This episode of Ride & Laugh MTB Podcast dives into fresh eyes, fresh lines, and letting go of old thinking - on the trail and in life! Join us as Dan and Sage break down “Trail Jerrys,” unlocking new lines, riding with intention, and seeing familiar trails with the same fresh-start energy you bring to a new job. They dig into body-position gold from Arizona legend Rob Drew, riding strong on jumps, Dan’s crash streak and confidence rebuild, and whether e-bikes actually boost your tech skills.

With big laughs (yes… the infamous Ride & Laugh Food Truck makes an appearance - this time with some very questionable sauces!), real MTB coaching moments, and why giving ourselves grace matters as much as good form, this one has takeaways for riders on every part of their journey!

Do e-bikes make you a better rider on steep and difficult tech trails? Have you ever ridden a trail with “fresh eyes” and unlocked something new? Let us know in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

MTB Gratitude of the Week:

Dan: Sage’s family! - During his recent Pennsylvania trip, he stayed at the Thompson home with Sage’s dad and son, and he couldn’t be more thankful. He loved hanging out with Jack and was blown away by what a great young man he’s becoming. Big gratitude to the whole Thompson crew for the hospitality and good vibes!

Sage: iPhone 16 - Sage is giving gratitude to… his new phone! The iPhone 16 camera is unreal, and the crisp video has been a huge upgrade for his YouTube channel and the podcast. Both Dan and Sage are grateful for how easy it is these days to capture great MTB footage—thanks to everyone out there with a smartphone making the stoke look good!

MTB Tip of the Week:

Bounce on the trail! Squish the bike into the ground to load traction, then let it pop you into the next move. Sage started by literally bouncing to feel grip, which unlocked intentional weighting and unweighting for way more control. It works on loose trails and grippy ones—push into corners, load the bike, and bounce out with extra speed and confidence!

Featured Riders:

Nathan at RideReactive - https://www.instagram.com/ride.reactive
Zane at Sploosh MTB - https://www.instagram.com/sploosh_mtb
Chris - https://www.instagram.com/adrnln_jnke
Josh at Slanted Ground - https://www.instagram.com/slantedground
Ryan at PHXBP - https://www.instagram.com/wrolb
Vaughn - https://www.instagram.com/v.spencer_mtb
Rob Drew - https://www.instagram.com/therobdrew
Thomas - https://www.instagram.com/all_terrain_thomas
Jeff Jackson - https://www.instagram.com/jeffjacksonmtb
Janet - https://www.instagram.com/janetkthompson/
Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack.thpzn/

Additional Links:

Sourdrew Bread - https://www.instagram.com/sourdrewbread
Specialized Levo 4 - https://www.instagram.com/iamspecialized_mtb
Pivot Shuttle AM - https://www.instagram.com/pivotcycles

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uTtH5cronSI

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].

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