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Belgian Waffle Ride 2026: Three Riders, Two Routes, One Podium
Clay Shafer Sales Manager · Published May 2026 · 4-minute read
Three Jenson team members. Two BWR San Diego routes — the 106-mile Waffle and the 60-mile Wafer. One podium between them. Here's how race day went.
The Day by the Numbers
A team of three. A course with no single right bike for it. And one podium finish to anchor the day.
3
Jenson Riders
Merch + Gear Advisor
106
Miles
The Waffle route
7,500ft
Climbing
On the Waffle
2nd
Age Category
Tamas, the Waffle
All three Jenson riders finished top 15 in their age categories. Clay 11th and Chandler 15th on the Wafer; Tamas on the Waffle podium.
The Story
Wafer, Waffle, and Everything Between
At the start of May, three of us from Jenson — Tamas from the merch team, plus Chandler and Clay from the Gear Advisor team — pointed our wheels at the 2026 Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego. Tamas, the bravest of the bunch, signed up for the Waffle: 106 miles with 7,500 feet of climbing. Chandler and Clay went after the Wafer: 60 miles, 3,750 feet.
The start chute. Thousands of riders, every kind of bike.
What makes this race unlike any other is the sheer variety of terrain. From rolling road sections to XC singletrack with steep inclines and descents, there's no single bike that's perfect for it. The start line bears that out — everything from steel frames with rim brakes and 25mm tires to the latest gravel race bikes running 52mm rubber.
“From rolling road sections to XC singletrack with steep inclines and descents, there is not one specific bike that is perfect for this race.”
— Clay Shafer
Tamas raced his 2026 Orbea Terra Race fit with 52mm Enve Hex tires — low-profile, fast-rolling rubber with serious grip in the dirt. Chandler and Clay both brought out their 2026 Enve MOGs, complete with Enve SES 4.5 and G-Series Pro 6.7 wheels. Equipment riders can trust matters; so does fueling. The team ran Elite Fly 950ml bottles to stay covered for hydration through the day.
Tamas's 2026 Orbea Terra Race, set up with 52mm Enve Hex tires for the dirt sections.
All in all, another successful day for the team. Tamas placed 2nd in his age category on the Waffle. On the Wafer, Clay finished 11th and Chandler 15th in their respective age categories.
Huge thanks to the race promoters who put countless hours into organizing this event, and to the vendors — Formula 100, 5DEV, Almsthre, and the rest — who turned the start/finish area into a place worth coming back to after riding at threshold for five to six hours.
Race Day
Scenes from the Course
A few frames from the day — start chute, action, the famous waffle, the podium.
Tamas pre-Waffle. Calm.On course — the Enve MOG where the dirt gets serious.The signature finish-line snack. Earned.Chandler post-Wafer. 15th in his age category.6:30:49 on the clock. Time to find the waffles.Tamas, 2nd in age category on the Waffle. The headline result of the day.
What We Rode
The Bikes, Tires, and Bottles
A mixed-terrain course rewards good equipment choices. Here's what the team rolled out on.
Tap any card for current pricing and full specs. Setup choices reflect what worked for the team on race day — your terrain and preferences may vary.
The Wafer or the Waffle
BWR San Diego offers more than one way to suffer. Pick the distance that matches your build, not your ego.
60
Miles · The Wafer
3,750 ft of climbing. The accessible end of the BWR spectrum — long enough to test you, short enough that finishing is realistic on a first attempt. Where Chandler (15th) and Clay (11th) raced.
Tamas rode this
106
Miles · The Waffle
7,500 ft of climbing. The signature BWR experience — six-plus hours of road, gravel, and singletrack with no easy middle. Tamas placed 2nd in his age category here.
The Belgian Waffle Ride — "BWR" — is a mixed-surface bike race that blends paved road, gravel fire road, and XC singletrack into a single course. It bills itself as "The UnRoad Race." The original event is held in San Diego in early May, with additional BWR stops now run across the country.
What's the difference between the Wafer and the Waffle?+
The Wafer is the shorter route — 60 miles and 3,750 feet of climbing in 2026 — aimed at fit recreational riders who want the BWR experience without committing to a century-plus day. The Waffle is the marquee event: 106 miles and 7,500 feet of climbing, typically six-plus hours of riding at threshold across every kind of terrain San Diego County offers.
What kind of bike do I need?+
A modern gravel race bike running 40–52mm tires will cover the most ground on this course. Pure road bikes work for fit riders willing to ride conservatively through the dirt sections; XC hardtails can handle the singletrack but give up speed on the road. The course rewards a bike that's a competent compromise rather than a specialist tool. Tamas raced the 2026 Orbea Terra Race; Chandler and Clay both ran Enve MOGs.
How do I sign up for 2027?+
Registration for BWR San Diego typically opens in late summer or early fall, with early-bird pricing through the end of the year and a final cutoff close to the event date. Slots sell out for the Waffle. Details at belgianwaffleride.bike.
Are there actually Belgian waffles?+
Yes. Real ones, fresh off the iron, with blueberries and whipped cream waiting at the finish line. They taste better after six hours on the bike than they have any right to.
How should I train for the Wafer or the Waffle?+
Build base endurance with long zone-2 rides through the winter, layer in tempo and threshold work as you get closer to race day, and ride mixed-surface as often as you can — the constant terrain changes are what wear you down on race day, not the raw distance. For the Waffle specifically, plan at least one long ride per month in the four months before the event that's within an hour of full race duration.
Build a Bike for the UnRoad
Whether you're chasing your first Wafer or your fifth Waffle, the right setup makes the day. Browse the full Jenson gravel lineup.
Not sure where to start? Talk to a Jenson Gear Advisor — the same team that put Chandler and Clay on the start line. They'll help you pick the right frame, tires, and fueling for whichever distance you have your eye on.
About the Author
Clay Shafer
Sales Manager, Jenson USA
[BIO PLACEHOLDER — awaiting Clay's copy] — A road and gravel cycling enthusiast and expert on all things bike with over X years of experience. Clay rode the Wafer at BWR San Diego 2026 and finished 11th in his age category.
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