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