Maximize the fun and excitement of mountain biking on a new trail for the 1st time, aka “Riding Blind!” Learn the top tips to boost your confidence, speed and flow on new and old MTB trails!!

Is it still riding blind if you’re following another rider? Dan rides partially blind (Pirate style!?) on the double black "Old Man Trail" at South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. Does a ‘big’ bike with more suspension travel, such as the Pivot Firebird or Yeti SB160 add confidence when riding blind on new trails? Sage discusses how he utilizes multi-day fasting to optimize health for mountain biking. Dan is surprised by what he learns riding his hardtail MTB on the famed National Trail at SoMo. Also discussed are clipped-in pedals vs. exposure, gap jumps at Hawes Trails in Mesa, AZ, pumptrack fitness, ideal tire PSI, anxiety vs. intuition and much more!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: DennyJenettyMTB “Rider Spotlight” series - Dennis interviewed TrailSage as part of his new “Rider Spotlight” series. Dennis is interviewing MTB YouTubers and riders with his unique perspective and sense of humor. Sage had a blast talking to Dennis and has gratitude for their friendship! Check out Dennis’s interview with Sage and support his Rider Spotlight series! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGD6BNe6Tgw

Dan: Meeting Kyle Anderson and Rob Drew! - Dan and “SoMo Jeff” met Kyle on a recent ride climbing up the gnarly National Trail at South Mountain. Kyle was as friendly as he was talented! This guy loves mtbing and was stoked to share some crazy lines and options we had never even considered! We then met Kyle’s good friend, the legendary Rob Drew himself! Rob was super cool and showed us how he climbs up the massive waterfall feature on National Trail. Awesome people, awesome riders, awesome day on the bike!

MTB Tip of the Week:

When riding a trail for the 1st time and following someone, JUST FOLLOW. Ask only about trail features that are above your comfort level. Don’t ask for too much detail, your job is to stay present and ride. The ride leader’s job is to shout-out any features you may not be comfortable with. Use the techniques discussed in this pod to slay new and old trails alike! You got this!!

Featured Riders:

Jeff W - https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20/ A.J. - https://www.instagram.com/aj_steeber/ Jordan - https://www.instagram.com/jbowersrealestate Kyle - https://www.instagram.com/mr_anderson480 Rob Drew - https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew/

Additional Links:

Sean at Sticks & Stones: https://www.instagram.com/sticksandstonestrailco/ Denny Jannetty MTB: https://www.youtube.com/@DennyJannettyMTB

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/aUqafNj9oB4

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

Do we need to 're' unlock mountain bike skills we have already learned but not used on the trails in a long time? Episode 50 is a classic as we discuss the "Ride and Laugh Cabin/Museum," breakaway pants, hardtails on hard-trails, hip packs and much more!

Dan and Sage learn the best way to land your mountain bike while discussing how much water we need on a ride, hip-pack vs. hydration packs, more winter ride tips, and demos of Pivot Cycles at South Mountain. Can a modern XC bike possibly replace a trail or enduro bike on gnarly trails? What happens on the trail, stays on the trail!? Join us for all the laughs, jokes, stoke, tips, encouragement and mountain bike joy!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Shimano MW 501 - Sage appreciates these high performance winter shoes. The Shimanos are great on all but the coldest of rides. The shoes are light-weight, waterproof and comfortable. A good pair of fall/winter shoes is a worthy investment that should last many seasons! Check out Sage’s review here: https://youtu.be/1rX7cOGaTuk

Dan: Hector's portable, mini, electric air compressor! - This tiny air compressor saved Dan a ton of time on the trail as it not only re-inflated his flat tire, but seated a tubeless tire to the rim! This powerful little compressor was super impressive, so Dan immediately bought one! Mini-Air Compressor: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8JGD9X8

MTB Tip of the Week:

When climbing on your mountain bike, shift your weight to the front of the saddle. This weight shift will keep you balanced and keep your rear wheel glued to the trail! You are crushing your next climb!

Featured Riders:

Brian on The Bike - https://www.instagram.com/brian_on_a_bike/ Sean - https://www.instagram.com/saguarosingletrack/ Stick - https://www.instagram.com/stephenstoccardo/ Arturo - https://www.instagram.com/byclas_mtb/ Hector - https://www.instagram.com/pa.ncho6744/ Jaime – https://www.instagram.com/jaime_rued/

Additional Links:

Pivot Demo - https://global.pivotcycles.com/collections/demo-bikes USWE Pack - https://uswe.com/en-us/bike Desert Trails Bike Park - https://www.visitmesa.com/directory/desert-trails-park-parks/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/i1VtXSJ7hZY

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

There is no doubt that utilizing beginner to expert level "Trials Skills" on a trail will unlock infinite progression, confidence and ability on your next mountain bike ride! Old habits may die hard, but when we practice being present on the bike, we can unlock all the balance, skill and ability we want!

Sage was super stoked to ride with "The Trail Boss," Jeff Lenosky at Mt. Penn in Reading, PA. Jeff's incredible skills and experience teach us that anything is truly possible! Sage also enjoyed being back on a smaller mountain bike as he sends a new trail gap at Brandywine Park in Delaware. Dan experiences the exact ride he needs in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. Besides incredible beauty, Sedona boasts all the slabs, tech, climbs and jumps any mountain biker could ask for! National Trail in Phoenix, AZ claims a victim in a nasty crash but the ride is saved in an expected way!

The guys also discuss the new "Ride & Laugh" Strava group, mullet bikes vs. 27.5 bikes, trail gaps, breaking old riding habits, clipless pedals vs. flat pedals and so much more!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Dan: Web MD / Internet Search! - After Neil dislocated his shoulder on a ride on National Trail at South Mountain, the guys learned how to 'relocate' a dislocated shoulder from the internet! While still on the trail, they were able to instruct Neil how to pop his shoulder back into the socket and get back to the trailhead. Gratitude to the internet! Mountain bikers are awesome! Heal up Neil!

Sage: Sage's Ibis Mojo 3 - As Sage contemplates adding a new mountain bike to his garage, he is overwhelmed with gratitude for the excellent and trusty Ibis Mojo 3. The Mojo has brought countless hours of flow, fun, joy and progression to Sage on the trails. Thank you Ibis Mojo 3!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Endo Turn/ Nose Pivot! Hit the front brake to unweight your rear tire then swing the bike to either side. Practice small endo turns on the trail 1st. You don't need to go very fast and put yourself on a slight turn to make the endo turn easier to initiate.

Featured Riders:

Jeff Lenosky - https://www.instagram.com/jefflenosky/ Brian on The Bike - https://www.instagram.com/brian_on_a_bike/ Stick - https://www.instagram.com/stephenstoccardo/ Vaughn - https://www.instagram.com/v.spencer_mtb/ Arturo - https://www.instagram.com/byclas_mtb/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/_mojoe_/ Jeff W. - https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20/

Additional Links:

Ride and Laugh Strava Club: https://www.strava.com/clubs/1335621 Jeff's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JeffLenoskyTrailBoss TrailSage Holbert Video: https://youtu.be/Mji_9T5eogA Sedona Bike Park: https://www.instagram.com/sedonabikepark/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/WP_V4x0bmBk

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