Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast

The 5 most important mountain bike skills (To advance your riding!) [RNL S1, Ep13]

What are the 5 most important mountain bike skills to advance your riding on the trails?! Use these MTB skills to ride with more confidence, conquer more features, ride safer, have more fun and add more stoke on your next trail ride!

Join the conversation!  Once Sage defined the title... we're off to the races in a really fun debate on the most important mountain bike skills to advance your riding.  Trail Stand, Endo-turn, Step-up, Bunny-hop/J-hop and Pedal kick.  Which skills do you have?  Which skills do you want to learn?  Do you agree with our top 5?  What skills would you remove? Which skills would you add?  Where and how do you learn some of these skills!? 

The guys also discuss skills clinics, power meters, road rides on your mountain bike, training indoors vs. outdoors, single speed MTB technique, pump tracks and much more!

Learn these skills and more with a mountain instructor and skills clinic like DirtSmart.  Dan enjoyed his weekend clinic with Andy at Dirtsmart and highly recommends it! https://www.dirtsmartmtb.com/

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Stages Power Meter - Sage has so much gratitude for the power meters designed by the company "Stages."  As the news comes out that Stages is in serious financial trouble, Sage reflects on how much he appreciates their products and all the awesome training he's done with Stages power meters on two of his bikes. Thank you Stages!

Dan: Backyard pump track! - Last summer Sean at Sticks and Stones Trail Co. installed a pump track in Dan's backyard (See it here: https://youtu.be/fIanVFip_sY). Since it's now spring in the northeast, Sean visited to tune-up the pump track, so now Dan is back to shredding laps in his backyard. Pump tracks are so much fun, teach great skills/habits and are a great workout! Dan has so much gratitude to his wife for her support and to Sean and Keeton for their hard work and trail building skills!  Thank you Sticks & Stones Trail Co.! instagram.com/sticksandstonestrailco

MTB Tip of the Week

How to do a trail-stand! One tip to keeping balance on your mountain bike while it's not moving forward is to pick something in the distance to focus on. There's another secret tip Sage gives out as well. Listen and learn!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/HB5EzqnMU4U

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 #MTBskills

Recover... or else! Come back stronger on the MTB through proper recovery [RNL S1, Ep12]

After all the mountain bike training, riding and hard work our bodies need time to recover so we can come back stronger!  Proper recovery is time off the bike, body care, nutrition, mental breaks and much more! 

Join the guys for a really fun conversation discussing how to recover from hard training & riding.  Dan & Sage readily admit that they're not great at taking time off, but they've found it necessary and worthwhile!  The guys discuss in-season recovery, end of season recovery, multi-day fasting, massage, foam rollers, sleep, HRV, pump-tracks and much more!  Stay tuned as Sage explains how he cracked the frame on his trusty Ibis Mojo 3!  

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Ibis Mojo 3 - Thank you for 6 years of shredding, progression, tech, jumps and stoke!  And for not failing catastrophically after getting damaged. A great bike!  Thank you! 

Dan: Vibrating foam roller!  This little (and very loud) device has completely supercharged my recovery. It's almost like a deep tissue massage in your living room.  Thank you! 

MTB Tip of the Week

TENS machine! Electronic stim to encourage blood flow to an injury. Recover faster from injuries or use them to recover from tough rides! 

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/0YxG1D3AYRE

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 #Fitness #Training #Recovery #MTBPodcast

 

MTB doubles, skinnies, and slabs, what could go wrong? – So funny! [RNL S1, Ep11]

This week our mountain bikes were jumping 'doubles,' riding 'skinnies' and crashing on 'slabs.'  The guys explain these features, terms and discuss everything that can go right or very wrong on the trails!  Every episode of Ride and Laugh has humor, but this one is our spiciest and funniest yet! 

Dan and Sage review feedback from the fitness podcast and discuss motivation to train, workout and lift weights.  It's all about the mindset!  You got this!  Dan discusses a new technique he learned for skinnies (which Sage disagrees with!). The guys talk about jumping some really large doubles, or 'humps' as Sage explains... which leads to some ridiculous hijinks and joking around. Finally, what did Sage do wrong riding a super steep slab? We have the film to review his crash (he's OK!).  We're definitely sounding like 2 guys in a parking lot in this episode! Listen and laugh along with us! 

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: 1st Responders for MTB trails, bike parks & injuries. Thank you!

Dan: MTB Culture. Dan explains all the riders who offered to help with a recent flat tire.  And how many times have you shown a rider a trail or a feature? Or had a friendly rider show you a line or tow you into a feature?  Mountain bikers are awesome! Thank you all! 

MTB Tip of the Week:

Be prepared! Know the location of where you're riding. When you're riding at a bike park, have the phone number handy. In the rare instance you or a friend needs a 1st responder, be prepared! 

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

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

Old school tech lines with new school riders - The benefits of MTB innovations [RNL S1, Ep10]

From unreliable and uncomfortable to the amazing trail shredding machines we now enjoy, the evolution of the mountain bike has been amazing! New riders learning to mountain bike tech, slabs, jumps and more, on modern trail bikes have a very different experience on the trail and that's a good thing!

The future of mountain biking is bright! Dan & Sage rode some gnarly tech with two young rippers and were thoroughly impressed!  These kids loved riding, learning, and enjoying trails outside. Not what you hear about in the news! The guys discuss their ride with Hunter and Sawyer, and reflect on how far mountain bikes have come.  Today's mountain bikes with dropper posts, modern geometry, 1x drivetrains and much more vs bikes from 20 years ago… what a huge difference!

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: The mountain bike industry has come so far. Modern bikes are capable, reliable and so much fun.  Thank you!

Sage: Dropper Posts!  Game changing technology which makes bikes so much more capable and fun. And modern droppers are so reliable.  Thank you!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Follow a rider you trust through new jump lines to mimic and understand the speed.  Gain confidence!  You got this!

Featured Riders:
Brian @bande_mtb
Hunter @homeless_mountainbiker
Sawyer @sawyerbarmore
F1RE - Females First Racing Enduro @f1remtb

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/xZxIHFMP3bo

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 #MTBtech

I'm peaking! Proper training leads to more MTB fun on the trails - Fitness Primer [RNL S1, Ep9]

Proper training leads to better fitness and more mountain bike fun on the trails!  Climb faster and ride longer on your MTB with tools such as indoor trainers, HR zones, bike computers, TrainerRoad, outdoor HIIT rides, power meters and so much more!

Welcome to the 1st Ride & Laugh Fitness Pod!  Dan & Sage discuss all things cardio fitness.  The benefits of an indoor trainer vs. training outdoors.  Benefits of structured riding vs. intuitive rides and workouts.  Dan reviews tips for making your indoor riding suffer less and Sage reviews the HR zones and why he loves outdoor rides and cross-training with trail runs. 

The guys debate helpful tech for mountain bike cardio training as well as finding motivation to train, building mental toughness, the importance of consistency and rest/recovery days.  More fitness equals more fun!  Let's drop in!

MTB gratitude of the week:

Dan: TrainerRoad training app!  Excellent app for structured training that actually works.  App is constantly being improved and evolving.  Thank you TR Team!

Sage: Strava - Great start into cardio training by tracking your rides & activities.  Plus the social aspect can be really cool if you like having active friends! Thank you Strava!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Train outdoors & stay dry on wet days with SKS Fenders. Check out The TrailSage review here: https://youtu.be/MtB5btRmWSo

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

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 #Fitness #Training

Single speed mountain bikes - Less gears; More everything: Momentum, Power, Technique [RNL S1, Ep 8]

Let's discuss the benefits and drawbacks of riding a single speed mountain bike.  Learn techniques, advantages, and the negatives of riding with only one gear. 

Dan and Sage got into mountain biking just when the single speed scene was exploding!  The guys discuss how single speeding shaped their current riding technique and if they'd recommend a single speed for other riders.  Momentum, power transfer, line choice and trusting your skills become paramount on a bike with only one gear.  There are drawbacks too which are discussed at length.

Overall, Dan & Sage are both fans of single speeds and still ride them on occasion.  What about you?  Do you have a single speed?  Do you ride it?  Have you had one in the past?  Is a single speed in your future?  What about an aggressive hardtail or even a full suspension single speed!?  Let's drop in!

MTB gratitude of the week:

Sage  - Our old WS09 riding group. Great friends. All single speed!  Thanks for the great times, memories and laughs fellas!  Love you guys!

Dan - Our Carver 420 Titanium SS specific frames.  Great old bike... still so much fun to ride. Check out Carver bikes in Maine!  https://carverbikes.com/

MTB Tip of the Week:

Turn any frame into a single speed with eccentric bottom bracket or a chain tensioner.  Or just buy a used single speed online!

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/8HxKnFUxtos

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 #SingleSpeed

MTB Skinnies - Learn the techniques and mindset to help you conquer difficult skinnies [RNL S1, Ep 7]

How to ride skinnies on your mountain bike trails! Learn techniques and mindset from Sage on how he easily and consistently gets his bike over all sizes and types of skinny features.

Dan and Sage are stoked to ride some brand new and really challenging skinnies on our last ride, including a skinny with a skinny teeter-totter in it! The guys discuss the ride and the techniques to tackle skinnies with confidence.  Dropper down. Shift your weight. Keep tension on the pedals (ride the brakes). Eyes on the destination! Break the skinny into segments. Focus on what can go right! Do not focus on what can go wrong. You have the skills to ride in a straight line. You got this!

Mountain Bike Tip of the Week:

Practice riding the lines on the road. Next road ride, ride the white line or find a parking lot to ride zero consequence lines. We'll forgive you for riding a road bike if you're practicing skinnies at the same time :)

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/qRdM5CjaADo

Many of the featured skinnies can be found on a trail called Twisted Sister. They range from easy to difficult, so proceed with caution when attempting them, and use common sense.  
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/twisted-sister-532722/

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

 

Bike Check - The benefits of full suspension, single speeds, aggressive hardtails, fat bikes, and more! [RNL S1 – Ep 6]

We are stoked on the mountain bikes!  Join us for a discussion on what’s in our stable of bikes.  We also briefly discuss benefits of full suspension, single speeds, aggressive hardtails, fat bikes, 27.5 vs. 29er and more! 

Dan and Sage are blown away by the positive response on the launch of the Ride & Laugh podcast!  Thank you!!  Recap of a really fun interview with Dan and Johnnie U at MTB Q&A.  The fellas talk about solo rides vs. riding with a friend and reminisce fondly about their mtb trip to Arizona.  Learn about the different bikes Dan & Sage own and what they love about each bike.

What bikes do you own?  What's your favorite?  What's your dream bike? How many bikes do you 'need?' We want to hear from you! 

Additional Info:

Link to the Dan’s interview with Johnnie U from Mountain Bike Q & A  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azl-lXzFdpw&t=521s

Carver Bikes in Maine
https://carverbikes.com/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/0cKgJSfAFdI

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