Matt Fairbrother is a unique human. An enigma. A MTB enduro machine, with stunning technical riding skills. But who is Matt Fairbrother? What makes him tick? What goes on inside that brain of his? We interviewed him to try and find out, and this is what Matt said:
The Hard Way
Over the last couple of years, I’ve made a name for myself in mountain biking media by doing things differently, always choosing the hard way. Initially, this approach wasn’t a choice but a necessity—I had no money, and it was my only option to get where I needed to go. Over time, I’ve grown to enjoy the discomfort, and even chase it. Suffering has its moments; sometimes it’s fulfilling, and other times, not so much. It comes in waves—good days and bad days.
I wouldn’t say I have one big, audacious goal. Instead, I’m always looking to go a step bigger with each challenge. There’s no end to this process—I’m never satisfied. I’ve never completed something and felt content or sat back to admire my work. It’s always about asking, “What’s next?”
There are always super highs and super lows, but I usually forget about them by the next day and dive into the next challenge. Maybe that’s why I keep getting myself into these situations. It’s all part of the ride—big ups and downs, but nothing I can pinpoint as a favourite.
Big Days with Whoop
I’ve had some massive days using Whoop, a health monitoring device that tracks things like heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, and overall recovery. It gives you a 'body score' based on how you’re performing. My biggest days have maxed out and then hit the lowest recovery scores possible - on consecutive days.
For example, during the Nelson Challenge earlier this year (featured in this award-winning short film), my recovery score started at 26, dropped to 1 for two days, and then fluctuated in the low teens before crashing again. My HRV was so low that it triggered five out of five warnings on the final day. My body hated that week, and honestly, so did my mind. But there were still highs - moments when, despite extreme fatigue, everything just clicked, and I managed to push through.
Why I Stopped Using Whoop
I no longer use Whoop because it kept giving me bad scores, which wasn’t motivating. Whoop seemed to think I wasn’t giving my body enough time to recover, but what does it know? For me, it’s better not to see the warnings and just send it.
What’s the deal with chocolate milk?
It’s my go-to liquid of choice. It has carbs, tastes great, and is consistently flavoured no matter where you are in the world. It’s accessible, reliable, and just feels right. To me, Chocolate milk is nature’s nectar—a little treat that keeps me going.
Motivation and Mindset
Why do you push yourself to do massive endurance missions?
I don't know. I've never quite worked out why I push my body and mind so hard, but I think it always comes back to wanting to one-up myself—always wanting to go bigger each time I set out to do something. That’s a motivating factor, but I don’t know why I’m wired to work that way.
What goes through your head when your body is about to give out?
When I’m at my limit, I almost go into fight or flight mode. I just don’t give myself a way out. I put so much pressure on myself to perform and won’t ever let myself give up. I stick with whatever I’ve set out to do.
How does your brain work during big missions?
I don’t think too much goes on in my mind. I often set small goals, even though I have an overall big goal. I never think about the bigger picture; I focus on the smaller steps to achieve it.
Funny and Memorable Stories
A small mission that turned big?
It happens often. In the mountains, you can misjudge what you can bike versus what you have to walk or push. Walking takes much longer, so small missions often turn into much bigger ones.
Weirdest or funniest story from a mission?
Once in the USA, I accidentally rode over wet highway paint just as workers were laying it. They got mad, yelled, and one even chased me. I ducked into a park to hide but ended up getting into a fistfight with a Canadian goose. That sticks out for sure.
Another time, while biking from Scotland to Slovenia, I was so exhausted I started hallucinating. At one point, I thought I hallucinated being hit in the face, but when I woke up the next morning, my face was covered in blood. Turns out, I had actually been hit by a bird.
Have you fallen asleep on your bike?
Yes, a few times. On missions that push past 24 hours, I reach a point where my body just shuts down, and I fall asleep mid-ride. Once, I fell asleep going uphill and collapsed to the ground—but I woke up fine.
Favourite Music: White Noise Enthusiast...
When asked about my favourite music, I have to admit, I’ve never been much into music. It’s not that I dislike it—it’s just never been my thing. Instead, I’d call myself a bit of a white noise enthusiast. I’ve always enjoyed the soothing hum of static or TV noise, and recently, I’ve been exploring other colours of noise. Pink noise, for instance, has been my go-to for the past few weeks. I love its tone and vibe—it just fills me with energy.
I guess you could say I’m a big white noise guy. I find it relaxing, and I’m kind of an enthusiast about it at this point.
Life Outside of Biking?
When it comes to talking about things other than biking, there’s not much to say. Biking is my life—it’s what I do, and I can’t imagine anything else taking its place. Bikes are my present and my future.
I don’t spend much time thinking about other paths or possibilities. If it’s not biking, it’s hard to say what the future might hold. For now, it’s all about the ride.
Reflections and Growth
Sometimes, when I’m put on the spot, I stumble a bit. I might overthink what I want to say and struggle to get the words out the way I’d like. But that’s just part of the process—there’s always a next time, always another opportunity to do better.
The key is to keep pressing forward, learning from each moment, and embracing the journey. That’s how I approach things, whether it’s biking or life in general.
Wrapping Up
In the end, it’s all about keeping things simple and staying true to what matters. Whether it’s enjoying the static hum of white noise or pushing myself to new heights on a bike, I’m happy to be here, doing what I love. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.
