly to non-riders.  But as mountain bikers, achieving competence or mastery of these challenges raises our 'stoke-meters' through the roof! 

The guys reference two previous episodes which you can find here:
Strava: The App We Love and Love to Hate: https://youtu.be/kkpVMH3fZek
Look Ma, No Gels! MTB Nutrition like you've never heard before: https://youtu.be/jOqFp9L8qo0

Dan discusses his ride at Hawes trail system in Arizona.  See his route here: https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/view/71975457/

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Health - Sage is grateful to wake up each day feeling good.  Each day we wake up feeling strong, fit and healthy is a good day!  Sage appreciates his healthy and resilient body.  Thanks to our bodies we get to enjoy the amazing sport of mountain biking (and so much more!).  Extra gratitude for avoiding injury on a dangerous fall recently! 

Dan: Metabolic Flexibility!  - Dan appreciates his body's ability to burn fat as fuel.  This amazing adaptation that all humans have unlocks metabolic flexibility.  Dan can easily fast (skip meals) for long periods.  This ability has been really useful this week with Dan travelling and working long hours at work.  No need to eat!  It's a super-power that is really useful on the trails as well!  The human body is amazing!  Thank you universe!

MTB Tip of the Week

How to properly shift into an easier gear while putting down intense power on a mountain bike climb.  Find the spot in your pedal stroke where you can let up a little bit... that's your opportunity to shift into an easier gear 'under load.'

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/1iBB6t9-uSc

The Ride and Laugh 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 #MTBtips #MTBPodcast