Desert rain turns trails into hero-dirt and chaos, and Dan somehow finds the one rain rut big enough to swallow a full-grown mountain biker—3 riders enter, 2 riders leave! The guys break down brake-lever angle mistakes, High/Ready vs. Low/Ready body positions, and why tiny setup tweaks can make a massive difference as features, jumps, and tech get more consequential.

They also map out the Ride & Laugh MTB Timeline—from XC beginnings to the “Age of Sessioning”—and remind riders that progression isn’t linear, sometimes you’re just pulling the bow back before launching forward (or in Dan’s case… firing a harpoon). With listener advice, e-MTB debates, and a community full of compassion, stoke, and zero judgment, this episode dives deep into confidence, presence, and taking the pressure off your riding journey.

Join the conversation! What stage of the MTB Timeline are you in? What small tweak has made the biggest difference in your riding lately? Leave your comments/feedback below or email us at rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: Daughter Summer - Dan is grateful for his relationship with his daughter Summer, especially for the honest conversation and thoughtful advice she shared over their one-on-one breakfast. Kids often bring the most grounding perspectives, and Dan deeply appreciates both his girls. Big gratitude and love to Summer!

Sage: BTW and BAMBA - Sage is giving thanks to the trail advocates at Mt. Penn—Berks Trail Works and BAMBA—for clearing leaves during peak fall chaos in the Northeast. Blowing trails is time-consuming and unglamorous, but it transforms the ride and makes the whole system shine. Mountain bikers love, fix, and maintain their trails, so support your local trail crews!

BAMBA - https://www.instagram.com/berksareamba Berks Trail Works - https://www.instagram.com/berkstrailworks

MTB Tip of the Week:

Carry Spare Presta Valve Cores! Valve cores can clog with sealant or break at the worst times, so always stash a spare in your pack. A tiny valve-core tool makes removal and installation quick and easy—small gear, big peace of mind.

Presta Valve Core Removal Tool: https://amzn.to/4op4mPq (Affiliate Link) Spare Presta Valves: https://amzn.to/4pkAJjx (Affiliate Link)

Featured Riders:

Lauren Adams - https://www.instagram.com/laurenadamsloves_life Ethan - https://www.instagram.com/hensmtb Vaughn - https://www.instagram.com/v.spencer_mtb AJ - https://www.instagram.com/aj_mtbrealtor Jeff Winsor - https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20 Nathan at Ride Reactive - https://www.instagram.com/ride.reactive Rob Drew - https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew Jeff Jackson - https://www.instagram.com/jeffjacksonmtb Dennis - https://www.instagram.com/dennyjannettymtb Nicky Shreds - https://www.instagram.com/stoic.mtb Evan Kinsey - https://www.instagram.com/evankinzey12

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/mLAuK1fClQM

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

This episode of Ride & Laugh MTB Podcast dives into fresh eyes, fresh lines, and letting go of old thinking - on the trail and in life! Join us as Dan and Sage break down “Trail Jerrys,” unlocking new lines, riding with intention, and seeing familiar trails with the same fresh-start energy you bring to a new job. They dig into body-position gold from Arizona legend Rob Drew, riding strong on jumps, Dan’s crash streak and confidence rebuild, and whether e-bikes actually boost your tech skills.

With big laughs (yes… the infamous Ride & Laugh Food Truck makes an appearance - this time with some very questionable sauces!), real MTB coaching moments, and why giving ourselves grace matters as much as good form, this one has takeaways for riders on every part of their journey!

Do e-bikes make you a better rider on steep and difficult tech trails? Have you ever ridden a trail with “fresh eyes” and unlocked something new? Let us know in the comments below or email us at rideandlaugh1@gmail.com.

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: Sage’s family! - During his recent Pennsylvania trip, he stayed at the Thompson home with Sage’s dad and son, and he couldn’t be more thankful. He loved hanging out with Jack and was blown away by what a great young man he’s becoming. Big gratitude to the whole Thompson crew for the hospitality and good vibes!

Sage: iPhone 16 - Sage is giving gratitude to… his new phone! The iPhone 16 camera is unreal, and the crisp video has been a huge upgrade for his YouTube channel and the podcast. Both Dan and Sage are grateful for how easy it is these days to capture great MTB footage—thanks to everyone out there with a smartphone making the stoke look good!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Bounce on the trail! Squish the bike into the ground to load traction, then let it pop you into the next move. Sage started by literally bouncing to feel grip, which unlocked intentional weighting and unweighting for way more control. It works on loose trails and grippy ones—push into corners, load the bike, and bounce out with extra speed and confidence!

Featured Riders:

Nathan at RideReactive - https://www.instagram.com/ride.reactive Zane at Sploosh MTB - https://www.instagram.com/sploosh_mtb Chris - https://www.instagram.com/adrnln_jnke Josh at Slanted Ground - https://www.instagram.com/slantedground Ryan at PHXBP - https://www.instagram.com/wrolb Vaughn - https://www.instagram.com/v.spencer_mtb Rob Drew - https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew Thomas - https://www.instagram.com/all_terrain_thomas Jeff Jackson - https://www.instagram.com/jeffjacksonmtb Janet - https://www.instagram.com/janetkthompson/ Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack.thpzn/

Additional Links:

Sourdrew Bread - https://www.instagram.com/sourdrewbread Specialized Levo 4 - https://www.instagram.com/iamspecialized_mtb Pivot Shuttle AM - https://www.instagram.com/pivotcycles

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uTtH5cronSI

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