Here's how I prepared to WIN single-speed National Championships

If you haven't watched the video of Macky's race at Single-Speed National Championships, watch that first! • Fighting for the WIN a...
If you are one of the many people who have been wondering how Macky prepared for Single-Speed MTB National Championships, wonder no longer!
We had so many questions about what Macky's training looked like, we decided to put together a video discussing his training leading up to the event.
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[@smoothisfast6644]

Whatever you do, dont crash on the final sprint! ;)

[@davidross8233]

Whenever I watch a Syd and Macky video, I’m reminded of how much my ex wife despised me. Great content. Thanks!

[@Deanosaurous]

You win the best saddest comment today.

[@sydandmacky]

Sounds like you got out of a bad relationship! Hope things have improved since!

[@bob-ny6kn]

So true. Congratulations on a new life. Be well.

[@chikatikah3838]

Damn impressive. Glad to see y’all riding and doing well!

[@donbracci2199]

Not only did I enjoy the race video, but I really liked this training video. Keep up the great work.

[@tfraz99]

Making the new uni's look good up on that podium. Keep up the hard work. Great to see the team back at it. Tell niner to make more of those frames!!! I want one!

[@miguelrodriguez8205]

Bro you're looking amazing on the bike!! and you're looking strong as hell💪💪💪💪. Keep up the good work! And yes.. hats off to that awesome coach on that ebike!!

[@B1KER]

Definitely some work out in there. Puts it into perspective of what it takes to be a champion. Good job man 🤘

[@danielfear6799]

Love the smell of that desert sage after a rain over here in Farmington too! Got that this morning on my ride.

[@Happy_Biker]

Your gym workout terrifies me 😂 The presumtion that I might race xc just on account of having an xc bike is hilarious. "Downcountry freeride forever!" 😏 You go, Macky! 💪 That race was amazing to watch. Thanks for sharing it with us, and congrats on your win.

[@taffycymroukmtb9073]

Great Stuff Syd& Mackay 🚴🚴👌🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👌

[@mattz8775]

Congrats on the big win. I race locally...xc...cat 3 40 - 49. I always have the same goals... don't finish last and don't get hurt! Me my wife and my 7 year old daughter watched the whole video and we were on the edge of our seats. Awesome content.

[@cypriano8763]

Such simplicity in single speed. Makes for a clean lookin bike

[@Brian-nv9tg]

Macky, you're an animal! Keep it up.

[@emilymonteforte8878]

Single speed looks so fun 😀

[@rollinrat4850]

Its More fun than should be legal! Try fixed gear offroad for even more fun. Pedaling always is a wicked workout. You think the climbs are hard, then the descents can be even harder. A very efficient exercise in pain. But it's addicting!

[@DARRENTRANCE]

See I always thought riding was fun...... not seeing anything there but pure hard work and dedication 💪. It's good to see how much training you put in for an event and to then watch said event. It's a real eye opener for anyone looking to step there game up. Way too much hard work for me though 😂🤣

[@SiopaoSauc3]

Macky cranking out of the saddle on the SS is giving off major Mash SF wide bar fixie vibes.

[@kenyanettingham1818]

Go Macky, much love and respect for you and your goals. 👏🏽🤘🏽🦵

[@graffix11us]

Cool to see Syd as the follower. Gotta say Macky's got some tree trunks for legs!

[@maestrop427]

Guys, I loved the training video! Macky, looked incredibly strong! It's so inspiring.

[@michaelrogers9809]

That looked soooo hard!

[@georgedoolittle7574]

Your intro music which is wunderbar btw always reminds of the song "Mandy." Best frat boy Band ever.

[@doolittlegeorge]

Brandy, my bad.

[@MattGrovesFTW]

I want to ride these trails you have out there.

[@teamohlesgars]

Good job 😍

[@eyalschnider]

amazng way of life.doing old school riding.

[@yamom6087]

Respect for single speed riders ✨

[@cjjung4117]

It would be great to give us a video of the build of the SS and why you used certain components. training for a 25hr single speed race.

[@amburrayesandoval16]

I thought the terrain looked familiar. Great ride

[@slide_drexler]

The Champ is Here! The Champ is Here!

[@mikieson]

yeah!

[@emilegoguely4032]

Happy to find his neat video, although powermeters are rampant on road bikes nowadays, finding anything SSXC related is impossible. Looking to see what other string SS'ers are doing. Confused on why your coach had you do such easy intervals (2min @320-350w would have been a walk in the park) then the execution was ...interesting... I'm a steady state rider and that's what I enjoy training, maybe I should spice things up 🙃

[@pattiwong1143]

Syd should do emtb Enduro

[@dgriffinm]

I’m a big guy , I ride a single speed. I have a geared bike also , but love the challenge of the single speed

[@amartinez402]

ss riders just built different 💪

[@findtherightbeat]

That TGU says a lot about your fitness!!

[@jaynaforsgren4755]

What is TGU?

[@sydandmacky]

Turkish Getups. They're so brutal!

[@thetart20]

Some serious power being produced here! Impressive stuff. Do you mind me asking how much you weigh? Trying to figure out if I'd be even half competitive in SS events... Thanks for making great content and sharing your training! Edit: So Strava Stalking of your power chart says 75kg. Wow, much less than I expected 😅👍

[@sydandmacky]

Yeah, 75kg is about right. It's important to remember though that power to weight ratio isn't the only (or even the most important) thing for racing mountain bikes. So much of the results come down to bike handling and mental game. So I'd say if you wanna race SS, you should!

[@CraigMartinNB]

Very cool to get this insight into how you trained. Noticed you were WAY over target power for the first few intervals. I know it's tougher to hit a target on a climb like that, and on a single speed, but do you normally do that on your interval workouts, and how does your coach feel about that? ;)

[@sydandmacky]

Nah, usually I'm much closer to the prescribed numbers. As you said, between the SS and the hill I didn't have much of a choice. Next time I'm choosing an easier hill! But coach Mike was fairly pleased 😄

[@CraigMartinNB]

@@sydandmacky Just curious - some coaches wouldn't like going over by that much, especially that close to a goal race. For me, that's long enough in advance to go pretty hard. (Mike sounds awesome)

[@JogieGlenMait16]

bro looks like a model or something...congratulations!

[@yoramchen54]

What’s your gear ratio in single speed? Ok I just have seen it’s 32/18 . Strong 💪

[@Trucktiger2468]

Those fuzzy spots on the camera: precipitation (rain), or parcipitation (sweat) (Think John Candy).

[@bob-ny6kn]

Thank you for showing the utility of the ebike. It's not cheating, it's riding on a level field.

[@bob-ny6kn]

@@anthonysears871 You are wrong.

[@teenoltae]

Been riding bikes for about 45 years. I've never had gears. I guess I'm set in my ways.

[@sapinva]

Don't know why you resist the XC, you are a natural at it. Just cause you can do ok at enduro doesn't mean much, you'd probably do ok at almost anything by virtue of exceptional fitness and athletic talent, except maybe free ride or track.

[@MrKimberr]

Pretty intense! Cool to be 3rd comment. I don't usually catch these when they drop.

[@dustind9242]

My lower back was hurting watching you grind up that hill

[@sydandmacky]

Yeah, move was pretty sore the next day!

[@GetYoJonesOn]

What a monster. 489 W avg and only a HR of 142 bpm

[@kennethelliot8164]

For a pure ss rider how important do you feel a power meter is? As you say. The hill determines your minimum power level requirement so it's hard to do precise power intervals. I mainly do time and heart rate, but have always been interested in ss with a pm

[@sydandmacky]

Having a power meter is awesome, especially in a SS because the power and cadence vary so much. Plus, if you do have other bikes that have the same cranks, if you get a Stages meter, you can just swap the left crank arm and have power on all your bikes!

[@onlyfoolriding8223]

Damn, 487 watt interval.

[@damnedlock8776]

Macky: What kind of bike shoes are you wearing?..Im thinking about changing my bike shoes for something like you wear..in case I need to walk here and there...thanks!!

[@sydandmacky]

Those are the PEARL iZUMi X-Alp Elevates. Definitely recommend them! bit.ly/3OJV4wn

[@glennpettersson9002]

No easy wins🤘💪🖖

[@ianowens4514]

How much time did you take between intervals?

[@sydandmacky]

I think it was 1min

[@stephanoporter8457]

Hey there friend is there any way we can chat on the phone or via an app? My girlfriend is a huge single speeder but I don't know how to recommend training for her or help her.

[@sydandmacky]

Have her check out Coach Mike's training plans, that would be a great place for her to start: bit.ly/3vnwdcZ

[@JS-sy8mo]

Just curious what Macky's max heart rate is so I can put the intervals into context..?

[@sydandmacky]

I've never seen anything over high 170s (that I can remember)

[@JS-sy8mo]

so room to spare! You the man!! thanks@@sydandmacky

[@vikramchittoria5879]

Tyre size

[@mikerotchburns1622]

damn i dont know why i gave up ssing

[@sydandmacky]

It's not too late 😉

[@heterman01]

Is it allowed to use a oval chainring?

[@sydandmacky]

Yup, but then you have to use a chain tensioner.

[@thetart20]

@@sydandmacky actually, usually you don't! Though I've preferred round rings on SS to date.

[@millerman692]

Where is this trail?

[@sydandmacky]

Horsethief trail system just north of Taos.

[@millerman692]

@@sydandmacky Thanks!

[@Tntdruid]

Is there a Lazer dealer in Europe?

[@SiopaoSauc3]

There should be. They're based in Belgium.

[@Tntdruid]

@@SiopaoSauc3 thanks 👍

[@markpainter112]

34x18?

[@sydandmacky]

32x18

[@sydandmacky]

I've actually gone even lighter and now run a 30x20t. I've never lost a race on it though, so it's working for me. I'd rather be able to go fast up the climbs and make up time there than try to make up time pedaling on the descents and or flats which are overall much less of the time in a race (at least the races I've been doing).

[@boydcrowder4436]

While you were working on the requisite skills, Sam was working on his 'swerve to cut-off' skills.