WHAT WE EAT IN A DAY - at a Cross-Country MTB race

[@sydandmacky]

GET 15% OFF ALL SKRATCH LABS PRODUCTS WITH CODE "sydandmacky" AT CHECKOUT (skratchlabs.com)!

[@francmeister420]

SYD and MACKY you guys got a skratch code?! Will be using it this weekend!!

[@gianmarcocostanzo1380]

Unpacking the bar beforehand is a revelation! Such a game changer. I will try on my next race.

[@grn9209]

The thing I like the best is that you guys are REAL👊🏼. Legit respect 🚵🏽🌵

[@sydandmacky]

Thanks! :)

[@GriffinBikePark]

When can we expect Syd and Macky's Eat More Awesome Cookbook?

[@sydandmacky]

We've been discussing something like that...

[@sydandmacky]

Eating Wins Races cookbook is now available! eatingwinsraces.com/product/eating-wins-races-cookbook/

[@Kevin-ex2yb]

I just love your videos as a coach for two young women aspiring to great things in the xc mtb world you provide a wonderful resource for them and Syd is a great role model. Keep up the great work!!

[@steveboyle6891]

You two eat really well, and what you eat usually looks really good. I get hungry after watching one of your food videos, haha!

[@middleagedmediocremountain4767]

Thanks for keeping it real! My favorite trail snack is a peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich. I’m sure it’s not the best for me but man it tastes good and keeps me going!

[@sydandmacky]

That sounds great. Good protein (peanut butter and bread combine to create a complete amino acid) and it's yummy!

[@svenweihusen57]

There is a huge difference between food as a fuel for exercise or just eating for fun. What Syd and Macks eat is god for the amount of exercise they do while it would be totally unsuitable for a couch potato. When you exercise hard you need energy aka Carbs or fat. This is just the fuel you burn and that's it. You can't go fat because you are literally burning the calories away while you are eating so nothing is left for storage aka fat.

[@TriFitwithTimandAmanda]

Love it. One of our favourite things when driving is hummus with carrot sticks and crackers. Love the space you've got between the seats to put your hummus so it doesn't spill on your lap.

[@nikidy81]

Had bariatric surgery in July and started MTB in September. Learning how to eat for rides has been hard. Typically a bariatric diet is low carb, doesn't work with riding miles and miles. Great video! Listen to your body and talk to professionals, not Instagram!

[@robsendall9847]

Have huge admiration for you sticking to your food choices when you have to be so organised living in the van. You guys are awesome 😊

[@jeffem55]

Sharing what you eat is such a vulnerable thing and I am grateful you guys did that. Thank you so much for taking the risk to do this. I learned a lot! Your videos are valuable resources for not only riding but how to be healthy in many aspects of life (eating, relationship, etc.) keep up the good work.

[@MTB_Rider_96]

Before a big day of riding and/or whitewater kayaking, I eat a really big breakfast : at least 3 eggs, fresh fruit, 6 -8 oz of meat, Toast W/Peanut Butter, Coffee - Lots and Lots of Coffee. I don't really over think my food. Then I bring along basically the same stuff you guy bring - It's all good! Keep doing what you're doing cuz it works for you!

[@theweez510]

Great video and great basic nutrition advice for those who can’t afford or aren’t ready to go to a nutritionist

[@abritandhisbikeinpoland6802]

Hi I'm new to your channel, this is the first film ive seen, and I just love your uncomplicated no bullsit approach to food!! The right stuff, at the right times, and just ride your bike, and the rest will take care of itself!

[@davidboucher4535]

I’m a long distance mtb racer, and swear by Skratch labs. Many other sports drink mixes give me acid reflux and there’s nothing worse than not being able to hold down water or nutrients out in a long race. The bars and chews are fantastic and have great flavors and go down great too. I eat like crazy during race season and will try anything at least once but the vegan is just to much. Keep up the great videos!!!!!!

[@schramrobert]

Great video of eating healthy guys. The food looks delish. I could eat like that all the time and feel really good doing it. That ain’t no diet in my book. Just good eating.

[@wasbiishot]

Watching this video for lunch ideas. I work as a trail builder and eating well is difficult deep into a half-finished trail network. Lately, I've just been doing canned tuna, but i would like to make some changes.

[@jeancater1388]

You nailed it. Food is not just fuel. I run and got into a food rut focusing only on the fuel aspect and became miserable.

[@johnmccool7551]

Congrats to both of you on you’re ride and you’re nutritional attitude .ride on .👍👍👍👍👍✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@twecharclimber]

Total respect! I love your rant. I follow your Strava, you're both as lean as racing snakes what ever your doing its working!💪👊 Food for the body food for the mind!

[@sydandmacky]

haha! thanks!

[@bsurber]

Congrats on the double wins!! That curry looked REAL good!

[@garyriggs6998]

You two really are awesome! Congratulations on the wins.

[@sydandmacky]

Thanks!

[@adventuresona700dollarhard5]

Skratch has you guys to thank for my business. Loved your food rant, Syd!

[@thim8009]

Chill guys, your diet has proof, you get paid to ride a bike it's working for you, and you guys rock.

[@TheRealChetManley]

Loved it! Cool video...that curry looked good!

[@Parker-oc8es]

Hey y’all! I know you said to not waste my time on advice. So this is an example of my hydration. When in the marines I was told and trained to drink water for tomorrow or the next day. So in this example on the day before we would put out an extreme effort, we would hydrate like crazy and do the effort and drink water for the next day. With no negative effects!! Ever! Love y’all and the vids! Thanks for the inspiration, instruction and the positive attitudes!

[@sydandmacky]

This is good advice 😊 we typically alternate water and electrolyte mix the day before the race. Going into an event hydrated is probably just as important as hydrating during

[@garydecker3281]

I love hearing what others do for training, food, skill building and so on. I trying things that I think could help me or one of my daughters who do a variety of sports (MTB, Soccer, Volleyball, Gymnastics). Some work some don't. Some things you eat sound perfect for me and some no way. It's just cool to see what others do!! Keep making great videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mikevincent4524]

You two have such amazing energy, I love it! As someone who obtained a BS in human nutrition/dietetics, I 100% agree with your view on diets. Don't over-complicate it! Just have variety, balance, and moderation and you'll be great (unless you have special orders per a doc, of course). Keep up the awesomeness!

[@jackiegammon2065]

Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS on winning both of the races!! :)

[@albertocastillo4572]

Awesome vid, I did a XC race with a friend of mine, we fuel rather differently he smoked me during our training rides but at the race I beat him by 30 min, he just said that he needs to maybe re-think his diet as a dude like me 25 years older flat out smoked him. The main difference, I prep my food and he buys all things prep.

[@sydandmacky]

yup eating well can make a huge difference but it doesn't have to be rocket science. avoiding processed crap is often all you need to do!

[@tapout123ism]

such a amazing video thanks for a great video and I'm form New Mexico now I'm in Kansas hope to ride together some day .

[@cchambers21]

Awesome, I eat like you guys do! Thanks for the code , I was just about to order the new fruit punch flavor sports drink 🤘🚵‍♂️💕

[@WasabiWei]

You two are the BEST!

[@ashevillescarborough]

Spot on! Love your content! Keep it up and keep the objective view !

[@ClutchTrick]

You guys have actually taught me alot about eating and riding. I now eat while i ride and i no longer bonk, and i no longer crave greasy pizza after every ride.

[@keirfarnum6811]

When I was racing off road (eons ago), it was well understood that you had to start eating after two hours of riding, otherwise you would bonk at the three hour mark, guaranteed. We always stopped at the grocery store on the way out on a long ride. Not only did you need food for the ride, but you needed food for if you had a break down or something happened (especially in backcountry Alaska).

[@Guineson]

Man all that looked so good, it seems all so simple to put together too... Post ride fuel is something i need to work on as my rides generally are post work so when they end its late so i go home , shower and get to bed often with no food intake 🤦‍♂️

[@richardhaselwood9478]

The cherry and pistachio skraitch bars are awesome.....

[@richardhaselwood9478]

Also, gutted I could only give one like for the Rant at about 6 minutes....

[@walterkasper467]

Thanks for all the great videos. It just seems hard at times to get enough calories when biking on vacation

[@Baureo]

Food definitely gets more delicious the more colourful the ingredients are. Your food looks so yummy. Dig in and enjoy. BTW does Macky cook as well?

[@sydandmacky]

I do, although usually I'm the breakfast cook and Syd does dinner.

[@pedrao420]

i dont do bike races but i love to travel on my bike, last trip was 2000 km across south brasil, argentina and paraguay. when im traveling i find out that it is easier to have a vegetarian/vegan diet, i basacaly eat a lot os fruits all day long(i always have some dried fruits with me like rasins) some cooked potatos that i do in the morning, in brazil we have something called rapadura, pure juice extracted from the sugar cane cooked to reduce and evaporate water. amazing source of sugar and energy all natural. i dont like gels or anithing like that it makes me shit like crazy. i have some great vegeterian road recepies

[@anthonyd9984]

Keep up the great content!

[@ogsyza49]

No one: Sid and Macky: have a fridge in there frickin van!!!

[@maxMax-ns9pg]

Syd and Macky, good for you guys and doin your best, I live in Central/North ish Utah and it’s pouring and it’s JUNE!!! It never rains but personally I don’t like cold races last year our second to last race was 38 degrees and we were all wearing Black trash bags cuz it was so wet, also Kudos on the diets I’m not a dietitian or a nutritionist, all I have to say is eat a balance but get your protein and carbs and lots of veggies and a little sugar and you’ll do fine, well it works for me but it may not work for you, but find what suits you and shred the gnar!!! So no complaining here🤟😁

[@grn9209]

You guys introduced me to Scratch, my favorite go to now👍🏼

[@Graeleaf]

Awesome video! Now I am hungry for curry! Do you share recipes?

[@sydandmacky]

Not really only because we kinda just make everything up on the fly...but a cookbook has been requested a couple times so that may happen at some point.

[@snowbound322000]

I love the way you guys eat, kinda jealous, and wicked hungry now!

[@caseyjones466]

Have you tried the Skratch wellness powder with the extra sodium? If so, how was it. Also, have you used the Superfuel?

[@sydandmacky]

Yup, we love the Wellness mix. Great if you're feeling dehydrated. Have used the Superfuel (kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoDTf2mooqeWhbs) but don't use it very often as we prefer to eat solid food while riding/racing.

[@caseyjones466]

@@sydandmacky, ok thank you so much! I live in Florida where the humidity makes you sweat so bad, I cramp no matter what I do. Especially the longer the ride. I have tried LMNT and the extra sodium def seemed to help, so that’s why I wanted y’all’s take on the wellness mix. Scratch is cheaper, so I’d like to save money whenever possible. Thanks so much again. Keep cranking. Y’all are an inspiration.

[@lagwall]

I'm watching the Laird Hammelton on Joe Rogan video after watching this and i just came up with the Cyd and Macky million dollar idea. Laird said when asked what he eats he replies, "plants and animals"... just like you guys. AND you said you have a great curry recipe. HERE IT IS! Cya and Macky's race meals COOK BOOK!!!! Ask yourself first, Why Not?

[@medialabyyc7707]

Because I mostly just sit all day, I've been pushing myself not to eat as much. (If people put food in front of me I can eat constantly. My body seems to think I'm always hungry.) So I'm trying to eat less and go to the gym to run more just so that I can lose a bit of extra weight I've put on in the last year. Every piece of food you showed I would have eaten in a heartbeat.

[@markkoziol5742]

I’ve watched a dozen or so and I gotta say I’m real impressed with your content. I’m in my 8th week recovering from a Manuel gone bad,(broke my tibia just below the kneecap). It’s been fun going on rides and adventuring with ya’ll from my couch. Thanks for the upbeatness of your channel. Good luck on your future adventures and keep the great content going. If you’re in lower mi on your way to the U P, try out our newest trail system near Ann Arbor called dte energy Waterloo trail system, it rocks!! Later guys take care

[@sydandmacky]

Sorry to hear about the leg. Heal fast!

[@Epluribusunom6166]

Always great tips!! thank you guys! 🙏🔝📸🚴🚴❤️☑️

[@janettackett7659]

Congratulations on your two wins! Yes eat more whole foods and cook for yourself! I love videos like this that show its not that hard to eat good while traveling or being busy! Homade curry is always better than store baught!😊😋

[@bellaoleksy2935]

What brand is that rice cooker? Does it plug into a cigarette lighter?

[@sydandmacky]

It does! Here's a link: amzn.to/2M4HNTd

[@thomasoneilmtb]

Awesome! Congratulations on the food and the win.. I’m from Taos .. Green chili is life! 🙌 Random Pro tip.. pour some TJs coconut aminos “”IN”” TJs Organic hummus 😳.. mmmm

[@breejones140]

I know you posted this a while ago, but do you guys carb load the night before races?

[@sydandmacky]

Not generally. We usually eat what we normally eat to avoid any possible stomach issues!

[@bradleycollins1782]

Wow done on your guy's win👌💪💪💪

[@niecybbergner]

I wanted to know what you eat to understand what I may need to eat

[@sydandmacky]

We generally shoot for a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies, some meat and grains, all made from scratch. We don't refuse to eat anything, but generally stay away from super processed stuff as much as possible.

[@marysullivan1588]

Eat how and what works for you . Chips and salsa what more could you ask for while driving to your next camp sight ❤️ The cows are happy you are eating chicken 😂

[@sam2288ful]

@syd @ macky ! thank you so strava has been bullshiting me when i put my full energy out on a xc race this explains so much why i have been feeling so undernourished

[@TrailPOV]

I am super surprised by how little food you actually ate during the ride. I always assumed the winners (congrats to you both btw) of the race ate way more because they're going warp speed....good info :)

[@sydandmacky]

Well we spend less time out there than someone at the back of the pack so it could be argued we need to eat less, assuming we go into the race fairly well fueled 🤷‍♀️ different people have different race nutrition needs though, so other racers might eat more than us!

[@TrailPOV]

@@sydandmacky True true. As you said in your vid, gotta find what works for you. Seems to be working well for you.

[@keirfarnum6811]

Basically the rule is that you’re ok for two hours, and then you have to start eating by the end of the second hour; otherwise it’s guaranteed that you will bonk between three to three and a half hours if you don’t eat. So a two hour race is within limits (not taking the warm up into account).

[@1pho3nixmatt]

Real question: would it not be the same, instead of one bottle of mix and one of water, to do halfsies in each? Granted it wouldn't be as flavorful, but then wouldn't it be just as beneficial?

[@sydandmacky]

It would probably be the same, we just like the taste better full strength. And then sometimes just plain water is nice as a contrast I guess? But your method would probably deliver more consistent hydration haha

[@1pho3nixmatt]

@@sydandmacky fair enough. Thanks!

[@Mikaellafleur26]

You guys are amazing

[@therealshafto]

Jesus you guys, maybe censor that cooler next time? What a chest of treasure in there. If the cooler and food is gone but the bikes are still there it was me. Congrats on the wins! Macky won due to the pistachio and cherry (even though you didn’t eat it, it was the winning decision), and Syd won due to green chilli stoke factor multiplyer.

[@adlsaias]

Michael Pollan! that explains the circles

[@mtbripper]

CHILI MANGOS! My favorite! 👍 👍

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

i dont understand :P where is the Beer & Boerewors! :D love the videos

[@sydandmacky]

What is a boerewor?!?!

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

@@sydandmacky kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqrWfHSfrN6Brqs

[@billc7211]

Making rice while driving👍 Great idea

[@rwogmtb-ridingwitholdguy]

Green chili in the swag bag is a win.

[@sydandmacky]

YAS!!

[@perrystalsisworldofbiology767]

Whatever food Syd and Macky eat seems to be working

[@saulm9794]

Wow Syd in such great shape looking good

[@BGWordneemig]

I eat too 5000 kalories/day at my bike courier job!

[@karlstine2065]

Ginger and jalapeños are an awesome combination

[@gordrand]

By giving up all prepackaged and processed food plus cutting back on portion sizes I lost 40 pounds in a year. I did not check or care about my weight. Your eating habits a very similar to mine

[@JamesStoup]

It's crazy what prepackaged and processed food does to you. Not sure if its the sugar, preservatives or plastic, but eating the same calories in real food has me feeling way better and performing better. Congrats on the weight loss.

[@gordrand]

I seem to have more get up and go with less calories consumed but with higher quality food@@JamesStoup

[@damienbradley9209]

Great video! People will see that to fuel yourself well you need to eat something that's sustainable (you enjoy it so it doesn't feel like a diet) and is healthy (you can't improve your fitness or fuel your body eating like The Hamburglar all the time). Pre, Intra, and Post are also important...at my age I don't think I could recover well without Whey Isolate and Creatine Hcl after a long or tough ride

[@twowheelslater7112]

Whey yeah. I don't know your age but I'm 42 and I need more protein than a younger athlete would. Creatine I don't like personally. I just went through a 3 week course of it and found it to mess with my blood sugar and caused me to put on almost 7 pounds of water. I feel like it has its place in the gym for weight lifting but not so much in cycling imo. It must work better for you but I didn't get along with it.

[@damienbradley9209]

@@twowheelslater7112 I'm a couple years older than you. I need a lot more supplementation that younger athletes...haaaaaaaa. Everything from pre to intra to post to quality multi-vitamans. You were probably using Creatine Monohydrate which puts on water weight for some and bothers others stomachs. It also requires a loading phase. Give Creatine HCl (Hydrocloride) a try. It tastes awful, like salt, if you don't mix in a large smoothie, but dissolves completely in water, so it doesn't sit in the intestines, and you don't need a loading phase, just use it when you need it (mostly post workout with protein). You also don't need nearly as much since it absorbs quickly. I think 2-3 grams HCl is about equal to 5 grams Mono. HCl is more expensive than Monohydrate, but read up on it, it solves a lot of the issues with Creatine Monohydrate. GNC has a good quick article on it

[@twowheelslater7112]

@@damienbradley9209 Huh. Didn't know about that. I was using mono-hydrate. It did give me some gains in the gym. The blood sugar part is what concerned me more than the water. You can lose all that water in under a week if you have an event. I do a good bit of fasted training and I bonked hard using it. I really felt like it set me back on that front. Does the Hcl variety have those same issues? Seems like with sports nutrition there are so many contradictions depending on where you get information. Some say the older you get the less creatine even helps.

[@damienbradley9209]

@@twowheelslater7112 I'm not that much of an athlete to be able to answer your question on blood sugar, fasted training, or bonking out. I can tell you I definitely noticed a difference in endurance when I first started using it. I'd maybe use 1.5 grams pre-ride and then another 1.5 post. Once my overall fitness got better though I stopped using it pre because I felt like (very unscientific approach) it was negating the intra workout fluids (BCAA/ECA) But like I said the pre-workout change was probably more in my head or placebo as I was also playing around with more gym type supplements like non-stimulant Pump Mode stuff (definitely don't recommend this for cycling pre workout). I need to get back to trying it before a ride. Mixing it with HydroBCAA Texas Tea makes it palatable. I probably also need to start looking into even more specific intra workout drinks as I'm not sure HydroBCAA is really best for cycling. But HCl certainly helps with recovery, retaining muscle and building my legs! From what I understand foods like red meat, salmon, and some other fish are high is creatine, so if you eat a lot of those you won't notice too much difference. Never heard that about age, lower HGH levels yes...which is why interval training seems to suit me.

[@twowheelslater7112]

@@damienbradley9209 Yeah I do have a good bit of salmon not so much red meat. One thing fasted training or really fasting in general will do for you is raise your HGH levels. For me it helped with my endurance. I'm always fighting weight tho. If you use it right fasting is a great tool.

[@scrooge1374]

Just eat and have fun, or the other way around.

[@RevRumble_]

All the food 🤤

[@natehazen5523]

I miss the enduro race vlogs

[@sydandmacky]

More Enduro vlogs coming soon 😊

[@naoyukisasanami]

Try Tofu for natural protein. Tofu steak etc

[@twowheelslater7112]

I kind of need to get my nutrition dialed. I was using GU gels last week on a 3 hour race. It got hot on the 3rd lap and I don't think anyone expected it to be the hottest day of the year on race day I know I didn't. Still got 3rd in the sport class but if I was a race car i would have come across the finish line with a rod knocking and flames coming out the windows. I lost nearly 10 min on my 3rd lap had to stop and stretch because of cramps in my inner quads and wasn't able to do a 4th lap. luckily only one guy did pull off a 4th lap in my class. Even most of the elites couldn't do a 4th because of it being almost 90. My esophagus still burns from those gels. I'm gonna try chews next time. I'm just a little worried about choking on the things tho. haven't tried there chews but I used scratch labs drink mix last season and it worked well for me. Oh other thing I did that I have never done before and will never do again is drink Gatorade in one of my bottles. I felt like it dehydrated me more.

[@sydandmacky]

Yeah, gotta figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Sounds like chews might be a good option. We'd recommend trying them on a few training rides before racing with them though to make sure they don't bother your stomach (and so you can practice not choking 😉)

[@misiod]

OMG! You forgot about post-race beer!!! How can you race and try to hydrate yourself without a post-race beer??? :)

[@wesdenham3847]

Because of you guys, I am going to try SKRATCH products; just saying.

[@sydandmacky]

Hopefully you'll love them!

[@davidspole6447]

I wish I can eat like you guys. I am true junk eater. I am 55 runner and crazy mountain biker here Connecticut.

[@kyleinthepnw]

Cool jackets!

[@jeremymcbride8729]

I shouldn’t be watching this whilst fasting for surgery tomorrow..................I’m so hungry aaaarrrrhhhh 😔

[@maxMax-ns9pg]

Macky the very beginning of the vid actually look frozen😂😬

[@lagwall]

My resting metabolic rate is 1,900 calories... and I'm Chunkayyy. lol I'm 300 calories below the average which is like not burning a whole meal a day.

[@sydandmacky]

The good news is your BMR can go up as you get fitter ;) which is a win win because then you can eat more because you're exercising more and because your metabolic rate is higher! haha

[@elvismtz8387]

I’m hungry now

[@jamesclemons18]

No podium shots? I'm betting the cows have learned to keep their distance from hungry mountain bikers..

[@sydandmacky]

There wasn't much of a podium 😁

[@adlsaias]

Its very simple If you great great grandmother did not eat it you should not either. No sugar, no seed oils, no grains

[@rascal1234]

Yum!

[@koolkeith8908]

You guys should eat more cheeseburgers and pizza.

[@Krigloch]

Umm, I'm gonna need a bowl of that food. Thanks.

[@mattdeso1672]

Who doesn't eat olives?!? haha, that is clearly the key to a successful race diet, you're doing it wrong! 😂

[@WaechterDerNacht]

Definitely not enough tortillas, tacos and burritos :-P

[@dirttdude]

wow, i could practically double your strength and stamina with diet alone, don't feel bad, i see it all the time. you want to know when to and how to carbo load, when to consume ridiculous amounts of protein and when and how to saturate. In a 2 hour race you shouldn't need food or water,

[@ifonly2675]

Coffee, rice, repeat

[@richardkaz2336]

Pasta Bake and mixed salads the night before, maybe a little Pasta Bake in the morning and a small bowl of rolled oats/greek yogurt/strawberries and a double shot coffee and cream and 800ml water. Then its time to empty 1hr before ride. During the ride 3L water a very weak Gatorade mix, 3-4 40g protein almond and mocha bars but usually only eat 1-2, and some emergency strawberry & cream lollies just in case but rarely have these during the ride.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

Eat. Ride. Eat. Sleep. Who would have a problem with that?

[@korbinburns7261]

I like food. And tacos

[@delisasadventures6609]

If people criticize the way you eat I would hate to see what they say about me LOL

[@sydandmacky]

Haha everybody's a critic these days 😂