Mountain bike crashes — the worst part of MTB or just part of the trail life? We dive deep into the ups and downs of crashing: the pain, the broken bikes, the bloody wounds, and even the dreaded first shower after a crash. Sage and Dan get real about negative self-talk, nagging injuries, and the guilt of feeling like you ruined the ride for your friends.

But it’s not all bad — crashing can bring surprising benefits. From learning powerful lessons and building resilience, to deepening friendships and finding gratitude in those who help us on the trail, crashes can be part of what makes mountain biking so meaningful. We share redemption stories, shifting perspectives, and how grace, gratitude, and positive self-talk transform the recovery journey. Whether you’re an MTB beginner or a seasoned trail shredder, this episode will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even see your last crash in a whole new light.

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/3oOf0FO9WHQ

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

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