I’ll be there Thursday afternoon and hope to pre-ride most of the unroad sections before Sunday. Nice and easy for the most part, no need to bury it.
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Did it last year on a 3T Strada with a file tread 30’s…do not recommend. If i do it again will be on a MTB
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Yes and yes. Small world! I diverted from the official course and did the creek crossing as well. That’s the second time they’ve cut it out. I’m not sure it’ll dissipate in time as that’s water running from the dam and I’m told it won’t let up in time. Are you doing the waffle?
That’s because they diverted around all of the gnarly sections (which was why there was only 15 miles of gravel. I crossed the river to do lemontwist, bottom bracket was underwater. There was one deeply rutted muddy section but the rest was fine. The major one might be sandy bandy (not sure of the sector name) basically a few miles of trail road across open plains. I did that 2 weeks ago and there were long stretches completely underwater. Like 50 yards at a time. My guess is unless it really dries out there’s gonna be a lot less gravel this year.
Yes, that’s the plan at the minute. Had some mechanical (electrical really) issues with my SRAM derailleurs both deciding they weren’t going to work any longer when I got home so hopefully that’ll be fixed in 2 weeks.
Heard from a few people that the Pamo truck trail won’t be on the course this year (which is a relief) and that Lusardi is a possibility
I’ve not done BWR before so not sure what those are. Either way if they’re gnarly and not in it maybe it’s for the better, lol. Guessing they were gravel sectors?
Pamo was a (in my opinion) really tough, rocky 8km trail, followed by a sandy road and then 2km at 8% on the road. I won’t miss it at all if it’s not featured
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It was absolutely soul crushing. If the washboard gravel didn’t get you, or the rocky descent … you had the deep sand to contend with. Combined with it being hot like the inside of a furnace, I was suffering on my puny tires.
I totally forgot there was a climb at the end of Pamo. In fact, I don’t remember the climb at all. I remember stopping at the aid station after the sand and being deep in the hole, nothing else registers until the sand section in Ramona where there was people still getting through … it felt like I started the loop a lifetime ago.
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The pamo descent before the sandy stretch just about ended my adventure last year. My hands were so broken after that. I was having a hard time holding onto the bars.
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That last big climb literally made my eyes roll in back of my head. so crushing. I felt ok on all the dirt sectors even with a road bike but it just punished my bike so bad. The computer mount which held on my blip box/only way to shift, broke off and i had to mcgiver a way to get it back on so i could shift. top that off with i was so paranoid about flatting or throwing a wheel out of true (no clearance with 30’s) that i babied my wheels. A gravel bike with 40’s or a mtb is the call for this. i dont see how that course (maybe past parcors) could be done on 28’s.
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I talked to an older guy (mid-50s) who’s done quite a few BWRs. He used to do it on 23/25s, finally stepped up to 28 slicks. Clearly didn’t limit him, he was somewhere around 60th overall! Then came back for wafer the next day and absolutely smashed it. That’s skill and power that I don’t have …
I scouted the course on 32’s and it’s totally doable. I just figured seeing it was my first race and I wasn’t gonna be anywhere close to winning it was better to go wider, be more comfortable and reduce the risk of getting a DNF. It’s one thing navigating potholes and rocks solo. Another with 50 guys in front of you.
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There’s “doable” and doable. I did it on 33 slicks. I also slid out just before the bridge crossing and gashed my arm pretty bad, then lost a pile of time descending because I had no confidence in the tires. Not to mention being slow in deeper sand. But I did it 
I’ve ended up going wider every single year!
2021: 30mm IRC Serac Sand
2022: 35mm GK SK+
2023: 40mm Schwlabe GS One RS
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Same! I’ve done the Waffle 5 times (and last year the dubbel header when the waffle & wafer were on consecutive days). First few were on a road bike with 28-30mm tires, last year I used a gravel bike with 38mm tires but this year I’m just going to leave my 42mm Pathfinders on my gravel rig bc they have been super reliable and I’m too lazy to switch tires for one ride. They do a great job of creating an interesting course, last years was the hardest imo with that dirt section off black canyon followed by that sandy road and climb. Looks like it will be something different again this year!
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Has anyone done Arizona this year? I’m curious how well stocked the aid stations were with Endurance Tap? I’m heading down with enough maple syrup for the race, but would rather only carry half a dozen or so instead of enough for the entire thing …
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I haven’t done AZ, but both of my previous CA BWRs didn’t have great support towards the end. Aid stations were kind of joking about running out of water (2021 the hot year). I’m not a fan of HEED so last year my wife met me at the Ramona aid station.
These were both close to 12hr days though so I kind of get it.
I found the same last year, the Pamo station was pretty bare, they were waiting on another water delivery. A couple of the stations had also run out of Hammer nutrition and were subbing in Powerade, which was not ideal. Guess I should play it safe and load up at an earlier station!
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That’s been my experiences with the aid stations as well. I guess I need to ride faster so I don’t get left out lol
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I ran the SS at BWR AZ and loved them (650b x 48). More tire then. Needed here, but a goood experience and has me considering doing the same tire but skinnier for San Diego. How was the recon? What did you learn?