He did his first gravel race and it was a disaster (for everyone) - Old Man Winter 2020

[@ClintGibbs]

You're brave just for trying it. Yeah definitely lower those tire pressures. I'm about 147 lb and run 23 in the front and 25 in the back. Wider 650B tires would probably the ticket. We have a big gravel event here tomorrow then I'm probably doing on the Niner MCR. We too will have miserable conditions. I think it's only going to be around 50 when we start and only get up to 71 by the end. Oh yeah, it's Florida 😉.

[@thomasjarosz7406]

Syd, Prayers sent for your hip injury. Macky ,what was you thinking? Your mt .bike would have crushed them! God bless

[@killianredcastle]

Good show! We had a 50K run that was canceled due to similar conditions back in 2015. Two friends and I made our own route and ran it anyway. We have no regrets.

[@davidboucher4535]

I rode a road race in Montana that went over two mountain passes about 68 miles long in early September. Well it started off with about 50 guys and only about 10 finished, temps at the start about 50 temps at finish about 25, first pass it was super Beautiful temps dropped a few degrees and the downhill was chilly hitting speeds of 40 mph. But a front was working it way in and poop got real temps dropping and snow started falling about 2 miles from the top of the second pass guys started abandoning at the site of snow and all I could think of was Andy Hampsten winning the Giro in a snow storm. Riding in the tracks of car picking up riders who bailed I rode it out and lowered my tires pressure from 100ish to about half and finished 3rd. Can you say flashback thanks for the awesome video Macky.

[@sydandmacky]

Congrats! Now THAT sounds like an epic day!!

[@reactivemtnbiking9871]

Old man winter came down hard on the race this year. Awesome to see you came out of it unscathed. Keep up the awesome content my friends.

[@andrewwilliams5580]

That looked like a blast thanks for bringing us along guys.

[@thefrontrangermtb5308]

I haven't see some of your older vids....got a great picture of me at the 50k start line before they canned the whole thing! On the other hand...yesterday's 2023 event was amazing! (i.e. 47 degrees and sunny)

[@MoisheLettvin]

I was *so* hoping you got footage from this race, so epic! I was relieved when they canceled it even though I wasn’t riding it; Lefthand was super sketchy and I was worried someone was gonna get hurt or worse on it.

[@Tukis2000]

So cool! I’m doing the run/ bike😮 my first time riding I. Winter conditions!!! Keep it up

[@coneklr]

I was supposed to do it as well, even got my packet from Rapha. But didn’t even make the drive up because it was so crappy out! Wish I had got to meet you guys though!

[@pld468]

For my gravel bike, usually on my winter commutes I roll on about 30-35 psi for firm snow and asphalt, but when there's more the 2" of fresh snow, I roll on about 13-15 psi. More pressure than that and it's impossible to get any traction and that's for 650bx50mm xc tires. And once you get to more than 4" I just take the bus lol

[@Dan_Kornfeld]

Macky, I’m surprised you didn’t go for Niner’s all new gravel bike, outrigger skis accessory! The equivalent of training wheels for the winter racing enthusiast! ;) Dude, the ride looked insane, but all the more fun because of it! Keep doing what you do!

[@joeanderson3447]

In Alaska we ran studded tires in those type of conditions. Don't know if you could have used them in this race tho. LOL

[@briancase9909]

Don't bring a gravel bike to a fat bike race!!! Ha!

[@Cynyr]

a fat bike race with studded tires.

[@jakebailey146]

@@Cynyr This is true. I recall a fat bike day from last spring, powder over ice, where I was crashing again and again. These are not skinny tire, nor non-studded conditions.

[@davidtt8372]

I figured you would run studded tires when I saw how wet it was the day before

[@laneherrlinger7478]

Dude at least you know your shoulder is solid!!!!! How’s the hip??

[@jarrodglenister1248]

You guys are nuts! Much prefer to be on the beach in February in Australia 🇦🇺🏝

[@PhilGartman]

Brutal day. Glad you came out of it safe and laughing.

[@BruceChastain]

really great video. I've done some snow riding and it's actually pretty nerve-racking going down hill on icy/snowy roads like that.

[@AngelaPaterna]

I had signed up for the 10KRun/50K Bike combo. Definitely disappointed when I heard the 50K was cancelled but seeing this, yea, good decision. I do have spikes on my 29 x 2.2 tires so expected to be slow but stay upright. I will tell you, the run was awesome and glad I signed up for it. Nice video! Glad to see what was going on.

[@mrvwbug4423]

studded XC tires seem like the way to go. Fat bike would have no problem, but even 50k on a fat bike sounds like an exercise for masochists haha.

[@jimkrug2586]

Wow....looks like one of those events that you're just happy to survive!! Great effort for sure.

[@carlstanton2550]

When I was younger, I did an mx race in conditions exactly like this. It was great fun! I actually won all 3 motos that day. Safe to say I had considerably more traction than you, but nevertheless, it was thoroughly enjoyable. This video looked great fun too, and has brought back some nice memories for me too! :) awesome video guys. Heal up soon Syd! Love from Oxford, England.

[@TrailPOV]

That looked absolutely chaotic and a good way to reinjure yourself. But as long as you're in it for the fun and not the win could be a fun but grueling adventure.

[@marysullivan1588]

Because we like to spy on people from our van 😂🤣😂🤣😂 Love it ❤️

[@RusticRussellAdventures]

The last time we were at the same race was at Angle Fire. WOW, what a difference 😉 Glad everyone was safe. Happy Trails buddy 🤘🚴‍♂️

[@remcov3253]

Next time Schwalbe marathon 365 tires, assuming that spiked would be forbidden (schwalbe winter). Though seeing you mostly use Vittoria, hopefully Vittoria has an equivalent.

[@butlergl]

Every race is a learning experience. Way to handle it and soak up the knowledge.

[@alutious]

nice. kinda surprising, you guys ride in the snow all the time. Rough gravel rides i use my old mtb with a 100mm cheaper coil fork. Not as fast, but on the downs it is faster and definitely more comfortable, 60km is a good distance for it. Last year on my gravel bike two guys on mtb passed me on the highway. They must have been riding carbon right? lol. It has snowed alot here up north, in the fresh snow i took my old mtb out, 2.25" wide schwalbe 26" wheels, 24 psi. 4" of snow, zero problem, couldn't skid out turning sharply. However the next day after some warmth, then cold, the next day there was a treacherous thin layer of ice which was a different story. Plus if you don't dry your chain off afterwards it can rust along with the cassette, which is why i ride my old bike in snow. Glad you tried and glad they called the race off. It seems mtb were made for crashing, i think the drops are more fragile.

[@selder03]

Hope to see a follow up video on the broken hood and see what actually broke. Good race, good spirits Macky!

[@mattgies]

Based on the way it was wobbling around afterwards, I think it was the main body of the shifter/lever unit that cracked from impact. I've seen that happen before on crashed bikes.

[@middleagedmediocremountain4767]

Those conditions made for an awesome video though! 😎

[@sarahhamilton2499]

Fenders are totally cool!

[@mrvwbug4423]

And on super bowl sunday we were riding bone dry trails in 70 degree sunny weather in that same area, winter in Colorado haha.

[@jedidiahwest4619]

Moved back to KC just in time for winter. I’m definitely not a fan of riding in the snow

[@CodaHale]

“It’s February in Colorado” Yeah but it’s the snowiest February on record tho, and we’ve still got a week left in the month.

[@klw8173]

Yikes! Was that during or right after the storm 2/7? I was skiing in Breckenridge and there was about 3 feet. It was quite the dump and it just kept coming over the next few days.

[@mattgies]

Assuming they have the date set correctly on the dashcam (see 6:05), the race took place on Feb. 9th.

[@myroncunningham9042]

You go boy, That's crazy.

[@MTB_Rider_96]

I would use my Carbon Fat Tire bike (23 pounds, Sram XX1, 1x11) with 4.8 studded tires - I'm sure it would out perform all other bikes in those conditions. Probably run 8 lbs in both tires.

[@CJinsoo]

@6:42 “so i think this is gonna be awesome”. great attitude, only way

[@makeupchickmakeup1511]

Looks fun! Your tooo funny Macy! Here in northern Ontario we would use Fat Bikes! What a challenge you did !

[@jaredreynolds5250]

Does Niner make a fat tire bike?

[@GeekonaBike]

studded CX tires are the best on rutted ice

[@MTB_Rider_96]

Anything less than 4.6 in. studded tires would be useless in those conditions.

[@ketond3973]

Wish I could have loaned you my fat bike. 3 psi you'd have rocked and stayed upright. Kudos for going for it.

[@alexwatanabe1721]

I had no idea you guys were doing the race, I live in Lyons and watched the race. Would have been cool to see you!!

[@pinchebug9016]

I think the trainwreck aspect of cyclocross is what makes it look appealing.

[@JPascal61]

Fenders should have been the last worry.

[@lcweinstock]

I can't believe you chose those tires lmfaooo

[@ReZ_Trombone]

Should've brought a fatbike with studs, lol

[@braydenhall1835]

Here in California the trails are already dusty!! We haven’t had rain for the whole month of February😬🤟

[@grunderhunter]

Melissa Hall here in the uk, it’s pretty much rained all of February! So jealous right now! 😁

[@carlosflanders518]

Rode a rigid mtb 9 speed with 2.1" tires (Rocket Rons) and didn't even notice the ice. Wider sprocket spacing is great for nasty conditions. The gravel sections were great for me but the open road sharing with cars was super dangerous. The race should never have started.

[@sydandmacky]

Obviously that was the set up!!

[@carlosflanders518]

btw, the fastest guys I saw were on gravel bikes with 44-47 mm tires and good tread. Enough volume and tread for good grip and narrow enough to plow through drifts and fit with space in tire tracks. My 2.1" ricocheted off the ruts a bit and you could feel a lot of extra resistance when breaking snow. Kept me upright though.

[@THOELL2737]

Looked fun

[@foblife8904]

That would be awesome fat bike race

[@TriHard76]

Based on all the snow I have seen in your most recent videos might want some fat bikes.

[@deronlawrence6793]

Wow, that is so cool. I race for the bike shop that they went too.

[@deronlawrence6793]

Build Labs

[@deronlawrence6793]

One of my Coaches is a phisical therapist and I think that Syd could use his input on her hip. His office is in Down town Louisville Co. You should check it out.

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

Go great white, keep it rolling...

[@benanderson4639]

Definitely should have gotten the mtb with some really aggressive tires

[@rostonnordell3218]

I hate the look of fenders but I guess when you need theme you need theme

[@andrewnelson3276]

I am impressed you did as well as you did. Snow isn't too bad to ride in, but Ice has to be the most scary surface to try and ride. I would have much prefered a MTB with wider tires and a more upright position for more traction and control when the bike starts to slide. I also wonder how much better it would have gone with a set of 45 North studded tires. The studded tires look like they could give a lot better traction.

[@erikgriffioen6230]

Studded tires. If you are from canada like me, you would know that lol

[@Epluribusunom6166]

Fun times! 😉 🔝🚴🚴🏿‍♀️🔝🎥💯🙏🙏🤟

[@jeffp5418]

This definitely should have been a fat bike race

[@sapinva]

Why even try to ride that with skinny tires and drop bars, so you can be aero at a blistering 7.2 mph? Did see a few people on a sensible bike, so it must not have been a rules thing.

[@sydandmacky]

It was the only bike macky brought to Boulder! #runwhatyabrung

[@mrvwbug4423]

That looks like it would be a blast on a fat bike, though even 50k on a fattie sounds like definite type 2 fun.

[@charlesholland6851]

Usually I would never want to see you crash. But for this video it was kinda funny except the broken shifter.

[@velo-bikesaddles2071]

👍👍👍

[@Adventures_with_Sog]

Very surprised at your tyre choice. In fact I'm surprised you didn't do it on your mountain bike with better, wider tyres, due to the weather.

[@sydandmacky]

It was the only bike/tires he brought to Boulder since he wasn't originally planning to race

[@Adventures_with_Sog]

@@sydandmacky Ah OK, fair enough. 👍

[@carlosgomezzzzzzz]

Sometimes I feel great when the race gets cancelled

[@hael8680]

That race should have been called off before they send you on those roads with incoming traffic especially in the land where every one sues each other...

[@WildOutdoorLiving]

Im assuming there wasnt supposes to be snow? Haha Definitely would have been more fun on a fat bike.

[@BikeLifewithRob]

Should have races a fat bike, you would have won!

[@bkstancil225]

Absolute chaos but still loved it!! I've been inspired to start my own channel, check it out to watch my journey as a privateer racing enduro!

[@MrWoowootila]

3” snow, use fat bike.

[@karlstine2065]

That looks like fun. NOT!

[@gordonkohl9083]

This is kind of silly

[@jepser7]

First!