Brian “Safa” Wagner has carved out a niche for himself within cycling as one of the fastest road descenders outside of the pro peloton. Through his Youtube channel, he shares films of his most nail-biting descents that see him maintaining average speeds of nearly 50mph over the course of 15-minutes. Safa started out as a bike messenger, navigating the crowded streets of cities such as London, Sydney, Glasgow, and Mexico City as fast as cycling allowed. Over time, he elevated this to an art form, and pioneered the bike messenging scene in Mexico City, where he lived for six years. He now lives in Los Angeles, producing films and pushing the limits of fast descents. In this interview, he talks about why he’s chosen to make Los Angeles his home, being passed over by potential sponsors who think his riding is too dangerous to promote, and why his new film, Pray for Speed, is a special one. He also talks about why he isn’t too fussy about bike setup, his thoughts on the UCI ban on the “super-tuck,” and why he thinks all cycling is equally dangerous.

Instagram: @withpacepod
YouTube: Payson McElveen