Mountain bike training, mtb workouts, and trail laughs all packed into this Ride & Laugh MTB Podcast episode! Dan shares his indoor trainer setup, ERG mode hacks, and high-cadence climbing tips, while Sage explains road bike HIIT rides, power meter training, and why cadence variety matters for slaying technical climbs on the trails. The guys debate flat pedals vs. clipless, smooth pedal strokes, and wheel size wars—32” wheels, fading 27.5’s, and whether “giant mullet bikes” could be the future. And yes, there are plenty of laughs: chamois cream “pre-creaming,” “Bull-taint!” as a new swear word and saddle sore survival.

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: Trek Bicycle Ardmore - Big thanks to Trek Bicycle Ardmore! After bending his derailleur hanger, Sage stopped by the shop where mechanic Anthony straightened it out on the spot—for free. Quick fix, no charge, just bikers helping bikers. Love it! Check them out here - https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/retail/ardmore/

Dan: Pivot Cycles and Action Rideshop - Shoutout to Pivot Cycles and Action Rideshop of Mesa. Dan discovered a crack in his beloved Firebird frame, and Lance at Action Rideshop handled all the warranty issues and rebuilt the bike better than ever. Pivot stood behind their bike, replacing the rear triangle at no cost. Funny enough, a busted derailleur actually revealed the crack. Proof that even bad luck can lead to good outcomes! Action bike Shops - https://www.instagram.com/actionrideshop Pivot Cycles - https://www.instagram.com/pivotcycles

MTB Tip of the Week:

Purchase 1-2 spare derailleur hangers to keep in your garage and in your pack. A spare derailleur hanger is light, inexpensive and easy to carry. And it can save your ride!

Featured Riders

Venture MTB - https://www.instagram.com/venture_mtb Jeff Jackson - https://www.instagram.com/jeffjacksonmtb Betz - https://www.instagram.com/betzdesigns

Additional Links

Wahoo Kickr Bike Shift - https://www.instagram.com/wahoofitnessofficial Stages Power Meter - https://www.instagram.com/stagescycling/ Ruby's chamois cream https://amzn.to/3HH4WJ1 (Affiliate Link) Trek Stache - https://www.instagram.com/trekbikes Ari 801 27.5 DJ - https://www.instagram.com/ari.bikes

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

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

Mountain bike skills, hardtail riding tips, and trail laughs in one episode of the Ride & Laugh MTB Podcast! From mustache drama to fist bump etiquette, Sage and Dan mix technical advice with hilarious trail stories. Sage shares hardtail techniques for riding faster and more dynamically, while debating Garmin vs. Wahoo, underbiking, and whether speed is your friend. Plus, meet the stoked Filipino MTB crew “Padyak,” hear wild javelina encounters, and laugh through brake failures on big jumps. It’s MTB skills, comedy, and life lessons—all in one ride.

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: Blue Mountain Bike Park Mechanics -Huge thanks to the mechanic and crew at Blue Mountain Bike Park! Sage appreciates Mike, who offered brake parts off his own bike to help get him rolling again. And shoutout to mechanic Rob, who spent an hour trying everything to fix the bike—no luck, but no charge either! (Unless Keeton secretly paid for it… in which case, thank you too!)

Dan: Matt - While Dan was riding was riding his hardtail on National Trail, he met Matt who was also on a hardtail and had experience riding National Trail. Dan got a huge confidence bump following Matt on his hardtail. Thank you Matt!

MTB Tip of the Week:

At downhill MTB parks, you scan a pass to access the lift. Sage recommends keeping your card in the top of your glove—it makes scanning at the chairlift quick and easy. Important: put it in your non-dominant hand! Sage learned the hard way after losing his card when he took that glove off on the lift.

Featured Riders

SplooshMTB - https://www.instagram.com/sploosh_mtb/ Butler Does It - https://www.instagram.com/butlerdoesit76/ Shannan - https://www.instagram.com/shanbunny229/ Maria - https://www.instagram.com/fitnessmariagee/ Matt - https://www.instagram.com/adventures_with_matt84

Additional Links

Zane's Minority Mountain Bikers Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh73s4kTQ0I&t=49s Garmin - https://www.instagram.com/garminfitness Wahoo - https://www.instagram.com/wahoofitnessofficial Padyak - https://www.instagram.com/padyakaz/ Blue Mountain Bike Park - https://www.instagram.com/bikepark_blue_mountain/ Banshee - https://www.instagram.com/bansheebikes Vassago Bikes - https://www.instagram.com/vassagocycles TrailSage Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@TrailSage

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/KW2CQS9WFp0

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

Ride & Laugh now has an official MTB Coach on the podcast! Sage dives into his intense weekend of becoming a certified mountain bike coach — and it wasn’t easy! Humbled by beginner drills, flat pedals, and slow-speed skills, Sage shares how letting go of ego and being open to learning transformed his mindset (and riding!). ✨ It’s just like riding a roller coaster: the more you trust, relax, and let go of control — the better the ride. 💫

We also talk sweaty hug regrets (DNA transfer?!), trail stress is a sloppy drunk, and finding gratitude when the trail (or life) gets gnarly. Plus: e-bike bans, superhuman riders like Mael Feron, fat-adapted riding vs sugar bombs, and one wild javelina attack in the Arizona desert. 🐗 Oh — and yes, Dan still can’t pronounce French names. Ride with us. Laugh with us. Progress with us!

👉 Watch now on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts!

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: Patreon - Big shoutout to the TrailSage Patreon crew! 🙌 Your monthly support keeps Sage rolling — on the trails and in life. It truly means the world. Thank you for being part of the ride! https://www.patreon.com/TrailSage

Dan: Thomas & Arturo - Massive thanks to Thomas and Arturo! When Dan’s bike broke mid-ride, he was ready to hoof it down the mountain. But these legends stepped in, worked some trailside magic, and got him gliding again. Mechanically skilled and generous? That's the dream team. Mountain bikers are the BEST!

MTB Tip of the Week:

🩺 Get CPR & First Aid Trained! - Crashes happen. When they do, knowing how to help could make all the difference. A little training can go a long way — on and off the trail.

Featured Riders:

ButlerDoesIt - https://www.instagram.com/butlerdoesit76 DennyJanettyMTB - https://www.instagram.com/dennyjannettymtb Joe - https://www.instagram.com/_mojoe_/ Sean Sako - https://www.instagram.com/sean_sako/ MAËL Feron - https://www.instagram.com/maelferon/ Slanted Ground - https://www.instagram.com/slantedground/ Shelly - https://www.instagram.com/o.hey.shell/ Jess - https://www.instagram.com/buchbikes/ Heather - https://www.instagram.com/bikethings_/ Anson - https://www.instagram.com/aplusmtb/ Alice - https://www.instagram.com/alligatoralice/ Kai - https://www.instagram.com/angstpony/ Thomas - https://www.instagram.com/all_terrain_thomas/ Arturo - https://www.instagram.com/art_tours_mtb/

Additional Links:

Sunrise Bike Park - https://www.sunrise.ski/ Red Bull Bike - https://www.instagram.com/redbullbike/ Slanted Ground video with Dan & Sage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwOmpGrmCaU&t=1732s BICP - https://www.instagram.com/icp.bike/ Bean Peaks - https://www.instagram.com/beanpeaksaz/

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kPMr5roNagA

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

From hardtails to rigid single speeds, underbiking forces you to ride more dynamically, improve line choice, work different muscles and build serious MTB skills. Underbiking is a fun, budget-friendly way to turn familiar trails into fresh challenges.

The guys also debate 'overbiking,' ideal bike setups, argue about gravel bikes (spoiler: Dan is not a fan), and agree that mixing it up keeps things interesting. Bottom line? When you conquer difficult trails on a less capable bike, you realize it's not just the bike — it's the rider! Let's go!

Links: Pivot Cycles - https://www.instagram.com/pivotcycles Carver Bikes - https://www.instagram.com/carverbikes

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/1LDWmuJPuEs

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

Big milestone! Ride & Laugh Mountain Bike Podcast just hit 25,000 downloads and we’re feeling all the gratitude! In this episode, Dan and Sage talk about the power of rest — from skipping trail rides to skipping meals (on purpose). Dan took two full weeks off the bike and realized his body, brain, and adrenal glands were seriously thanking him.

From extended fasting to ditching sugar, the guys share their own ways of hitting reset and getting stronger — on and off the trail. There’s also a mountain bike glove review (shoutout TAKK!), jokes about mustard jars, and Dan butchering the name of a French downhill legend (apologies Benoit!). Plus, how letting go of limits — mentally and physically — opens the door to real flow, fun, and freedom. Take the break. Then come back unlimited.

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: Keswick Cycle! - Sage mentioned to the crew at Keswick that his MTB helmet was over six years old — and they sprang into action, hooking him up with a brand new Specialized Ambush MTB Helmet. Huge gratitude to Keswick Cycles in Paoli — awesome shop, even better people! Specialized Ambush Helmet https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ambush-2/p/1000208204

Dan: Insight Timer App! - Dan’s giving thanks for the Insight Timer App, his go-to for guided meditations. It’s free, user-friendly, and packed with great content. Meditation has had a huge impact on Dan’s mindset, and Insight Timer has been a key part of his mindfulness journey.

MTB Tip of the Week:

If you're training on a road bike or indoor trainer to improve your mountain biking, Sage recommends adding HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) to your rides. Just make sure your training reflects the kind of MTB riding you do — so you show up strong and ready on the trails!

Featured Riders:

ButlerDoesIt https://www.instagram.com/butlerdoesit76 DennyJanetty https://www.instagram.com/dennyjannettymtb Dan (Crash Sash) https://www.instagram.com/JuggernautMTB Zane at Sploosh https://www.instagram.com/sploosh_mtb Benoit Coulanges https://www.instagram.com/benoitcoulanges Mikeala https://www.instagram.com/mikaeladanielle/

Additional Links:

TAKK Adventure Wear www.takkadventurewear.com Keswick Cycles https://www.instagram.com/keswickcycle.paoli

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/xVJz9dPllZw

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

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