Stop Labeling Trails Hard!, Why We Skip MTB Fails and Do NOT Use the Wrong Bladder! [RNL S2, Ep 40]

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 [e-mail] 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 [e-mail]. #MTB #MountainBike #MTBPodcast #MTBtips