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Travis Reill Writes

Hi, I'm Travis, a teacher turned stay-at-home dad turned freelance writer. 

About Me

Hi, I'm Travis, a teacher turned stay-at-home dad turned freelance writer. After a major change in the life of my family, I was given one of those rare "follow your dreams" opportunities. Deciding to not return to education, especially after receiving my Master's Degree and teaching license, was a scary decision, but one that I'm glad I made. 

Now, I have the wonderful opportunity of homeschooling my two children, ages 5 and 3, while jumping into the world of freelance writing. While I write on many different topics--parenting, education, the outdoors--I especially enjoy focusing my work on mountain biking. After too many years off the trails, I have quickly fallen back in love with mountain biking. I look forward to sharing my thoughts, ideas, and adventures, both on and off the bike, with you!

How I Work

From time to time, I find myself staring at a blank computer screen or deleting and rewriting the same two sentences over and over again. I'm sure it happens to us all in one form or another. Other times, the creative juices must be flowing and I find myself easily sharing my thoughts. The question is, how do I get from mental block to finishing articles?

Change locations. Take an intentional break. Listen to a podcast or read a book. Exercise or meditate. The bottom line is, intentionally move away for a time. Often, I find that the best thing for my creative process is to find myself on trails. Riding my bike just seems to clear my head. During my undergrad, I used to write lengthy papers in my head on my morning bike commute. My route took me near a coffee shop, where I would sit down at an outside table and write down all of my thoughts. Never during that time did I think I was going to be a writer. But now, I often use the very same process--some of my best writing could be considered "singletrack thoughts." 

My Ethos

I never considered myself an "artist" or "creative." I knew how to write--nearly a decade in higher education will do that. But, all of the writing I had done was academic. Simply put, I didn't think I knew how to express myself and connect with my readers. I had limits on what I could do before I even attempted the task.

As a father, that is certainly not what I want to teach my kids, and certainly not what I want them to see from their dad. So, I took a chance. I tried, I learned, I researched, I watched "how-to" videos, etc. Ultimately, I set my mind to it. I made a decision that I wanted to work in the mountain bike industry, with storytelling being my medium. 

This wasn't without the support of my wife and others, but ultimately I had to be the one to decide. It has been quite the adventure. But, the adventure never would have been if I didn't take the risk.

Get in Touch

Please be in touch if you have a writing project that you need help with, mountain biking or otherwise. Or, if you want to nerd out on bikes with me, I'd love to do that too! 

The best way to be in touch is to email me at:

travis.reill@gmail.com

My Articles

Freehub Magazine •

The Brain-Healing Power of Mountain Biking | Inner Revolutions

I can still close my eyes and visualize the scene surrounding me as I confronted one of the most challenging realities of my life. Trauma, I’ve noticed, doesn’t leave—even years later.

It was a late April morning and already warm enough for short sleeves in the mountains behind Santa Barbara, California. Mornings are my time to ride, and this road trip was no exception. I enjoy the solitude of getting out on the trail early, and I often climb as the sun rises. It is my time to think and clear m
The Loam Wolf •

Review: Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5

Many of us are familiar with Trek’s trail-busting Fuel EX line. The Gen 6 Fuel EX saw added travel – not to mention a new frame design – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for the shorter-travel younger sibling out on the trails. With 140/130mm of travel and relatively moderate geometry, the Trek Fuel Gen 5 has been a trail bike many have reached for years.

Trek’s Fuel EX 5 features Alpha Platinum Aluminum. Trek boasts their aluminum “is continuously cold extruded and butted at multiple poi
The Loam Wolf •

Review: Polygon Collosus N7

The Polygon Collosus N7 is a big bike for rowdy terrain. Its slack headtube, long wheelbase, and 170mm of travel easily put it in the “enduro” or “park bike” category. While the bike easily smashes over technical terrain, 435mm chainstays help the N7 get off the ground a bit easier than a big bike with a longer rear end. The slightly shorter rear end also helped the N7 feel a little snappier in the corners and overall handling—at least, as much as a heavy 170mm bike can. Climbing Polygon’s walle
The Loam Wolf •

Review: Marin Rift Zone 2

When thinking of “Marin” and “trail bike,” one typically lands on the Rift Zone, and for good reason. The Rift Zone spans across Marin’s full-suspension trail bike category, with several different build options for both 29-inch and 27.5-inch wheel sizes. The lineup even breaks into the eMTB space, with their Rift Zone E series of bikes. Marin provided us with their 29er version of the Rift Zone 2 for this Budget Bike Shootout. While it is a budget-friendly option, the Rift Zone 2 is not the most
The Loam Wolf •

Review: GT Sensor Sport

GT has a decent lineup for its full-suspension trail bike, the GT Sensor. Seven bike build options live under this banner. These range from the $2,300 Sensor Sport we have on test, to just under $6,000 with the Sensor Carbon Pro LE. GT boasts the Sensor Sport as an all-around trail killer with a price tag that doesn’t sting. With 140mm travel up front and 130mm rear, the Sensor Sport may be all the bike you need for most trails, and at a reasonable price.

Like every bike in our budget shootout,
The Manual •

3 things that make mountain bike climbing easier

Unless you are riding a chair lift at a bike park or doing some shuttle laps with your friends, riding your mountain bike up the hill is a necessity. Unfortunately, mountain bike climbing is a must—we have to push through the ups to enjoy the downs.

Fitness is a significant aspect of mountain bike climbing. If the simplest of climbs have you gassed, you will hate every minute of it. But for those of us who do have decent fitness, we can turn the chore of mountain bike climbing into fun.

But to
The Manual •

Audi releases new e-bike

You may have an Audi in your garage, but I’m guessing that it most likely isn’t a mountain bike. As mountain biking continues to grow in popularity, it isn’t a surprise that we see more companies getting into the dirt-oriented sport.

But Audi is no stranger to off-road pursuits. The brand made a name for itself in the 1980s at the World Rally Championships by introducing its Quattro All-Wheel Drive. Now, Audi is breaking into the mountain bike market with the introduction of its Audi e-bike.

T
Singletracks Mountain Bike News •

Do Flow Trails and eMTBs Lead to More Injuries? Study Seeks to Improve Trail Safety

After nearly a decade in higher education, I have spent my fair share of time sifting through studies and peer-reviewed articles. While working on an undergraduate degree in sociology, most of the studies I read concerned a variety of subjects, such as groupthink and cognitive dissonance. Years later, I pursued a master’s in teaching, with studies focused on new theories of best teaching practices.

Needless to say, I was surprised to see any empirical research—in this case, a systematic review—
The Loam Wolf •

Review: Fox Dropframe Pro Helmet

I am a sucker for a standard half-shell helmet. And, if I am being honest, a half-shell is plenty of helmet for most of my riding, especially in the warmer summer and fall. I only use a full-face when I ride a bike park (or am testing one for a review) and have only done a few rides using a three-quarter helmet like the Dropframe. So, without a doubt, these past few months have been the longest amount of time I have spent in a three-quarter helmet by far. And if I were to rate my overall experie
Singletracks Mountain Bike News •

Climb the Steepest MTB Trails with These Skills, Tricks, and Tips

About a year ago I shared what I did to become a better climber during the 2022-23 winter riding season. While the article focused on sharing what I did to become a better climber, I didn’t start the challenge with any sort of plan.

Ultimately, I was successful. I finally reached the top as winter rolled into spring—no dabs. However, I never had a plan going into the challenge. I either made it up on the fly or later reflected on what I just happened to do that seemed to work.

I wondered how k