Meet the Trail Scientist

I once argued in a motor learning class during my Kinesiology MS that mountain biking was the most complete sport. Riding bikes the way I do provides a physical, social, cognitive, and emotional component that gets us hooked and keeps us coming back for more joy and more pain. My early fascination with sports developed in high school cross country teams, where I learned the value of data-driven training, to a university degree in sports science. Along the way, I discovered road cycling, endured setbacks like a lower back injury, and ultimately found my passion in trail, enduro, and downhill riding.

Moving from the red rocks of St. George, Utah, to the lush trails of Bellingham, Washington, my love for mountain biking only grew. Immersed in both the sport and the science behind it, I became captivated by questions of fit, performance, and bike geometry—often finding that marketing claims outpaced scientific research. My academic journey took me from publishing on Q factor in the Journal of Science and Cycling to pursuing a PhD focused on biomechanics, always with a critical eye and a researcher's curiosity.

This blog is where my experience as a rider and a researcher comes together. Here, I share insights on how biomechanics interact with mountain biking, offer honest opinions on equipment, and dig into the science (or lack thereof) behind industry trends. My goal is to help you cut through the noise, make informed choices, and get the most out of your riding experience. If you're anything like me, we have a lot to talk about.

With a PhD in biomechanics specializing in cycling performance from the University of Waikato, I bring rigorous academic training to the world of mountain biking. My research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on critical areas like Q-factor manipulation, lower limb kinematics, and rider positioning optimization.

But I don't just study cycling in a lab—I live it on the trails. Every scientific insight gets tested where it matters: on real dirt, real climbs, and real descents.