Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego - Hell of the West

Before the Race

BWR San Diego was by far the longest ride I had ever attempted. My previous biggest day was the Snoqualmie Double (117 miles and 11,000 feet of climbing), so I knew this would be uncharted territory.

My wife and I made a two-week road trip out of the event, stopping in Ashland, Guerneville, and Mount Shasta to explore and ride before and after the race. She lined up for the Wafer, and I for the Waffle.

For equipment, I rode my Santa Cruz Stigmata with Shimano Di2 2x (50–34 / 11–34), Roval CLX gravel wheels, and 35c Continental Terraspeed tires. They rolled fast on the road and gave me just enough traction for the sandy SoCal sectors. Two 26 oz bottles and on-bike nutrition got me started, but I leaned heavily on aid stations throughout the day. That meant plenty of Hammer mix (not my favorite, especially compared to Skratch). Looking back, carrying more of my own fuel would have been smarter.

The Belgian Waffle Ride California (BWR–San Diego) stands as one of North America’s most iconic and grueling one‑day gravel races—known affectionately (and brutally) as the “Hell of the West Coast.” Conceived in the tradition of the European Spring Classics, BWR blends tarmac, gravel, singletrack, sand, and unforgiving climbs into a relentless test of endurance, skill, and willpower . In its typical format, the Waffle route stretches approximately 127 miles with around 10,000 feet of climbing, nearly half of which is “unroad” terrain—making it a true multi-surface odyssey through San Diego County’s coastal canyons, rolling backroads, and ridgelines . More than a race, BWR is a festival of cycling—an irreverent, wild, and beautiful weekend of unroads, waffles, expo culture, and community spirit that leaves riders battered, elated, and hungry for mor

Race Narrative

Early Miles

The rollout in Escondido was massive — 1000+ riders (800 finished, 200 DNFs). We staged toward the back, which meant burning matches in the early road sections trying to move up before the inevitable bottlenecks. It’s not fun staging early and waiting, but at BWR it makes a difference.

The first decisive climb came just 15 miles in: 2.9 miles, 720 ft, ending in a traffic-choked bit of singletrack. I did it in 17:25 at 221w. After that, the race became a rhythm of relief (on the road) and chaos (in the dirt). One memorable scene was a mountain biker trying to impress a photographer in a rock garden — only to crash spectacularly. Fortunately, he got up later.

Mid-Race Grind

I tried to keep pacing steady, but fatigue and heat made that impossible. The sandy stretches demanded grinding power just to stay upright, and the notorious Black Canyon climb nearly broke me. Washboard gravel rattled my helmet loose, and the heat (86°F) was punishing. I wished for fatter tires.

The descent off Black Canyon was just as brutal — loose rocks, deep sand, technical lines. My Silca tool roll even came loose from the boa strap multiple times, forcing stops. My friend Ira, who had gapped me on the descent, waited at the bottom. That gesture lifted my spirits. Together we ground through a long, sandy road section into the second aid station. At that point, it shifted from racing to survival. With 60 miles left, finishing became the priority.

Key Moments

The toughest moment came at the end: the infamous Double Peak climb, 128 miles into the day. At 3.7 miles and nearly 1,000 ft (with ramps hitting 17%), it’s cruelly placed. I averaged 191w for 26 minutes — not bad considering the fatigue. The steep sidewalk ramps, complete with log hops, added insult.

On the flip side, the beauty of the course stood out — mountain views, farm roads, canyons, and forests. The support was phenomenal: volunteers, traffic control, and enthusiastic spectators everywhere. The camaraderie was equally memorable, riders encouraging each other through the suffering.

Finish

By the end, I was in survival mode. The descent off Double Peak was sweet relief, knowing the line was near. Ira and I finished together, exhausted but proud. It was the hardest effort I had ever put into a bike race, and the sense of accomplishment was immense.

What Went Well

• Strong bike choice — the Stigmata and 35c tires were a solid balance of speed and grip.
• Steady pacing early kept me from blowing up.
• Riding with Ira through key sections helped mentally and physically.

Needs Improvement

• Nutrition: relying on aid station food/drink was a mistake; I should have carried more of my own.
• Positioning: staging further up front would have saved energy in early bottlenecks.
• Heat adaptation: the rising temps took a toll and slowed me down in the middle.