Bike Sauce

Fabio Wibmer is one of those riders who looked at the laws of physics and decided they were more like suggestions. From winning Austria’s national downhill championship to setting a Guinness World Record for the longest mountain bike manual, he has built a career turning impossible-looking bike tricks into everyday content.

His viral videos have collected billions of views, but what makes them stand out is the mix of elite bike handling, creativity, and the kind of confidence that would make most of us nervous just watching. Somewhere between a mountain biker, stunt rider, and filmmaker, Wibmer has created a style that is instantly recognizable.

If your local ride included stairs, rooftops, and giant jumps, would you even attempt one of Fabio’s lines, or would you happily stay on the trail?

“If you don't think you can win, then it's time to quit.” Greg Minnaar's words sound tough, but they come from someone who built a legendary career by charging into some of the most demanding downhill tracks in the world. In mountain biking, confidence isn't about believing every ride will be perfect. It's about having the courage to commit when the trail gets steep, rough, and unpredictable.

That kind of bravery is what makes champions stand out. Not because they never feel fear, but because they keep moving forward despite it. And honestly, if mountain bikers waited until everything felt easy, most of them would still be standing at the top of the hill checking their tire pressure for the tenth time.

What's one challenge in your life where believing in yourself made all the difference?

Does a longer suspension travel bike make you faster, or does it just make mistakes feel smaller?

Modern mountain bikes are incredibly capable, and extra suspension travel can smooth out rough trails, boost confidence, and reduce fatigue. But there’s an interesting trade-off: when the bike absorbs more of the trail, riders can sometimes rely on the equipment instead of refining skills like line choice, body positioning, and terrain reading. That’s one reason many experienced riders still recommend spending time on a hardtail. It teaches precision because every root, rock, and bump demands attention.

Of course, a 160mm bike isn’t making anyone a worse rider. It’s simply a tool designed for a different job. The real improvement comes from the person turning the pedals, not the number printed on the suspension fork.

If you had to choose one bike for improving your skills, would you pick a hardtail or a full-suspension bike, and why?

Mountain bike drivetrains have changed so much over the years that older riders still remember when front derailleurs, triple chainrings, and mystery noises were all part of the adventure. Shimano’s early MTB groups helped make indexed shifting reliable, while SRAM’s 1x systems pushed the sport toward simpler setups with huge gear ranges and fewer things to adjust trailside with dirty hands.

Of course, every rider has their own “greatest of all time” list, and that debate usually starts the moment someone mentions Shimano or SRAM in the same sentence. One thing everyone can agree on though: modern shifting is ridiculously good compared to the days when a missed gear change could sound like a toolbox falling down the stairs.

Which MTB drivetrain do you think changed mountain biking the most?

Mountain bike suspension forks changed riding more than most people realize. Back in the day, riders were basically sending downhill trails with the comfort level of a shopping cart on stairs. Then forks like the RockShox RS-1, Marzocchi Z1, Fox 36, Pike, and Fox 40 showed up and suddenly bikes could survive things that riders probably shouldn’t have attempted in the first place.

What makes this list interesting is how each fork pushed the sport in a different direction. Some made downhill faster, some made trail riding smoother, and some simply convinced riders that bigger jumps were somehow a reasonable idea. A lot of modern MTB design still traces back to these forks today.

Which suspension fork do you think changed mountain biking the most, or which one would make your personal top 5 list?

Mountain bike tire debates are basically the cycling version of arguing about the best football player of all time. Nobody fully agrees, everyone has a favorite, and someone always shows up defending a tire from 1998 like it changed civilization.

Still, there’s a reason names like the Onza Porcupine, Minion DHF, Magic Mary, Assegai, and Kryptotal keep appearing in these conversations. Some changed tread design, some dominated racing, and some just gave riders the confidence to hit lines they probably shouldn’t have tried in the first place.

At the same time, lists like this are never absolute facts. Riding style, terrain, weather, and even personal preference matter a lot. A tire that feels unbeatable on wet roots can feel terrible on dry hardpack. That’s what makes MTB setups so personal and slightly chaotic.

One thing is certain though: mountain bikers will spend hours discussing tire compounds, side k***s, and rolling resistance… then still blame the trail when they wash out in a corner.

Which MTB tire do you think deserves a place on this list that got left out?