Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast

Aluminum vs. carbon mountain bikes—frames and wheels—sparks a lively debate in this episode of the Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast. We break down which MTB components, suspension, and bike upgrades are actually worth the money, and whether modern budget bike parts, derailleurs, and aluminum rims perform just as well as the more expensive carbon options. From carbon vs aluminum frames and wheels to Kashima coated suspension and asking why pro downhill racers run aluminum rims, we dig into the real performance differences and where your MTB dollars matter most.

What do you think—which mountain bike upgrades are truly worth it and which are just hype?  Join the conversation and leave your comments below or email us at [email protected]

Links:

Rockshox – https://www.instagram.com/rockshox
Fox – https://www.instagram.com/fox
Pro Downhill Series – https://www.instagram.com/prodownhillseries
Ibis Cycles – https://www.instagram.com/ibiscycles
I9 Hubs – https://www.instagram.com/industry_nine
Hope Hubs – https://www.instagram.com/hopetech

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/V7_ytqLMJQ0

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 [email protected].

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

Who really has the right of way on mountain bike trails—climbers or downhill riders? In this episode of the Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast, we debate classic MTB trail etiquette, the long-standing rule that downhill riders yield to uphill riders, and whether that rule still makes sense on modern mountain bike trails and flowy descents. We dive into real riding scenarios—technical climbs, ripping downhills, trail karma, faster riders catching up, and even the special case of eMTBs.

What do you think—should downhill riders finally get the right of way, or should climbers always have priority? Join the conversation and leave your comments below or email us at [email protected]

Links:

Chet Roy – https://www.instagram.com/ChetRoy1
Thomas – https://www.instagram.com/all_terrain_thomas
Jeff Winsor – https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20
Rob Drew – https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew

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

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 [email protected].

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

Hit the "Rut Track" with the Ride & Laugh MTB Podcast as we break down mountain bike technique, learning to trust your tires, and the powerful MTB lessons that translate directly to trail riding. We also dive into unnecessary pressure riders put on themselves, Strava expectations, and why mountain biking at 50+ can still be your strongest, most progressive riding years. 

From crashes, confidence, and traction control to mindset, benefits of aging, MTB progression, and riding for fun—not numbers—this episode is packed with mountain bike tips, training insights, and real rider perspective. Plus we talk Pinkbike fails, TrailSage Bloopers, and our upcoming “Ride & Laugh Across America” MTB road trip. 

Have you ridden a Rut Track (do you want to)?  Do you put pressure on yourself to hit certain ride stats? Join the conversation and leave your comments below or email us at [email protected]

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: Ethan Hens - Sage is grateful for his buddy Ethan—young, super talented, and always pushing the progression. Riding the MTB rut track for the first time opened Sage’s eyes to new mountain bike skills, traction control, and cornering technique. Learning to trust the tires, lean into the ruts, and flow through steep turns was a huge breakthrough. Proof that riding with skilled friends is one of the best ways to improve your MTB skills and confidence on the trail! https://www.instagram.com/hensmtb/

Dan: Jake Robertson- Dan appreciates an awesome email from listener Jake, who shared how much he enjoys the Ride & Laugh MTB Podcast. Even cooler, Jake took the time to send a ton of mountain bike trail recommendations, ride details, links, and local insights for our upcoming Ride & Laugh Across America MTB Road Trip. The MTB community is incredible, and support like this makes the journey even more exciting. Thanks Jake—we can’t wait to hit those trails! https://www.instagram.com/jake_robertson/

MTB Tip of the Week:

Want better MTB cornering and traction? Do your braking before the turn. If you brake while turning your mountain bike, you’ll often lose traction and control. Instead, slow down before the corner, keep the wheels rolling through the turn, then accelerate out for smooth flow and maximum grip. This simple mountain bike technique will help you corner faster, ride smoother, and stay in control on the trail.

Featured Riders:

Chris Huffmire – https://www.instagram.com/adrnln_jnke
Jeff Winsor – https://www.instagram.com/jwinsor20
Rob Drew – https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew
MTB Q&A – https://www.instagram.com/mtb_qa
Steve at BentSpokesMTB – https://www.instagram.com/bentspokesmtb
Dan Ackerman – https://www.instagram.com/danackerman8
Vaughn – https://www.instagram.com/v.spencer_mtb
Braydon Bringhurst – https://www.instagram.com/braydonbringhurst
Arturo – https://www.instagram.com/byclas_mtb

Additional Links:

SoMo Short Bus Shuttle  https://www.facebook.com/1ShortBus4James
Pinkbike – https://www.instagram.com/pinkbike
Strava – https://www.instagram.com/strava
Parks & Rec – https://www.instagram.com/parksandrec
HoverAir X1 Pro – https://www.instagram.com/hoverair_global
DJI Neo 2 – https://www.instagram.com/dji

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/eOAcI9I3H2M 

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 [email protected].

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

Perspective shift on the trail and in life!  In this episode of the Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast, Dan explores the powerful mindset of “How is this working out FOR me?” while also having a breakthrough with clipless pedals—realizing they’re not just for pedaling efficiency but for lifting, boosting, and moving the bike with more control. The guys dive into mountain bike mindset, presence on the trail, arm pump, suspension setup, flat pedals vs clipless technique, and why it’s the rider—not the bike—that truly unlocks progression.

From a crash on Geronimo Trail that shook Dan’s confidence and sparked another perspective shift, to helping riders progress and planning the Ride & Laugh Across America MTB tour, this episode is packed with laughs, mindset insights, and real MTB wisdom.

Did anyone else think clipless pedals were ONLY for pedaling like Dan did? And when something frustrating happens on a ride, can you shift your perspective and ask “How might this be working out for me?” Join the conversation and leave your comments below or email us at [email protected]

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: David Stein - Sage's buddy and TrailSage Patreon member David purchased a new indoor trainer and offered the old trainer to Sage for free!  So generous! Sage has been wanting an indoor trainer and here it is! The universe provides! Thank you David! Pay it forward... whether its giving someone a physical item like your old trainer or giving someone encouragement, lessons, positivity and stoke!

Dan: Urgent Care - Dan appreciates that 'Urgent Care' exists! When I was growing up, you went to the hospital, or you went home.  It's so cool that Urgent Care exists for our minor injuries that need a little professional medical attention.  It beats a hospital visit and while never ideal, we're so grateful that we can get fixed up in a few hours. 

MTB Tip of the Week:

When learning a new skill on the mountain bike, like jumping, pick one tip or technique to focus on.  Do not focus on 5-6 things...  pick one or two things to perfect.   Be positive. Focus on what you did right.  Build confidence, stack wins, get excited and watch the magic happen! The skills are in there, you're just unlocking them!

Featured Riders:

Rob Drew https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew/
Thomas – https://www.instagram.com/all_terrain_thomas
Vaughn – https://www.instagram.com/v.spencer_mtb
Nikky Shreds – https://www.instagram.com/stoic.mtb
Ryan Butler – https://www.instagram.com/butlerdoesit76
Denny Janetty – https://www.instagram.com/dennyjannettymtb
Parker – https://www.instagram.com/parkerhaas.mtb
Jeff (Parkers Dad) – https://www.instagram.com/jeff_haas_backpacker

Additional Links:

Sourdrew Bread – https://www.instagram.com/sourdrewbread
Tristan at Ride Dialed – https://www.instagram.com/ride_dialed
DJI Mic Mini  – https://www.instagram.com/dji
F1RE MTB  Team – https://www.instagram.com/F1RE

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/HaWY6JzuZb4 

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 [email protected].

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips

In this episode of the Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast, we dive deep into a powerful mindset shift for mountain bikers: stop labeling trails and features as “easy” or “hard” and start seeing them as “familiar” or “unfamiliar.” We explore how practicing presence off the bike helps you find flow, confidence, and progression on the trail—and Dan finally announces his long-awaited eMTB decision: the Orbea Wild, coming soon from Emigos Bike Shop (comment for build details and reasoning if interested!).

We also debate the best MTB drone for content creators (HoverAir X1 Pro vs. DJI Neo 2), question whether mountain bikers even want drones, and ask: do you really need constant content… or are some of us just avoiding silence? Plus, Sage may or may not be peeing into an old hydration bladder mid-episode thanks to excessive coffee intake ☕😂.  If you’re into mountain biking mindset, MTB progression, eMTB training, flow state riding, MTB skills, and high-vibe trail talk—this one’s for you.

Have you tried reframing “hard” as “unfamiliar”? And who’s ridden the Orbea Wild—or flown one of these drones? Join the conversation and leave your comments below or email us at [email protected]

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Sage: Red Bull - Huge shoutout to Red Bull for putting on absolutely world-class MTB events. From Red Bull Rampage to Red Bull Hardline, Sage appreciates how much effort goes into producing something at that level. The course builds, the logistics, the athlete support, the media production—it’s an army of passionate people working behind the scenes to create unforgettable moments for riders and fans.  We see you. We respect the grind. Thank you for elevating mountain biking and bringing the stoke to the world! https://www.instagram.com/redbullbike 

Dan: Tristan - Dan's gratitude this week is for Tristan at Ride Dialed! Tristan tuned the suspension on Dan’s Pivot Firebird, and it’s riding better than Dan ever imagined—plush, controlled, and confidence-inspiring.  What really stands out? The follow-up. Tristan keeps checking in, offering feedback, and dialing in suggestions like a true pro. He also walked Dan through every option on his upcoming eMTB build with patience and expertise. Absolute first-class MTB experience. Thank you, Tristan!  https://www.instagram.com/ride_dialed 

MTB Tip of the Week:

Suspension Tuning Pro Tip 🔧
Your true fork PSI is the unweighted PSI.
Here’s the proper sequence when adding air to your fork:

Pump up your fork.

Cycle (compress) the fork a few times.

Unweight the front tire completely.

Then check your PSI.

If the pressure reads lower than expected, add a little more air and remove the shock pump. Small details = big performance gains. Dial it in and feel the difference on the trails!

Featured Riders:

Ryan – https://www.instagram.com/butlerdoesit76/
Dennis - https://www.instagram.com/dennyjannettymtb
Nik - https://www.instagram.com/stoic.mtb/
Nathan at Ride Reactive - https://www.instagram.com/ride.reactive
AJ - https://www.instagram.com/aj_mtbrealtor
Joe - https://www.instagram.com/_mojoe_/  

Additional Links:

Orbea Wild – https://www.instagram.com/orbea/
Hoverair - https://www.instagram.com/hoverair_global
DJI Neo 2 - https://www.instagram.com/DJI
Emigos Bike Shop - https://www.instagram.com/emigosbike 

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/C5u3fEec1jI

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 [email protected].

#MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips