Mountain biking is entering its fourth decade of existence, and the list of notable personalities continues to grow. From extroverted, always-entertaining racers to quiet tinkerers who let their metal and composite creations do the talking, it'd be easy to come up with the names of hundreds of people who have influenced the sport in some way.
Mountain bike history isn't a class in most schools, which means that for many of us the names that we recognize are typically tied to how long we've been riding. If you started biking in the last decade, names like Brandon Semenuk, Aaron Gwin, or Rachel Atherton will be very familiar, while mentions of John Tomac, Josh Bender, or Missy Giove might leave you scratching your head.
What follows is a list of 60 notable mountain bikers, a mix of racers, freeriders, and designers. Select the ones you recognize without any help from Google, and then be sure to spend a little time researching the ones you didn't know – there are all sorts of fascinating stories behind every single name on this list.
Keep in mind that this isn't meant to be a definitive "Best Mountain Bikers of All Time List" - there are dozens of additional names that would end up on a list like that. Instead, it's a selection of names from different time periods that will hopefully jog some memories, and inspire readers to do a little digging to learn more about the names that aren't familiar.
That said, how many people only know him as Frank the Welder?
I can confirm that’s a fact.
Nevertheless, I also understand that not all is in vain, and sometimes it's best to see the humour in it, even if most would assume there is none. I have loads of respect for Missy, and I actually think she's been doing well to give back to the biking community and become a role model. Redemption often makes us stronger, in the end.
They were a big part of the early 90s and the Norba racing.
Myles Rockwell raced with Missy but is not included.
I think Joe Murray was important to the early success of Kona.
That said, how could you not have included ... ?!
Fish is certainly a wild man. I may have photographic proof.
Also saw Ned Overland and Tomac battling at Mt Snow that same era. Actually I would hear Tomac first with the drum sound of that Tioga rear wheel he ran then.
Watch the documentary ‘bones brigade’. Misty eyed for Rodney Mullen ever since, and I don’t skate.
Apart from @kingbike2 who apparently doesn't know who Rodney Mullen is, but he's already on it!
A few very key names left off the list.....
Shandro
Cowan
Sorge
Rennie
Tippie
Spangler
And most importantly imho.....Stevie Smith
Would be interested to hear what Romaniuk is up to these days
I have had a beer with at least 3 people on that list. Goal to increase that???
You can't call yourself a mountain biker if you don't know who John Tomac is - or was in terms of his active career.
you should have posted pictures and we should have had to guess the name
My Tremblay is a local legend around these parts I hear
It's so odd that this photo circulates as being of Paola. The jersey should be the first clue. There's also a severe lack of gold lamé bibshorts.