Racing 50 MILES on a single-speed -- Emerald Epic in Steamboat Springs, CO

After Macky's Single-Speed National Championship win, we headed to Steamboat Springs, CO so Macky could tackle his longest single-speed race ever, the Emerald Epic 50!
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[@sydandmacky]

This video was sponsored by AfterShokz. Click the following link for a custom code and 15% off (the code will appear at the bottom of the screen after a few seconds): bit.ly/30pZCkE

[@osp1999]

Thank you for the info! You’re an inspiration, someday I’ll work up the courage to try SS.

[@DeanPattrick]

Been using these headphone ever since they first made them, even met the CEO at IFA the other year.

[@mark-c]

I’ve gone down the rabbit hole with purchasing AfterShokz headphones. I just ordered my third pair, two as gifts. Without your video, I would have never known about them. They have transformed my MTB rides. Thank you!

[@sydandmacky]

Glad you're enjoying them. We love ours!

[@sixate]

5th overall rocking a hardtail SS and no dropper is pretty amazing. Very impressive!

[@greggr1591]

“This is the one technical spot on this trail” - and The Boss just dances through it. That’s why Mackey is the champ.

[@garybell6410]

I see you riding through long grass to pass riders and I wince. I did this once and rode into a deep unseen hole in the long grass. I spent some time in the air, then 3 weeks in hospital waiting for ribs and lungs to repair. The bike ended up 10 metres past me, I was clipped in, and after hitting the hole I went over the bars and pulled the bike out of the hole. Apparently while I was passing the moon I unclipped from the bike and let it continue on its way. Amazing what the brain will do.

[@sydandmacky]

Yeah, it's always a bit scary passing in the grass, but necessary in this race...

[@garybell6410]

@@sq5 All's well, but on advice from the doctor, "Cycling is good but you are too old to fall off", I have toned down my riding.

[@ehdeereotutar6843]

It’s so awesome that you’re giving encouragement when passing the other riders! Kudos to you sir!

[@Tumid1]

Shout out to the 2nd place rider who let him pass when he (probably) thought he was in the lead....Class

[@sydandmacky]

Agreed!

[@jkeiffer]

"Spectating is hard!" hahaha Loved that! Great job to both of you. Macky is so strong.

[@4961Studebaker]

Love this. Spectating is hard!

[@shreddymercury]

That race was so sweet. I raced it with my dad! It was weird how deceptively long it was.

[@karlstine2065]

Your crew is so great.

[@mattcoalter1769]

As always you're amazing. We need a repair video for the dropper! Having the same problem moves but doesn't stay down.

[@sydandmacky]

We're trying to get ahold of the replacement part and then planning to do one!

[@ZenEndurance]

This was really fun to watch! I used to ride fixie/singlespeed for my training rides because it was so much fun. Did the MS150 on a SS road bike, even. Currently, my gravelbike doesn't have low enough gears and I have to slug it up steep stuff and I love it. Forces you to learn to pedal with better technique and more power, feeling more connected to the bike and terrain for sure. Cool video!

[@jennifergallant543]

You are lucky to have SYD in your corner this year bro...

[@MTB_Rider_96]

Great finish! It took me 2 MTB races to realize I really hate racing. Mosely I hate racing compared to just riding for fun. It was the training that really got me. It so difficult to train while working a 50 hr a week job

[@celestecannon7588]

This is great! I've been doing this race for years and it was really fun to see your POV and flying down Little Moab! I will have to review right before next year.

[@jamisontobias2752]

I ordered the AfterShokz Aeropex after the last video that they sponsored. I absolutely love them when I ride, hike, mowing the grass, while at work etcetera..... I haver also recommended them to all my friends and family. Everyone loves them. Thanks for a great buy.

[@alexmathews1719]

Amazing race! You're like the Energizer Bunny. Congrats!

[@jamesbailey9386]

Awesome Mackey! “Spectating is hard” love it!

[@DWCPodcast]

10:35 where did that co2 go? I am learning a lot about mountain biking from these videos. Great work.

[@OnTheRocks1987]

Always great to see the races and adventures you two go on, strong work and keep it up!

[@empowerperformancetherapy366]

That initial climb is hard on the SS, but yeah.. overall great singlespeed course! Congrats for rocking it and continuing to showcase how badass SSers really are 😉

[@melissa7122]

Every time Macky ate some chews, my mind inserted the clip from the last race, "eating wins races!" 😂

[@whip113]

You capture SS racing so perfectly. It must be the most difficult category for a race organizer to seed into a start corral.

[@BoonMountainBike]

wow I just watch the whole thing. You passed a bunch of people. Thank you for sharing.

[@ricomacpherson6845]

Congratulations on your race. And your sportsmanship out there as well

[@myroncunningham9042]

Dam mack man you go boyee, sweet

[@maestrop427]

Great video guys! Congrads on the win Macky you look really strong on the bike!

[@epagent6091]

MACKY! You my dear Sr. are a Beast!!!! 🤘🏽😎

[@ashtondrake3407]

Macky's a machine!

[@Lughnerson]

Monster Macky Mash.

[@2scoops624]

Mackey, the single speed slayer!

[@lagwall]

You are a crazy machine of a human

[@gguthinger]

Nice work on the tire change.

[@Magoo71]

Wow....Having your Girl- friend be you mechanic? Boy that is aces! My gal would hardly even recognize a Bike tool if stepped on it!

[@HairyMTB]

You have me very motivated to set my SS up for two riding again!

[@charlesbarton96]

Macky goes full SSXC Dropper post won’t go up/down? Not for a second! Fulllll flat lander! Mr. N. Schurter less a few cogs ;)

[@frankwinters3732]

SUPER show!

[@skyerains2754]

Awesome Job! Syd i ran into your parents at Jakes Rocks yesterday, due to the jersey graphics i like that they were wearing. Macky what music gets you into the zone?

[@sydandmacky]

Haha! Awesome!

[@ellengerl9798]

Fun to meet you on the trail!

[@mconnorsc]

@sydandmacky CRAMP suggestion, keep small restaurant pack of mustard with you. Cramp hits, take mustard and the cramp goes away. Test it at home next time one hits. It’s crazy, but it works. Also, thanks for the discount code. I lost my Aeropex this summer and now they’ve been replaced.

[@mustclime5311]

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. Sometimes not, but mostly you are.

[@perrystalsisworldofbiology767]

The puffing on the first big hill made my chest feel tight just watching it.

[@JasonLiske]

50.... meh.. as stated in a previous vlog - race the 24HOP SS in Tucson this winter. my old legs managed 17 laps & 280 miles and you can surely do more. It's burning man on bikes. Absolute fun 🙃

[@b.r.3232]

Super job!!

[@christhee68]

At 7:20 there was another guy in a Stars and Stripes Jersey. Different age group National Champion?

[@sydandmacky]

Yeah, he apparently won the 50-59 age group (not single-speed) and didn't realize that you're only supposed to wear it in the category you won it in...

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

Jeez you mountain bikers are polite! Imagine the tour de France like that, mark Cavendish saying "sneak by in your left, thank you" 😆...ain't gonna happen

[@sapinva]

You could have done that on a road bike. Any prize should go to your mechanic/team, next level support.

[@gmanisrandom]

Do you have a set playlist or just all random music

[@sydandmacky]

I have a 14-hour playlist I created for Everesting last year!

[@genewest8426]

That was awesome 👌 👏 😎

[@dianal.1279]

This single speed category seems like a horrible idea for your knees. Of course, you only get it when you're twice your age.😔 Loved the video! Thank you for sharing!🏆🌻🎉

[@docmccoy9813]

It doesn't seem like a horrible idea, it is. Cadence under 60 is not healthy. Surprisingly, not running a dropper post, seems like a big problem :)

[@kennethelliot8164]

It can be if you push too hard of gear instead of adapting to high cadence on the flats. I look at the steepest grade I intend to ride and work backwards to find pedal force required to move from a stop and keep that under half bodyweight. Worse case you're effectively climbing stairs all day

[@Gabesafish]

Why are single speeders faster on certain courses than geared? What is the advantage?

[@sydandmacky]

I don't think there are any courses that a single-speed is FASTER than gears. That being said, there are certain times that a single-speed is similarly fast (steady climbs in the 5-8% grade depending on your gearing) and since they're often lighter, that could be an advantage for that part of the course. But overall, a geared bike will still be faster.

[@Gabesafish]

@@sydandmacky maybe it’s just that Macky makes it look so easy!

[@oklahotb3217]

I am typically faster (which isn't saying much ) on my single speed than on a geared bike on some tracks because I get lazy with gears. You can't get lazy on a singles speed or you will get behind the gear and have to push that much harder to get up to speed when on a geared bike, you can dump to an easier gear to get back up to speed with less brute force. Since I can't get lazy or pay the price, I make sure to throw in more peddle strokes on sections where you can coast in order to stay on top of the gear so that translates into more speed. Single speed has improved my riding significantly because of that and made me stronger and I've incorporated that into riding my geared bikes. And yes, Macky does make it look easy. When he was huffing hard in the start passing all those people, that's what I sound like after a 45 second out of the saddle climb lol

[@1pho3nixmatt]

You’re a monster. 🤣 Awesome job! Ever try pickle juice or mustard packets for cramps?

[@sydandmacky]

I haven't, but I hear it works well!

[@Drogos79]

Congrats! Since eating wins races ....why gummies and bars instead of gels? Don't these absorb faster?

[@sydandmacky]

Yes, but I prefer solid food. Otherwise my stomach says I'm hungry even if I have consumed enough calories!

[@win_on_3588]

Mackey great video or should I say great video Syd? Just a quick question... what do you carry that holds your music? I am assuming you do not carry your phone during a race or do you?

[@sydandmacky]

Yup, just my phone!

[@MarkLarson]

Do you remove your CO2 on the descents? Sometimes I see it and sometimes I don’t.

[@sydandmacky]

I popped it into my pocket on the second descent because it was rattling around and I was afraid it would fall off. Normally I just leave it on, but didn't want to lose it and it was bouncing around a lot because of the hardtail.

[@heathbarry6015]

@20:10 was that bike a belt drive SS?

[@sydandmacky]

Yup, there were a couple of them at the race.

[@Mark-kd7yp]

Were is the link for the headphones?

[@smoothisfast6644]

Two questions. 1) Why no stem with an XC bike? 2) What are the rules for wearing the stars and strips? Any race? Only races in the U.S.?

[@sydandmacky]

1) I was planning to run a 70mm stem, but couldn't get ahold of one, so went with the 45mm I had. Just got a 70 though and am planning to swap it out. 2) You're only supposed to wear it in the category you won until the next year's National Championships. The other guy in my race who was wearing Stars and Stripes won the 50-55 National Champs so shouldn't technically have been wearing it for this race (since it was single-speed).

[@davidtt8372]

@@sydandmacky glad I found this explanation for the guy in the champ kit before I asked. Did you explain to him that he's not supposed to be wearing it like you had to explain the 15 minute break?

[@sydandmacky]

@David Trapp we did have a funny interaction after the race where he asked what category I got my Stars and Stripes in and I responded "uhhh, single-speed" 🤣

[@smoothisfast6644]

@@sydandmacky Thanks! Love your follower interactions.

[@noelgutierrez01]

Felicidadez😀😀👍👍

[@cgriggsiv]

Said you did a damn good job young man damn good job and yes I think you did overdo it just a tad but damn good job at nonetheless you got more stamina and more heart than I do you'll get them next time again fantastic job holy s*** did you do damn good job

[@joseluispereznares8483]

Nice wich gear ratio? Oval?

[@sydandmacky]

30x20t no oval

[@joseluispereznares8483]

@@sydandmacky Do You Use Strava? I want to follow your ss tracks 😀🤙

[@geos909]

The code isn’t working

[@sydandmacky]

Give this a try: ENDURANCEH9PM

[@andyaitch3038]

The screen on Macky's computer was cracked in the Breck Epic videos, but not this one. When did it get cracked? But more importantly, where's the video of the cracking?!?!?

[@sydandmacky]

I wish it were exciting. Instead I just dropped it face-down on gravel like a dummy 🤦‍♂️

[@Carftymk]

why do you sometimes stick your co2 inflator in your pocket for a few minutes before putting it back on?

[@franmcgowan4068]

So it doesn't fall off in the really rough sections.

[@sydandmacky]

Yeah, I popped it off for the 2nd descent because it was making a lot of noise and I was afraid it would fall off!

[@wesleysherwin1117]

I would really like to try these headphones. I'd definitely like to use the 15% off promo code. But, I let the web browser sit open overnight and the code still didn't show up.

[@wesleysherwin1117]

@@sydandmacky I actually just did it in a different browser and it came right up. I ordered one. sorry for bothering you.

[@sydandmacky]

No worries. Glad it worked!

[@gulfcitynd]

50 miles on a single speed yeah definitely went to far

[@PeterTvonK]

I started biking to lose weight. I did my first race this year still being obese, so I didn't have any expectations. My category had 5 men in it. I finished 3rd. The 2nd guy beat my by 45 seconds, which is how much I spend on a pee break. I am glad to see that I am not the only one who needs to pee during a race :D

[@sydandmacky]

Congrats!!

[@Drogos79]

Yo M&S!!! Why my legs felt like they are about to fell off during my last ride? Need help with diagnosis doctors!! I had an odd body response during my recent ride. My usual rides are on local trails with 15-25miles of MTBing with 10-13mph average depending on length of the ride and routing. Ride in question was 29 miles on a somewhat more demanding trail system. More climbs, longer climbs and some mellow flats on sandy dirt that might have added to the damage. Anyway...a lot of quad pain around 20mile mark, not so much fatigue because power was still there...just pain when not pedaling. As long as legs were moving, I was fine but when I stopped pedaling, VERY significant pain. Pain went away 20min after the ride and milkshake took care of the lactic build up ( yes, that's my theory, let's leave there :) Felt great next day. Thoughts? Thanks for your time!!!

[@sydandmacky]

I'm guessing your quads were cramping. Happens to me when I go hard for a long time and similar to you, it's usually okay while I'm pedaling but then when I stand up to descend they cramp. Nothing to worry about especially, just sounds like it was a long, hard ride!

[@millerman692]

What shoes and pedals? Thanks.

[@sydandmacky]

PEARL iZUMi X-Project PRO (bit.ly/3hNtqA9) and Xpedo CXR Pro (bit.ly/3zmO4Nm)

[@millerman692]

@@sydandmacky Thanks!

[@Ilovethisaccount500]

Are you wearing a road bike helmet?

[@sydandmacky]

It's a road/XC MTB helmet (Lazer Z1 MIPS) bit.ly/LazerSport

[@Ilovethisaccount500]

@@sydandmacky very cool! I actually bought a lazer helmet the other day its the tonic mips. I love it probably best helmet ive owned (only owned 4 total though) but super comfortable lightweight and breathable. I love your stuff!

[@muddypawsadventurer7775]

👍👀🎅

[@jasonford7216]

Professionals don't live in vans...

[@TrailingOff831]

you should just keep saying "i'm off to see the wizard" instead of thengue.

[@jurgenimschoot1704]

What's the deal with the other chap wearing the stars and stripes in the SS category while Macky is the US SS champ?

[@franmcgowan4068]

Age group champ?

[@sydandmacky]

Yeah, he won the 50-55 XC, so technically shouldn't have been wearing it for SS...

[@jamisontobias2752]

Maybe he is just patriotic. I wear a toned down version as well as flag socks.

[@noelmarte2835]

This is better than any show on TV. Great job

[@scvsmokee4188]

Wow Syd, one handed pump action and popping the bead on the rim 2:27

[@mustclime5311]

As for the Aftershocks, I got the Aftershocks titanium(because I saw you were using the brand), the battery life is only about 2 hours on this model and you need to charge them right before use....fyi

[@alexmathews1719]

The Aeropex are much better than Titanium. I upgraded this year, the weight reduction and better audio is worth it. The longer battery life is nice to have to.

[@mustclime5311]

@@alexmathews1719 Yea, well, they claimed 6 hours use for the titanium....you get 2 hours. There is also no way to replace the rechargeable battery so when it is done, the unit is garbage. I will not be buying this brand again.

[@Shawn-wt4kh]

"Did I overdo it?" Nah, man. I seriously doubt your heart rate even cracked 160 for very long. With your superior fitness at such low heart rates, you could do these races all the time and not really suffer like the rest of us would have!

[@mikemorris3028]

Really enjoy your race videos, my son had his first race as a sophomore in the Colorado High School league. It was a super fun experience seeing all the kids he has been training with race. Your videos show how far this sport can take you as a life long pursuit. Keep up the hard work and fun content!

[@kennethcolbert2921]

You sir has got your self a very good woman better keep her happy and get her what ever she wants in life.

[@brentvincent4430]

Great video also love how considerate bikers are, you guys make me and my kids get out on our bikes daily!

[@PumpkinVillage]

That was pretty amazing. Good team work. Your the boss. Take care, Al

[@cammackey8259]

Holy shit the amount of slugs you passed whoah

[@trippstaudtracing3]

😂 I’m in steamboat skiing 😂😂

[@peterellis4262]

All about the fashion, right? 😊

[@iuxks4464]

The h2o gas tank fell on the air alert😭😂

[@jasonford7216]

Professionals my ass

[@donaldryder5534]

You stop when you pee?

[@razmtb5028]

as always, you're awesome Mackyyyyyy!!

[@Biking_with_Akiva]

🏆That was fantastic guys Macky you are a BEAST CONGRATULATIONS again on another win!!! 🏆

[@joshuabear7735]

I raced at Big Sky in 2005 and the air quality was similar. I swear your voice sounded hoarse near the end. You absolutely shred!!!!!!

[@sgdummy]

Watching this made me want to ride with you so I could see how fast you really are!? Then I remembered the last time I raced was like 20 years ago and I never even made it to expert class soooo maybe I'm not as fast as I'd like to think I am as I sit in my comfy chair watching KZbin. Seriously thought, great channel and I'm very impressed with your sportsmanship. Kudos to you sir and great riding!

[@colinisnowlostincolorado]

Always a pleasure watching you race, especially in first person at Pikes Peak Apex last year. Have a great preseason... What's in store for 2022?

[@jaconel3395]

Am I the only one who thought of the first Captain America on the first climb "on your left... on your left..."?

[@meatmotorendurance]

Sneak verb -- move or go in a furtive or stealthy manner. For accuracy of statement sake, we need Macky racing in a full Ghille Suit to make this true.

[@cgriggsiv]

Here is a suggestion for tires all of Victoria is fantastic and so is maxxis You have got to try and use drifters dual density you would be utterly amazed on the speeds you could achieve going downhill and uphill with inverted tires And with the dirt that you were on on this race those drifters dual densities would have been even better you still get grip and you get to speed of tires for road in a perfect combination

[@shaunroach7829]

What amazing content!!! As a abide single speeder that rides a fatbike all year long I love the SS content!!! Your an inspiration and motivator to the rest of us, to keep on trying to get faster and better. Great job on the this race and the Breck Epic!! Your content is fantastic great job 👍👍👍👍

[@zornj61]

Seriously PEARL I...Can we get Macky some matching BIBs for the Flag jersey?

[@meatmotorendurance]

Whoa, Did Syd throw on those NEW tubeless with NO levers? #FINGERSOFSTEEL

[@stackmanstack]

Felt like looked like you on 230km race 2015 can second overall. 3weeks recovery.

[@pedalhound]

The c02 cartridge disappeared and now it's back! You are crushing it man!

[@kylebruna142]

Can't believe you did this race with how bad the smoke was that day! Talk about unhealthy