Last year I used a 2019 Ventum NS1 which comfortably fit 33mm slicks. It was a great bike for it, but I definitely needed more tire, especially for raptor ridge and black canyon.
You will definitely not be as efficient as someone on a road bike with 28-33mm slicks on a descent, however even for the full Waffle, that is not where you spend majority of your time. Using 33mm Challenge Strada Bianca, I felt personally lost far more time on loose dirt and sketchy descents than I gained on road descents. I was also surprised as to how many people ran 35+mm tires with a lot of tread.
I think I’m going with a happy medium this year of 40mm Terraspeeds. Based on BRR, there is barely any difference between the 35 and 40mm versions. Comparing:
GP5000 TR S 32mm - 11.1W @ 55psi
Challenge Strada Bianca 36mm - 15.7W @ 40psi
Terra Speed 40mm - 17.8W @ 3psi, 16.0W @ 45psi (Based on Silca’s calculator, I’ll be aiming for 40-42psi, so let’s call it 17W)
6W/tire between GP5000 and Terra Speed is nothing to give up compared to extra width, low pressure and grip.
My goal for last year was sub-100th (which was roughly top 10%) with a sub-8hr time. I found that to be personally unattainable. Course was considerably harder than in 2021, so sub-8hr was a dream at best and would have almost cracked top 50 men! Top 100th was 8:35, which was closer but still a long ways! I’m not sure how the field stacked compared to previous years, but I definitely found the top 100 to be fast!
I did however slide out and crash at the 30 mile mark, just before the creek crossing which really messed up my confidence on dirt going forward. I took all technical cornering/descending with extra caution as I had no faith in my tires and probably dropped 10-15+ minutes as a result. Plus another 10 minutes getting a band-aid applied at the Ramona aid station
Ill be there doing the waffle for the 3rd time. 2021 i used a gravel bike with 42s and felt great. In 2022 i went for a faster set up with my caledonia with some 32mm irc boken plus…mistake! I got beat to death and the washboard of black canyon really broke me. This year ill go back to gravel bike with 42mm boken plus. Should be fun!
Curious - what’s everyone using for chain lube? I did Rock 'n Roll Gold last year and needed a top-up on my way back in Ramona, which was at the 130km mark. I’ve switched to Rock 'n Roll Extreme for this year, a bit too late/lazy for chain waxing, hoping it fares better. It was bone dry last year, but it was the fine grit that got in and made it sound/feel horrible.
I will clean my chain, cassette and front crankset and then use Silca Super Secret lube. I’ve only recently started using this, coming from an oil based lube. I had used this prior to the Rock Cobbler and fared very well despite the mud and gunk that got on it so I feel pretty confident about it.
I’ve never used the Rock’n’Roll Gold so I don’t know how it compares. I expect there to be at the very least, one deep water crossing based on our current weather.
First year for me (2021, the horribly hot one) I rode my road bike with some 30mm IRC Serac sands and had an absolutely miserable time on the gravel sections, particularly Black Canyon. Last year I decided that the gravel bike was the way forward but used 35mm GK SK as a sort of compromise for the road sections. Not too bad overall, however, this year I’ll be doing gravel bike with 40mm G-One RS. been a massive fan of the width combined with the file tread center and really enjoyed them at Rock Cobbler so don’t really see too much reason to change. Double Peak is miserable at mile 115-ish no matter what tyres you have on
Going to do a recce of Lake Hodges at some point this weekend to see how the trails are holding up and where the new “lakes” have formed
I’m in as well. Will be my 4th Waffle. Once again will be on my Endurace with 32" Gravelking SS+. Works well on the course–just can’t get too frisky on the rocky downhills. Doing the recon this Sunday and will see if the course has dried up a bit (though it rained today).
I didn’t do the official recce ride but did do Lake Hodges yesterday with a friend, I think I saw you comment on his ride if you’re the same AussieRider (Jacob L’s ride). Thought the trails were generally in pretty good shape all in all, with a few muddy patches and a new creek that took me by surprise. Went around the tape for the entrance to Lemontwistenberg and rode through the stream. Hopefully that’s dissipated in a few weeks time!
I did do it and it was well worth my time. I got there a few minutes before the start so I didn’t have time to look for anyone. My thoughts on the off road sectors were that they were in way better condition than I would’ve thought given all the rain. A few shallow water crossings on relatively flat sectors.
Pretty much all of the trails around Lake Hodges were in good shape. The trail on Double Peak was same, a few small muddy patches. Aside from the rocky terrain the real hazards were the deep ruts from all the rain that ran along the trails.
All in all a great day for riding. It was a good group and the water/food stops were really appreciated. Given the terrain I’ll stick with 40mm Nano’s.
