Dan hits Sunrise Mountain Bike Park and gets wrecked by dust, fear, and stiffness — until he finally commits and finds his flow. Sage breaks down how being dynamic, not just low, is the key to unlocking control and confidence on the bike. Ride high and low, loose and centered — and practice being aggressive even on the easy trails.

The guys dive into the full-power vs. SL eMTB debate: are lighter e-bikes the future, or do we just want more juice for bigger progression? They also discuss trail access, land manager concerns, and whether e-bikes really damage trails. Plus: do you really need sunglasses on your ride — or can your eyelashes do the job? Sage reviews his photochromic shades, shares his mustache theories, and the guys drop gratitude, jokes, and wisdom all along the way. We crash so you don’t have to!

Question for YOU: Have you ever psyched yourself out on the bike? What helps you get into flow? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for more MTB laughs, tips, and mindset shifts every week!

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: His Crash - Dan has gratitude for his scariest crash in a long time. Really for all of his crashes at Sunrise MTB Park! Dan realized it was time for a small break from mountain biking. An annual reset off the bike. Let go of planning rides. Let go of all of it. No expectations. Trust everything. Go for walks. Take a breath and relax.

Sage: Road Bike - Sage has gratitude for his road bike... even though he doesn't prefer road riding, it's been so wet and humid in his area that he can still train. Sage keeps a high level of fitness because of the road bike. So even though trails are wet, Sage is finding something to appreciate... he has a road bike and he can stay fit.

MTB Tip of the Week:

Charge your AXS battery in the car! If your battery is dead, you can charge it in the car on the way to the trails!

Featured Riders:

Arturo - https://www.instagram.com/art_tours_mtb/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/_mojoe_/ Jeff - https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20/

Additional Links:

TrailSage Sunglass Review - https://youtu.be/v3X3Bzi477g TrailSage Levo Review - https://youtu.be/h5eo6j4o4vU Denny Jannetty MTB Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YftmhlSMJYg Sunrise Bike Park - https://www.sunrise.ski/ SRAM AXS - https://www.sram.com/en/sram/road/collections/etap-axs

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/p6L-vFqcYuk

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

Can the J-hop jump technique work on every MTB jump… or is that a fast track to disaster? Dan and Sage dive deep into this potent skill—plus a surprising mountain bike balance tip that might change how you ride: widen your knees!

Sage battles brutal humidity and wet trails (with a fresh new mustache!) while Dan faces scary desert gap jumps and questions whether his mindset — or technique — is holding him back. They break down how body position affects bike control, balance, and flow, with a nod to MTB legend Greg Minnaar for inspiration.

The guys get real about fear, overthinking, and the power of TRUST on the bike. Plus, how music can help you quiet the mind, find flow, and let go of the illusion of control.

Question for YOU: Have you ever psyched yourself out on the bike? What helps you get into flow? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for more MTB laughs, tips, and mindset shifts every week!

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: His Body - Dan’s sending big gratitude to... his body! Waking up healthy, strong, and ready to roll is something we all take for granted. Next time you look in the mirror, remind yourself: “I’m strong, I’m capable... and yeah, pretty dang good-looking too.” You’ve got this.

Sage: Ethan - Sage is grateful to his riding buddy Ethan not just for riding together but also for encouraging Sage to join a running group. Running, and especially trail running, is a great way to crosstrain for Mtbing and social running is something Sage is excited to try.

MTB Tip of the Week:

Dirt jump in running shoes! Seriously — old running sneakers grip flat pedals surprisingly well thanks to that squishy EVA foam. Bonus: they absorb impact like a champ and feel way comfier than stiff MTB shoes. Perfect for dirt jump days (but maybe not your enduro ride).

Featured Riders:

Arturo - https://www.instagram.com/art_tours_mtb/ Greg Minaar - https://www.instagram.com/gregminnaar Skills with Phil - https://www.instagram.com/philkmetz Zane / Sploosh MTB - https://www.instagram.com/sploosh_mtb Nik - https://www.instagram.com/lowkey.mtb Dan - https://www.instagram.com/JuggernautMTB Ethan - https://www.instagram.com/hensmtb/

Additional Links:

Phoenixville Bike Park - https://www.instagram.com/phoenixvillebikepark Hawes Trail Alliance - https://www.instagram.com/hawestrailalliance

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Ez6JKKsu8wg

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

Sometimes we need to ride our mountain bikes backwards to set up for a better line on the trail! This week, Sage & Dan discuss how taking a step back, on the bike and in life, often helps move you forward. They share MTB mindset hacks for handling overthinking, finding flow, and staying stoked even when trails (or life) aren’t perfect.

The guys discuss their recent test of the new Specialized Levo 4 e-bike, talk about trail “flowification,” and debate whether making trails easier is hurting progression. Good laughs, good vibes, and MTB life lessons all packed into one episode!

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: Emigos Bike Shop! - Dan is grateful to Emigos Bike Shop for setting up an e-bike demo day! Emigos is an awesome shop with great staff, service and bikes! Dan and Jeff W. were very impressed with their test ride on the awesome Specialized Levo 4 which is available to demo, rent or purchase at Emigos! Check them out! https://www.emigosbikeshop.com/

Sage: Mt. Penn Trails! - With all the rain in the northeast lately, Sage is so grateful that he can ride Mt. Penn in the wet! Since Mt. Penn has so many raw and rocky trails, mountain bikers are able to ride there even when other trail systems are too wet. Gratitude to the trails for draining well and to all the volunteers who maintain and create these trails!

MTB Tip of the Week:

When the trails are wet or slick, drop your mountain bike's tire pressure by 1-3 psi. Lower PSI will add grip on slick surfaces which will increase your confidence and fun!

Featured Riders:

Josh at Slanted Ground - https://www.instagram.com/slantedground Johnny Pedals - https://www.instagram.com/johnnypedals Donny Rosko - https://www.instagram.com/donnyrosko Keeton - https://www.instagram.com/rideandshred Ryan - https://www.instagram.com/wrolb

Additional Links:

Gratitude Journal: https://amzn.to/3HPQezg (Affiliate Link) Emigos Bike Shop https://www.instagram.com/emigosbike Blue Mountain Bike Park https://www.instagram.com/bikepark_blue_mountain NEMBA (Vietnam Trails) - https://www.instagram.com/nemba.vietnam Turbo Levo 4 - https://www.specialized.com/us/en/turbo-levo-4-expert/p/4218704 Phoenixville Bike Park - https://www.instagram.com/phoenixvillebikepark Berks Trail works - https://www.instagram.com/berkstrailworks BAMBA - https://www.instagram.com/berksareamba Hawes Trail Alliance - https://www.instagram.com/hawestrailalliance

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

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!

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips