Challenging technical climbs on analog mountain bikes is alive and well at the famous National Trail at South Mountain! What's the difference jumping steep "Dirt-Jumper Jumps" vs. "Mountain Bike Jumps" and should you significantly raise handlebar height to boost confidence in the air?

This week the guys discuss the joys of technical climbing on mountain bikes. Is it better to practice jumping a smaller BMX/Dirt-Jump bike on steep (and scary!) jumps or to practice jumping the 'humps' at the local pump track? Will raising the handlebar height on a dirt-jumper make it feel more like a mountain bike? Can an e-bike get us in trouble by attempting a climb that's too steep!? Join us for a fun conversation about all things mountain biking!

MTB Gratitude of the Week

Sage: Sennheiser Profile Microphone! After some listener comments about the Ride & Laugh Podcast sounding 'professional,' Sage appreciates how our Sennheiser microphones do a great job for our mountain bike podcast. Technology is awesome and we appreciate our equipment which allows the Ride & Laugh podcast to happen! Sennheiser Profile Microphone: https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us/catalog/products/microphones/profile-usb-microphone

Dan: Troy Lee A3 Helmet! Dan has found the Troy Lee Designs A3 Helmet to fit exceptionally well. The helmet looks nice, stays secure and has MIPS protection. A comfortable helmet is appreciated in mountain biking! Troy Lee A3 Helmet: https://troyleedesigns.com/collections/bike-helmets

MTB Tip of the Week:

When/if your bike isn't shifting correctly or staying in gear, stop & get off the bike. Check to make sure your bolts are tight! The bolt that secures the derailleur to the bike may be loose! Also, make certain your rear wheel is on tightly so check that rear thru-axle! In fact, check that both your wheels are on tight before each ride!

Additional Links:

Ninja MTB Ramp: https://ridelikeaninja.com MTB Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/@MTBQandA Be More Bikes (Mega Tall Stem) https://bemorebikes.com/rr-stem.html National Trail at South Mountain: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/national-14939/ Giant Fathom 1: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/fathom-1-2022 Action Ride Shop: https://www.actionrideshop.com/ Desert Trails Bike Park: https://www.trailforks.com/region/desert-trails-park/

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

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.

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