THE
BWR
RECAPITULATION
THE MOST UNIQUE CYCLING EVENT IN THE U.S. RECAPITULATION BWR RECAP - 1
A UNIQUE VIEW TOWARD THE FRONT 2015 SPY BELGIAN WAFFLE RIDE RECAPITULATION
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! No, not that, but rather the fact that one thousand of us were all able to roll through ten municipalities, several San Dieguito River Park trails, private properties, regional and local parks, and a host of county maintained roads that were anything but maintained in an organized event unlike anything before it. And we did so with the CHP as our willing traffic controllers, chaperones and caretakers over a 140+ mile course that had five separate escorted waves and, most importantly, the aid of hundreds of volunteers and SPY Happy Campers who made this event the most unique cycling event ever! As some of you have imagined, the immensity of getting the approval of all these entities was taxing in myriad ways—a testament to why events like this just don’t exist. No one wants to go through the type of nightmare it takes to put something like this together, but we did and we still do, as we believe the outcome is worth it all. Something that nobody knows is that it wasn’t until 7:17pm on Friday night that we got the final approval from the County to legally conduct our event. Phew! So, first off, a huge THANK YOU to all those who tirelessly worked on this event to deliver it up for the cycling community… the lengthy list of which you will find at the end of the recap.
BWR RECAP - 2
This year’s final course layout was formed by a number of factors, the confluence of which helped all of us (SPY, San Diego County, the parks, various cities and private property owners) arrive at the route we ended up getting to enjoy on BWR Sunday. Honestly, I would have liked to provide everyone the opportunity to ride more of the interesting trails I had intended for this year’s event, but many of these were excluded from our use for valid and completely ridiculous reasons alike. I will say, I spent many early mornings and weekends out in various parts of the County trying to make sense of a course, riding each and every possible option to determine the feasibility of a route that would one day see one thousand people traversing each unique segment. They say happiness is the journey, not the destination, and I will say I found myself very happy at times experiencing these segments, imagining the day I would eventually get to share them all (or some) with you in a connected series of varied challenges. With the upgraded and elevated ABV level of the Lost Abbey partnership and their zealousness to host our creative event, plus the advent of the Wafer ride, we had a new start/finish area to develop the BWR route(s) around and the added dynamic of creating two different laps emanating from the rather ‘trafficky’ San Marcos area.
BWR RECAP - 3
Our initial course option out of the gates in late 2014 was just awesome, save for the one little stretch of private property owned by a utility company that negated our ability to serve up the perfect clockwise route. “Gaot eroep zitte, joeng!” And then we ended up spending the next three months trying to reconcile our entire course needs and desires with the collective and stringent requirements of all the various municipalities our colorful BWR touches. In the end, course version #17 was the one that got approved. Although, I am still scratching my head with the “What if we had stuck to the original course and done Saint Lusardi on the way out?” question… This most certainly would have changed the dynamic of the race before we even hit mile 20 and altered things in the most profound of ways. I guess that is why I am scratching my head. Just how horrific would that have been? I must say, I was amazed at the frantic, often aggressive suggestions I received to NOT have us roll through Lusardi, “because it’s muddy,” or “I flew here from Colorado and I didn’t bring the right bike for mud,” or “I’m just not even going to start if you make us get our bikes dirty at the beginning.” Only two people asked—pleaded really—to have us ride through it. “May the best prepared prosper,” was the quote a very tall man prodded me with. To give you a sense of what would have happened, consider this: All of us would have hit Saint Lusardi and plunged down the trail (that we eventually walked or rode up much later in the day, when most of the mud had dried up). Heading down this section a number of things would have been the fodder for great video content. Riders would have either slipped and fallen at the bottom or gone straight through the turn and ended up in the ravine.
“MAY THE BEST PREPARED PROSPER” For those that would have survived, the next flat section would have been comedic. The clay mud that carpets the entirety of the trail would have quickly accumulated on the tires, brakes and forks of riders, no matter what rig they brought from Colorado or Coronado. For those that would have tried to avoid this by riding in the grass along the side, they still would have had to suffer the same fate those who just rode the clay, just 20 seconds later. Quite soon, the bikes would come to a stand still; with the clogged mud becoming so thick their wheels would cease to roll. Dismounting or falling over in the mud, riders would use their hands to remove the clay and then try their luck again, maybe making it another 100 yards before dismounting and coming to grips with this conundrum—their race is either over or they must begin the long 3-mile, mostly uphill mud walk of tears to the end of Saint Lusardi and the slice of heaven they call “pavement.” The time it would have taken to get through this muddy clay Lusardi Lunacy could have easily added 30+ minutes to riders’ overall times. I think most will agree, encountering a wet Saint Lusardi would have not been the right call this year. I felt comfortable enough making the call because, not long before the BWR, I rode the Saint with a ‘cross bike in similar wet conditions and I only made it 200 yards before having to pick my bike up and walk it back to the road. While there are a few people I would have enjoyed offering this experience to, it was the other 980 folks I wanted to insolate from such misery.
BWR RECAP - 4
“MY WHEELS WON’T TURN”
THIS IS WHAT MUD WILL DO TO A DERAILLEUR…
THESE PHOTOS ARE FROM THE MORNING BEFORE BWR, TAKEN BY SOMEONE WISHING TO RECON THE COURSE BEFORE THE EVENT.
TWO HUNDRED YARDS INTO SAINT LUSARDI’S PLAYGROUND.
SAINT MUDHEARTY BWR RECAP - 5
SO, BACK TO THE START... The final course version, whether you loved it or hated it or both loved and hated it, was the best I could come up with given the myriad variables we faced this year. The final week we had to remove two dirt segments, which was a bit disappointing. I am still proud, given the circumstances, that we were able to create this difficult and interesting of a route through North County. The event rolled out with some interesting features. The “neutral section,” which was essentially the first 18 miles to the first off-road segment—sWITCHenberg—was ridden slowest by the pro 1/2 field, as our group treated this section with care and control as escorted by the CHP. There was an attack by two riders early on but we reeled them back in on the climb up the Witches. The later waves ended up riding with a bit less of a “neutral” approach and those waves ended up getting stretched out a bit, even though that wasn’t supposed to be the case. To be addressed next year.
BWR RECAP - 6
AMANDA NAUMAN
LEAD GROUP
KRIS GROSS FLASHES HER TEETHS WOMEN’S LEAD GROUP
The first wave, which featured about 150 riders, split up into just a few smaller groups after the first dirt segment, and because there were attacks soon after, many riders never got back in with us in the front group. This 50-man front group rode steady, safely making our way through the first Aid Station, manned by the wonderful people from the UCSD Tri Team, and we did so at a fairly pedestrian pace throughout the next many miles to the climb at Highland Valley. At this point, there was a lead group of Chris DeMarchi, Nate King and Stathis Sakellariadis who had attacked before the climb. Although that climb isn’t too long, the steepness of it afforded a great chance for a few others to escape, and that is what happened. The winners were determined at this very first climb, 115 miles from the finish…
CAM WURF
BWR RECAP - 7
NATE KING, CHRIS DE MARCH, STATHIS SAKELLARIADIS
With Phil Tinstman, Cameron Wurf, John Abate, and Sean Mazich chasing down the initial three breakaway companions, the rest of our main group did little to chase them back. Along Bandy Canyon I went to the front and rode tempo all the way until we made our way to the entrance to Sandy Bandy. I could see Phil driving the front of the lead group as they came back toward us and they had a nice gap… they had drilled it and the rain from the day before made Sandy Bandy into a perfect ‘hero track.’ Coming into the Sandy Bandy entrance, Ryan Trebon went around two of us and was gone. What happened after this is a testament to the damage the dirt segments can do to a peloton that wants nothing more than to stay together when the right person uses them to his or her advantage. Trebon hit the gas so hard no one could keep up with his National Champ cross power and grace along this single track, and our group just got further strung out behind him. He miraculously ended up eventually bridging up to the leaders much later, but I suspect that monstrous effort burnt a few extra matches that could have been saved for wood burning hours later.
RHONDA QUICK
MMX
The combo of Sandy Bandy and Ysabel Creek strung the rest of us out and our lead chase group was reduced again. A new chase group coagulated along Milky Way, with Karl Bordine, Dave Zabriskie, Neil Shirley, Ronnie Toth, Tony Manzella, Dave Koesel, a few of my teammates like Josh Goldman and Anthony Vasilas, as well the eventual Purple Jersey “winner.”
JOHN ABATE+ CAM WURF BWR RECAP - 8
Up the road, Phil, Cam, Abate, Sean Mazich and Nate King road a steady tempo through the Escondido section that led up to the Cougar Pass climb. Riding up this gravel sector, the group encountered a clay and mud section that all of us would end up rolling through, but for this group the lead CHP motorcycle escort went down in the mud in front of them and caused the lead group to actually have to dismount their bikes and walk around the downed officer. This allowed Trebon to catch back on after a very long chase. It also allowed him to get back on this bike faster with the type of cleats he was wearing and the others were left to chase him after the unexpected natural break. It was a quick turn of events and the forced stop eventually would negatively affect the lead groups time up this first timed KOM segment, but their gap was too large for our chase group to catch them.
DOWNED CHP
COUGAR PASS, A MUDDY MENAGERIE BWR RECAP - 9
CAM WURF AND PHIL TINSTMAN LEAD THE FRONT GROUP
Our group stayed together for quite some time, all the way through Cougar Pass and the clay and mud section, where the CHP bike was now moved out. This group stayed as one down into the finish of the first lap.
PAVED AND DIRT SWITCHBACKS WELCOME RIDERS UP COUGAR PASS BWR RECAP - 10
KARL BORDINE CLIMBS THE REMAINING PAVED PART OF COUGAR IN PURSUIT OF ERIC BOSTROM
Only a couple of us managed to have issues and not stay intact through the clay mud and then going down. Unfortunately, it was here near the end of the first lap that the course was mismarked and everybody, except for those that knew the course, which was apparently only me, took a wrong turn and cut off a mile or so. Since I had spent months painstakingly creating the route I was in a predicament, because I could either cut the course, as everyone had inadvertently done in the group just ahead of us and everyone ended up doing behind us (I had one unfortunate soul with me, Ryan Arnold), or I could cut it too—What would you do?
The second, more unusual loop begins just as the first one did, but for most now without the escort of the CHP and their constant presence in the peloton. Flowing over to Del Dios and down past Lake Hodges. The second loop took riders past the second Sprint Segment heading up the hill along Del Dios toward Rancho Santa Fe where we did a little detour and a U-turn for safety and headed back down the Del Dios highway to the first off road segment of the second loop, Lemontwistenberg.
I didn’t feel comfortable cutting it out and just rode the course as it was published and created, with Ryan as my unlucky partner. When we came back around, the second chase group of about 20 guys was now ahead of us at a light on Mission. At that point, the event became more about survival instead of a game of chase. There would be no chance to make up that extra mileage. From here we got to circle back over to the start/finish and loop around The Lost Abbey before the glorious Abbeyberg Forest sector (hah). What a greeting that was from all the volunteers, announcers (Ralph Elliott and Larry Longo), revelers, race fans, SPY staff, Lost Abbey monks, beer gardeners and hecklers. This scene was so much fun and such a great environment to experience—unlike any other. But with those 60 seconds behind, it was time for those doing the Waffle to begin the second loop, which was much more difficult, because it featured tons more dirt and elevation. BWR RECAP - 11
PHIL TINSTMAN
This tricky four-kilometer trail, which was the first dirt segment encountered in the 2014 edition of the BWR, is technical, steep at times and very tricky. It’s an easy place to get left behind or leave others behind. This is exactly where whatever groups still exist break into smaller units of ones, twos, and maybe threes. Ryan Trebon lost Phil and Cameron here, and the lead group became two.
RYAN TREBON CONTEMPLATES THE BWR
After finally making it through Lemontwistenberg, we all got back on the road and climbed a bit more along Del Dios until we finally descended toward the lake and headed north toward the park entrance. It’s here where the Meer Hodgesgate is encountered. We added a new challenge in 2015, forcing riders up a single track and along a series of whoop-de-dos, the likes of which can only be found in BMX tracks. From here the trail joins up with the traditional Hodgesgate sector that has wrecked havoc with hundreds of riders over the past few years. Hodgesgate Meer, as it’s properly known, is a long, disturbing trail at nearly six-kilometers, and in the past the BWR has enjoyed its destructive tendencies in both directions. This year’s particular direction is the easier one, but it still confronts riders with the type of terrain that can readily destroy a frame, tires, wheels or handlebars, as it did mine in 2013. Obliterating my back wheel and cracking my handlebars off to where they were clinging only by the bar tape, I managed not to crash! BWR RECAP - 12
This sector has so many crazy elements—deep ruts, mud, big rocks, the original rock garden, a water crossing, rattle snakes, cactus, and other debris—that require a very technical line to survive its menacing teeth and make it to the other side without a flat or a crash, or both, as eventual winner, Cameron Wurf, can attest. One need look no further than the long line of water bottles littered across the trail to understand the jarring brutally of taking the wrong line across its deceptive landscape. Cam, who was riding behind Phil at the time, flatted and was left up to his own devices with the nearest support car being miles away. But, he fixed his flat in an instant and began chasing in real earnest to catch Phil Once riders, like Cam, made it to the end of Hodgesgate Meer, there was a delightfully smooth connector of less than half a mile to the Modest Mule segment, which should have been merely more muddy misery, to alliterate, but the trail was smooth from the rain the day before with only small patches of mud to slow riders down. For those who had managed to transverse the previous hell section of Hodgesgate, this skinny, dirt and well tamped trail was a breeze and I excitedly led my teammate Anthony “Stinger” Vasilas and Greg Faber through both sections and over to Highland Valley, only to be met by a nice headwind (thank goodness for the support vehicles too, because the one water bottle I had with any liquid in it had all fallen out at Hodgesgate).
DAVE KOESEL
ANYONE ELSE SUFFER THIS FATE? IT SEEMS QUITE A FEW DID.
PHIL AND CAM REMAINED OFF THE FRONT FOR HOURS
BWR RECAP - 13
The next many miles we all spent riding into a headwind west through Highland Valley and over through Poway toward Rancho Bernardo. Along this stretch another official Aid Station was manned by FELT where riders were once again treated to all sorts of food and the most important GQ-6 hydration. This station, after the 100-mile mark, was a very important one for all. Once properly loaded with GQ-6 and food, riders could move on toward the next tricky segment. Of course, we didn’t stop, but managed to grab one water bottle as we rolled by… Because a dirt section we had on the final course #16 going in both directions had been blocked by 4S Ranch in the final days leading up to the event, riders got to endure a little detour through that neighborhood on roads, instead of fun trails, and made our way over to a now dry Saint Lusardi by way of a climb up Carmel Valley Road. Saint Lusardi in the westerly direction has much less fun obstacles to contend with. First off, it’s a net downhill and doesn’t have the switchbacks to walk up. There is the descent that would have been our initial climb and this requires a lot of braking—not very much fun considering how taxing it is to hold your brake levers so hard after 112 miles of riding. Our little threesome had been together now for 30 miles, with few words exchanged, but lots of positive grunts and “uh-huhs,” although there was a tacit agreement to work together. But Saint Lusardi had different ideas. At the bottom of the descent I heard that most dreaded of all sounds in a situation like this— ppssssssssttttttt! My back tire had flatted and I was rolling a tubular, thinking the Stan’s I filled it with would hold the wound and I’d be able to ride the next few miles to the road and hopefully contact with a support wagon.
RIDERS LINES UP ON THE MULE BWR RECAP - 14
MMX, GREG FABER AND ANTHONY VASILAS BWR RECAP - 15
PHIL TINSTMAN, DEEP IN THE CAVE
I tried to ride the flat tire but only slipped and swerved out of control, much to the delight of my two riding partners. They laughed at me, with Stinger actually offering me his back wheel several times, until we made it to the water crossing where David Santos and Sean Mazich were both tending to similar tire issues. Greg understandably rode on, but Stinger stayed by my side as I tried to get the bike going. Soon, I just told him to ride ahead and let somebody know that I’d be there in an hour with a need for a new rear wheel. I must admit, I tired riding the bike and fell off a couple of times, so I pushed and walked the bike, hiked it even, and tried riding it again…
SAINT LUSARDI IN REVERSE
PHIL PUCKERS UP TO LEMONTWISTINBURG
As I neared the top of the steep ascent that marks the end of Saint Lusardi, Stinger came running down the hill with a wheel—what a champion. That’s what Udo would have done. Not caring about his own finish, Stinger took all that time to help me and soon we were riding again, to chase down the legion of people that had passed us during this Saint Lusardi nightmare. Stinger had a renewed sense of his usual fast self and was off, towing me along. We caught David, Sean, John Behrens and some other riders and then rode steady with them… wending our way through Rancho Santa Fe and over to Olivenhain, where we would hopefully make it to the Oasis… BWR RECAP - 16
JASON SLEGLE
PHIL ALL ALONE WITH SAINT LUSARDI BWR RECAP - 17
As we all climbed together up Fortuna Ranch Road, one of the riders said, “Tell me about the Oasis I’ve heard so much about.” To which my reply was, “We are almost there.” A minute later, around a bend, we came across an unofficial aid station that the locals had set up, replete with cheering women, tequila, a water spray and lots of loving support for all the riders. It was one of the many great displays of support from our community that day, but one of the riders said to the other, “I’ve been hearing about the Oasis for months, and that was it? Geez.” To which I laughed and said, “No, no, you will know the Oasis when you see it.” And soon enough we were… weaving up the difficult ascent of Canyon de Oro until we had reached that glorious destination stationed by young men clad in Speedos and cut offs, as well as a few young women wearing bikinis and dancing around like only the best well-trained athletes can do, with strength, flair and a beauty that should undeniably be celebrated by any and all genders.
WHO WOULDN’T BE HAPPY TO SEE THE OASIS?
THE BACK OF THE OASIS
BODIES AND SPIRITS WERE HIGH AT THE OASIS
WILLIE STEWART ENJOYING THE OASIS
OASIS GIRLS AWAITING PATRONS BWR RECAP - 18
Even with the visual pleasures of the Oasis filling our craniums of young and old alike, the subsequent climb up Seaquest Trail was only slightly less of challenge. Thank God for the Aid Station support here from the SKYFLASH Racing Team, who energetically and emphatically did their best to provide us aid as we weaved our bikes up the steep, dirty, poor excuse for a road. Once we finished that climb and the following ride up to Elfin Forest, our group was still pretty much intact as we had a brief descent before turning left at the bottom and hitting the beginning of the long arduous and final climb up Questhavensberg and then Muur Van Dubbelberg. This year, we combined the penultimate and ultimate climbs into one 8-kilometer asshanding ascent with virtually no respite between. Commencing before the 130-mile mark at 386 feet, riders didn’t reach the summit at 1600 feet for another five miles, but there was good news here… First, we had made it this far. So many starters never got here. Second, there were two places we got to dismount, so we got to rest for two seconds each time. Third, there were other places in the Questhavensberg dirt that just might have forced us to get off your bikes… more rest for the tender! And, hidden at the end of the dirt there is a religious retreat, thank God. Some of us briefly considered just not getting back on the bike, but Stinger and David Santos made the most of the climb and posted a couple of the fastest ascents of this BWR KOM…
DOUBLING UP AT DUBBELBURG
TWO BEASTS ON DUBBELBURG, THE 2015 HARDMAN LOGAN FIEDLER AND LUCIFER
BWR RECAP - 19
PHIL TINSTMAN’S DUBBELBURG DESCENT
What makes the post retreat section so special is that there is a nice vantage where you can make out the top of the Dubbelberg, miles away. It’s a demoralizing sight because you really must strain your neck from focusing only on the two feet of road in front of you to be able to make it out. Soon, we turned left and were confronted by ‘the wall’ many riders walked their bike up. After this though, there was a nice little descent and a gentle climb up to the steep connector to Muur Dubbelberg known as San Elijo. Once you’ve turned right here, all thoughts turn toward surviving the steepest climb of the day and the finale of the climbing… this is where Cam eventually caught Phil.
KARL BORDINE
Muur Van Dubbelberg. Double Peak Drive, a place many locals come to practice their climbing, where an 8 mph speed is respectable. With a mere 1600 feet of elevation, altitude sickness at the top is out of the question, right? Wrong. This turgent tumulus is the final obstruction, but it seems to go on forever, though it’s barely a mile long from the turn off San Elijo and the steep part is only half that. Like most other riders, as I approached the last half of the climb I was only focused on survival, and I actually feebly asked a few people to push me. Kind of like Jeff Goldblum’s character in “The Fly,” I could hear myself saying, “Please, push me, push me.” It was only once I reached Satan himself that I got a push, but it didn’t come until after he said, “Seriously, you want me to push you?” Once again, all I could say was, “Please, push me.” I got another push from a lovely lady, then another awesome push from Lee Crane and another from Tomo Hamasaki. I’m not sure I would have finished had it not been for these helping hands. THANK YOU. BWR RECAP - 20
STATHIS S.
RHONDA QUICK
As truly punishing as the Muur was, this didn’t mean we were done. Less than halfway down the hill, we all had to reluctantly join the Dubbelberg Twistenweg.
At nearly three-kilometers in switchback length, this is the zig zaggiest and perhaps most zany of all the sectors. Dubbelberg Twistenweg requires skills, sacrifice, singular focus and a sense of humor to navigate, as once again the opportunity to walk your bike becomes a necessity if any of those things are missing from the repertoire at mile 137. It may have been twisted, but at least it was demented. I was able to make up time here and on Barham to catch six or eight riders in front of me and it seemed like the first time all day I felt okay. Such is the oddity of endurance events.
WILLIE STEWART
In years gone past, reaching the top of the Dubbelberg meant finishing was just a matter of letting gravity do its thing. This sort of made the last 10 or so miles a bit anticlimactic. So this year we decided to skip the full descent of the Dubbelberg and add in a fun, tricky, twisty dirty track, forcing riders to once again test their gravel grinding skills in a masochistic maze of trails that offer a view of the finish line but provide no direct line toward it. I really enjoyed this trail on the day and I think a lot of others found it a fun finale to the day’s test.
Approaching The Lost Abbey after seven hours on the bike felt pretty nice, but the air of excitement and the loud revelry of all the beautiful volunteers made the final lap around The Lost Abbey a truly memorable experience. Finishing, despite all the disappointment of the day’s challenges, felt wonderful… perhaps as much to have the immensity of the weight to produce the event off the shoulders as completing the actual course with only a couple of mechanical issues. The entire weekend was filled with so much fun, with the added dynamic of the rain on Saturday, but looking back on the 2015 BWR, it was amazing to witness the growth of the event with twice as many riders and 4 times as many spectators. The people who came together to make this event happen are to truly be celebrated.
CAM TAKES THE “W”
NIELS VANDE CASTEELE WEARS HIS BELGIAN HERITAGE BWR RECAP - 21
PURPLE JERSEY EDDY DON’T WANT NO FREDDYS
THE DREADED PURPLE Oh no, the Purple Jersey returns…
I realize this is but one point of view on the event, and that each of us who put a number on and ventured out on the potential perils of the 2015 BWR course with our own aspirations, demons and expectations; all of which were certainly effected one way or another by unexpected snafus… there are the ones to be almost expected, like flat tires. There are the ones that perhaps better planning could have remedied, like cramping. There are the ones that practice could have helped, like staying upright in the dirt. But the worst of these is encountering another rider who, despite all the literature that espouses the ethos of the BWR and the potential for selfish, dangerous or otherwise unsportsmanlike riders to receive the ignominious distinction of getting drawn a Purple Card or the worse, being designated as the Freddy Freeloader Purple Jersey recipient. This year, unlike the last two years, someone has been awarded this dubious distinction for a collection of terrible anecdotes that have catapulted this rider to the top of the Purple Podium, as no one before him ever has.
dirt, he cut off several riders, with more expletives directed his way. Once the first dirt section sorted things out, Mr. Purple was a part of our front group and was either being yelled at or directing other riders what he wanted them to do. This went on until the first major climb up Highland Valley where he cut across the entire group, forcing many to swerve or brake as he tried to take a bottle from someone handing a bottle to someone else from the side of the road. From then on there were lots of comments, the nicest of which were “Watch the guy in the red kit.”
It all started with the online registration process, where this rider signed up as a category 1 rider, though it had been years since he had a license and the most recent category he had achieved was a 3. We gave riders a chance to remedy what could have been a mistake, alerting riders to the rules about registration; that we would assign riders to the proper wave start based on their actual license category. Race weekend came around and this rider, who had been appropriately moved to the wave he should have started in, berated two of the event volunteers with quotes like, “Do you know who I am?” and, “I’ve raced all over the world” and, “I’ve come all the way from Colorado for this event, you need to put me in the first wave.” The helpless volunteers didn’t know how to deal with the tumult this rider was creating and made the reluctant call to let him into the first wave. By race morning, this rider’s name was known far and wide, but what he did that day was a flurry of purpleness. During the neutral section, climbing up to the first dirt segment at sWITCHenberg, it became clear that Mr. Purple wasn’t comfortable riding in a group or a race setting. This was demonstrated consistently and by mile 18 many riders had already yelled at him. At one point, he crossed over the double yellow line several times. Coming into the right turn onto the BWR RECAP - 22
JERSEY IS BACK… Still later, as the lead group (with two of my teammates) maintained their gap. I rode the front with a couple other riders, including my teammate Josh Goldman and Karl Bordine, as Mr. Purple continually admonished us that if we didn’t ride faster we would never catch the leaders. When it was suggested to him by others that he might consider taking a pull, he obliged with ten pedal strokes and then a flurry of elbow flicks. His verbal antics became the stuff of comedy for many of the riders in our group. Still, Mr. Purple managed to ride well hiding nicely inside the lead chase group, and eventually was alone with a number of other strong riders, like John Abate, Eric Bostrom, Olly Hutchinson, and Ronnie Toth (who went on to win the KOM category). At this point, it became clear that Mr. Purple actually had organized a support vehicle to illegally help him out on the course. This group was working well together, except for Mr. Purple, whose tactics—ranging from not taking turns on the front to erratically jumping behind trucks—were wearing heavily on the group. But things got worse fast… Mr. Purple fell off the wheel of Scott Lundy and Jason Siegle, leaving a gap and then flapping his elbow violently for someone from the now separated group behind him to pull him back to the lead duo. Bostrom obliged but not without sharing a few words of disapproval, reminding him it was his responsibility to manage the gap. Just a few moments, Siegle and Bostrom were pulling as a duo over the top of the hill at Lake Hodges and began descending. Mr. Purple drafted by Bostrom without ever turning a pedal, but rather than going by Siegle to the front he pulled erratically in front of Bostrom to dodge the wind behind Siegle and took out Bostrom’s front wheel. Eric went down in an instant, as did the riders behind him; a terrible cascade of events, ending the day for several studly riders.
THIS YEAR’S PURPLE JERSEY RECIPIENT IS NATE WHITMAN
Mr. Purple literally created a crash and instead of stopping to help those who had been carrying him for all those miles, he rode off without them, leaving them bloodied in the road in his wake, as he rode on to the comfort of his private support vehicle. BWR RECAP - 23
2015 BWR POVS – BEHIND THE HURTIN’ THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BELGIAN WAFFLE RIDE IS NOT LIMITED TO ITS COURSE OR UNANTICIPATED DELIGHT, BUT EXTENDS TO THE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO CONQUER IT. THEY ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE YOU WANT BY YOUR SIDE AS YOU ASCEND YET ANOTHER WICKED PITCH, SMILING FROM BEHIND A THIN MASK OF SWEAT AND DIRT. WHETHER PUTTING THEIR NOSE IN THE WIND TO EASE YOUR SUFFERING OR OFFERING TO FIX YOUR FLAT, ENJOY THE VIEW OF THE BWR THROUGH THE HAPPY LENSES OF THOSE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT FROM WITHIN THE PELOTON.
RICK BIENIAS & THE ELLIPTIGO
One year ago, I thought doing the BWR would just be crazy. It is too long, too hard, and there’s a good chance you won’t even finish. Nevertheless, it became the topic of most conversations, and it seemed without doing the BWR, you’d be missing out on an extreme challenge. So I thought to myself, “OK, what the hell,” which suddenly turned into “I hope I get signed up before it sells out. I must do the BWR!” By cross training 70% on my ElliptiGO and 30% on my road bike, I was able to increase my training and riding level significantly, which gave me more and more confidence to attempt the BWR. I felt great about taking on the BWR by bike, but it took a sharp turn when I was asked if I would be doing it on the ElliptiGO. Say what??? This was sheer craziness, and had only been done by hardcore GO pioneer Bill Pinnell, who had to start at 4 am in hopes of surviving the course and making it to the finish in time for a cold beer. Clearly the BWR should not be done on a GO, especially with an even longer and tougher course this year, but I wasn’t saying no just yet. If there were a chance that I could start and finish within the regular cyclist, I was all in. After a few off-road test rides, I found the GO to be surprisingly dirt worthy. I needed to run quite high rear tire pressure to minimize the risk of pinch flats in the rocky dirt sections, and the low ground clearance may have left some paint in the rock garden, but it seemed otherwise bulletproof. So despite the fact that it was never intended to be ridden off road—and that it weighs 40 pounds—I said, “OK! I am doing BWR on the GO!” With the event date looming and the wicked off-road details rolling in via Michael’s dreaded emails, I began trying to pre-ride the off-road sections to see if—and how—I would make it through those areas. St. Lusardi worried me the most, as the steep up and down trails and fire roads can turn bad to worse in a matter of seconds. As the event day rolled around, I was accompanied by all the jitters and worries, and though I had the privilege of starting with the first wave, I was a little nervous that people would stare at me and wonder “what is that guy doing on that thing in the BWR? And how did he get into the first wave?” To my surprise, quite the opposite happened. The riders were all so cool, asking about the bike, how much it weighed, how difficult it was to handle and if I was really doing the whole course. In the true spirit of the BWR, these riders cheered me on as the day progressed. Though I was able to stay with the lead group until mile 16, the tempo picked up significantly as we ascended the three witches before the first dirt section, and ultimately, I was spit out the back. “You are the weakest link, goodbye.” In a way, this was good, and allowed me to stay out of the way of other riders on the single-track dirt section. After passing a few riders who had been dispatched from the lead group, I settled into my pace and constantly reminded myself to eat and drink, eat and drink. I still felt good going up Highland Valley, but couldn’t believe there was still 105 miles to go. I soon realized that the extra weight and smaller wheels of the GO made it very difficult to move through the rough, soft and steep stuff, so I tried to back off and reserve some energy right before those sections. Momentum would surely be needed for Sandy Bandy. Despite the later waves starting to catch me, I resisted jumping in with them and stuck to my pace. After making it through Cougar Pass without getting stuck, my wife filled my two one-liter bottles and I was grateful for the thumbs up and cheers that poured out from the great people at SPY, Mavic and SRAM. Even the ElliptiGO CEO came out to cheer me on. Permanent leg fatigue and exhaustion started to set in around mile 100, but cheers from my Descenders club mates gave me an BWR RECAP - 24
extra 100 watts boost to tackle the De Oro climb. Though this taxing dirt section almost had my legs cramping, the spectacular “views” at the oasis distracted my mind for a bit. Or was it just a fata morgana? At this point I dreaded having to push the bike up the “Wall” and “Muur van Dubbelberg,” but somehow continued on to the last of the climbs. As I submitted to the torture on Dubbelberg, the appearance of the devil confirmed this was Hell, but another 50 meters revealed the priest who would save me. At this point in my delusion, I even spotted saving angels as I crested the top. I now realized I would make it back to the Lost Abbey, where great food and a cold Badass Ale was waiting for me. Completing the BWR on the ElliptiGO—upright in the wind without a draft and in less than 9 hours—felt like a win. Riders and spectators congratulated me on finishing, asking “Did you do the whole thing? All the dirt sections? That’s awesome! That’s crazy!” I was surprised at how good I felt after the race, but can probably attribute this to my adrenaline and the great atmosphere of the event. Once I arrived at home, I immediately collapsed in bed, and spent the following day in the recliner in front of the TV. The BWR took everything out of me, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Michael M. and SPY have created a masterpiece event, and everything accompanying the event—the magazine, the emails, the expo, the wicked course, the support people and the happy post festivities—leaves a special memory unlike anything else. The BWR tests the limits of bike and rider, physically and mentally. You better be well prepared for it. For me, it was the hardest, but also the most rewarding event I had ever done, and I am very thankful for all the support I received and for the opportunity to do this on my ElliptiGO. The cycling community is awesome.
ALL HAIL LOGAN THE HARDMAN AS TOLD BY DAN FINDLEY
In both the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Belgian Waffle Ride, Logan and I somehow found ourselves together in no man’s land at some point during the race. True to tradition, it happened again in 2015. Right after Cougar Pass, Logan and I were in a small group on the descent toward Deer Springs Rd., but stopped at a light while the rest of the group ran a questionable yellow. Knowing our lives were more important than catching the leaders, the two of us made our way alone, for the third BWR in a row. Luckily for me, I was with the 2015 Hardman. I tried to take my share of pulls up Cougar Pass, but Logan had the better legs and did the majority of the work, all while shouting words of encouragement to keep me on his wheel. By the time we got back to Lost Abbey to start the second lap, a group had caught up with us, and so had the mud from Cougar Pass. Caking our brakes and frames, Logan pulled a tire lever out of his saddle bag and helped a few of us clear the mud that had hardened like cement. When he wasn’t helping everyone fix their bikes, he was at the front taking pulls. When we hit the dirt sections, the 2015 Hardman laid the hammer down. Through Meer Hodgesgate and Modest Mule, Logan stretched out the group and I struggled to stay on, allowing my fried legs and tunnel vision to fully set in by the end of the Mule. When we finally got to Saint Lusardi, Logan once again hit it hard, descending the dirt faster than most would on a downhill mountain bike and pushing the pace until he was alone off the front and on his way to a top 10 finish. Unfortunately, more mud had accumulated on his bike, and by the end of Saint Lusardi, he was forced to get off the bike. Wielding a screwdriver from the support car like a chisel, Logan cleared the mud, but the late mechanical cost him a top spot in the race. Logan absolutely earned the Hardman jersey this year, from the pulls and pain he inflicted on the group, to the sacrifices he made to others.
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2015 BWR POVS – BEHIND THE HURTIN’ ADVENTURES IN THE WAFFLE WOMEN’S WAVE WITH AMANDA “PANDA” NAUMAN
This was the first year that SPY had a designated women’s wave, and from the outside looking in, this gesture was amazing and showed SPY’s commitment to expanding the women’s field. From the inside looking out, this forced us to suffer a bit more than we should have in the beginning, as you’re only going to be as fast as the people taking pulls in your group. Our wave was pushed for the first 30 miles by Jill Cederholm, Rhonda Quick, and myself, but had there been some strong males in our wave, we may have been off the hook earlier in terms of sitting it. But hey, this is all about equality right? Fair is fair! I was excited to come out in the lead after dirt section one and two, but shortly after Ysabel Creek, the Wave 3 men started to catch us. “Finally,” I thought to myself, as I knew I could jump in with the group and up my pace. It was at this point however that I fell off the back of the group on the Old San Pasqual climb, and watched Rhonda take the lead with a full century left to ride on my own. I was lucky enough to find a few guys to ride with after Cougar Pass, and rolled through the halfway point with a decent number of guys to regroup with. As lap 2 commenced, I suddenly found myself in a group of nearly 20 guys hauling ass through Del Diablo Hwy. When we turned around and went through Lemon Twistenberg, I faded slightly and took it easy on the road until Lake Hodges, where I went as fast as I could and celebrated with a smile as I blasted through the sandy, rocky, dirt. Each of the last few dirt sections was pure joy, and there’s nothing like getting radical through the dirt to help you forget the pain of riding over 100 miles. As always, it was necessary to keep tabs on my hydration and nutrition. Everything was a blur and I was consuming whatever I could. The assortment of items in my gut at the end of the ride included: Cytomax mix, GQ-6 from on-course bottles, bananas, Cytomax Chews, Rip van Wafels, Clif bars, homemade English muffin sandwich w/ Krema Peanut Butter and dutch chocolate sprinkles, and rocket fuel Coke. I ate early and frequently, drank plenty, and I was very happy with a Lost Abbey beer at the end of the ride. A true bonding experience, a shout-out is in order for Devin Riley (BMC Marketing Manager) and the other guy we were with from Bernardo to Double Peak. These men helped pull me through some serious mental blocks and got rad with me on Saint Lusardi, and in all seriousness, this is the part of Gravel Grinders I love the most—making friends while suffering through a crazy adventure. The guys I met along the way and who let me sit on their wheels are true gentlemen and great athletes. Though I almost burst into tears at the top of Double Peak, the feeling that washed over me as descended toward Lost Abbey is indescribable. The Belgian Waffle Ride delivers moments of incredible pain and overwhelming joy, which is why I continue to sign up each year. As I stood on the podium surrounded by incredibly strong women, I looked out into the crowd and saw so many happy faces, and was finally able to truly appreciate the encouraging words that came from everyone at SPY and from the cycling community. One of the most amazing events I’ve ever been a part of, I am proud to ride for SPY—a brand so rooted in uniqueness, that none of those “other” brands can even come close. The
WAFER TALES FROM TRINA JACOBSON
I go uphill like a bowling ball so, despite the eminent ridicule I’d receive at the office, I registered for the SPY Belgian Wafer Ride. I then encouraged four of my SPY Giant Ride teammates to join me. When the questions rolled in about why I wasn’t doing the Waffle, my response was always, “I’m not doing that because I don’t want to.” I’m pretty sure I was more Belgian in the weeks leading up to the BWR than the day of, as it takes a hardwoman to stand her ground under such circumstances. When it came time to roll, teammates Pam Schuster, Jen Whalen, Jenny Rios, Erin Lamb and I joined the cool kids at the back of the group—but not for long. Over the loud speaker came a call-up for all the SPY employees, and I happily joined my manager, my manager’s manager, and a few purveyors of happy at the line during my first ever call-up. Knowing I’d climb like a bowling ball, my plan was to help anyone in need. This meant I was loaded down with five extra tubes, CO2 cartridges, a multi-tool, and the knowledge that I’d be spending some time in the wind.
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Though the beginning of the ride felt far from neutral, I stayed with the group on Del Dios. The first dirt section was flat-ish and fun, and once we escaped the dirt, a small group of us chased the main group only to be dropped on another climb…peace out group! By this time in the ride we started passing Waffle riders, so instead of riding by myself, I rode alongside one. We chit chatted about the weather, and were joined by 10 others after being caught at a red light. My new buddy had a flat tire, so I pointed it out and stopped with him. “Do you have a flat, too?” he asked. “Nope.” “Then WHY are you stopping?!” “To help you. I have an extra tube.” “Whoa, you’re like a SPY angel.” The rest of the ride followed this trend. I’d meet a new pack of super awesome and funny people, ride with them a while, then someone would accept my help with a flat. In Sandy Bandy, I even made a woman laugh out loud. She may have been laughing at me while I slid around in the sand, but hey, she was laughing! Just before Escondido, I came upon four people stopped together all changing flats. After getting back on the road, I offered to pull them into the wind so they’d have more left for their second loop on the Waffle ride. CHOO CHOO, the SPY train is coming! After Cougar Pass, I was out of cookies, so I stopped at a convenience store and found a few of my new friends. They bought me a Coke! We rolled the rest of the way back to Lost Abbey Brewery easy, but one of them got cramps. I stopped with him, chatting about my shoes, our kids, the last time we cramped, and the beer we’d soon get to enjoy…anything to distract from the pain in the quads he was feeling. As we made the last few turns, he thanked me for keeping him company. I replied, “No, thank YOU for keeping ME company.” As I was stuffing fries into my mouth, my teammate Jen and I were discussing the virtues of the Wafer ride. She summed it up with, “I feel like all of the gnar was on the second loop for the Waffle riders. The Wafer ride was good for the people that just want to tickle the gnar.” After eating and getting a change of clothes, I reported to work. I was set up at one of the last corners to direct traffic and help keep riders safe. As the Waffle riders trickled in and the spectators thinned, I got to know two families waiting for their daughters. I stayed until they finished around 8:30pm, because I wanted them to experience more than two cowbells ringing for them as they finished the gnar. They were all so HAPPY.
BWR has become more than the annual event for me, it has changed the way I approach riding a bike. I know that seems a bit extreme, but I write this with yet another fresh abrasion from falling off my bike today on a lunch ride—in the dirt. Yes, my lunch hour ride has been converted into trying to find new trails on a cross bike than labor on the trainer or hit the tarmac. After borrowing a cross bike for the past two BWR’s, I finally secured one (i.e. convinced my friend to finally let me keep it) of my own. I have not been one to seek the road less traveled, it has been an evolution stemming from my past three BWR’s.
KUDOS TO CASEY MAGUIRE
My first BWR was 2013, and while I was well trained on the road, I was scared shitless in the dirt. I do not have a MTB, BMX, or Cross background, and simply followed wheels on the dirt sections I knew I couldn’t make it through. Yet, I did. 2013 was a game changer for me, and the year I actually learned to ride my bike. My boundaries were pushed beyond where I thought they were and my enthusiasm—my Happy—was pushed even farther. The spirit of the event captivated me, and in 2014 I took it once more. I felt prepared, but we all know you cannot prepare for BWR. I spent my day in the dirt with friends, and grasped that the BWR is about experiences. Not about PR’s, but about Personal Relationships. Not about power meters, but powering through. Not about Strava victories, but new victories. My approach to 2015 was all about the Happy. Juggling five kids who have their own schedules, my training was “timed crunch” to say the least. I knew I had not ridden enough, but have found that the more fun you’re having, the easier the suffering is to stomach. My goal was to increase the Happy, and how could I do that? Wear a large orange mohawk zip tied to my helmet for 143 miles. Sounded like a great idea, until I rode with it! I will admit, my neck hurt. And the week following BWR? My neck hurt! But was it worth it? Hell Yes! My 2015 BWR approach was straightforward: I tried to encourage riders when they looked worn-down, and did my best to thank every volunteer and spectator for their support. Knowing that Double Peak is daunting for most, I hoped the exhausted riders would benefit from a nutcase yelling encouraging words—one wearing an orange mohawk no less. BWR for me is about having fun while doing something unconventional on a bike. It is about pushing your personal limits, riding hard, stretching your boundaries, and loving every minute of it. BWR RECAP - 27
2015 BWR POVS – BEHIND THE HURTIN’ Vasilas is a quiet and unassuming man, but KUDOS TO ANTHONY Anthony behind the smile sits the drive and power of a cat 1 racer. for his hardman qualities, Anthony has the “STINGER” VASILAS Recognized ability to put on the hurt for the benefit of his teammates,
and can also torment those on the SPY Saturday ride on any given weekend. In fact, the recent Florida transplant was bequeathed with the nickname “Stinger” after being stung by a bee on the face, yet he still managed to continue riding and inflict his own sting to the peloton. Stinger is one of this year’s recipients of the kUDOs Award, and he is receiving this most important of distinctions for his selflessness. While Casey Maguire—the other recipient of this wonderful award—received it for his unabashed enthusiasm for the event, his orange Mohawk helmet, his encouragement to all his fellow riders and his general merriment throughout the long day on the bike, Stinger earned this award for a different type of enthusiasm. The award is in honor of our friend, Udo Heinz, who was struck from behind and killed by a NCTD bus several years ago. Udo was a caring and selfless man, but he was also upbeat and happy. In fact, Casey and Stinger’s combined acts together bring forth the spirit of Udo in the most positive of ways. I rode much of the event with Stinger, as both of us struggled with issues earlier on and were left to suffer in a group of dwindling numbers during the entire second lap. Stinger would ultimately be my savior when my fate was determined by a flat on the first section of the reverse of Saint Lusardi after mile 110. I was riding tubulars and that most unpleasant of sound—PPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS—punctuated the air, filling my already dejected mind with the question, “how do I finish now?” Miles from the road, where I might be able to get a replacement wheel, the first words out of Stinger’s mouth were “take my wheel!!!” As I continued to try to ride the flat, he insisted many times that I oblige and take his wheel. Eventually we made it to the water crossing where David Santos and Sean Mazich were also tending to flat tires. We got to commiserate for a while, but eventually I tried riding, walking, rolling and carrying my bike toward the pavement while Stinger rode off in search of help. As I trudged, it seemed as if legions of riders rolled by with encouragement for my perseverance. I eventually made it to the end of Saint Lusardi walking my bike, and you can guess who came back down the hill carrying a wheel. It was Stinger! He helped me quickly change the wheel and away we went. This time, Stinger was feeling quite well. He was enjoying a fourth wind, if you will, and he drove the front as we caught and passed many riders, and eventually ended up with Santos and Mazich, where we rode with a casualness as the race had long since been lost to flats and other maladies. What was amazing it that Stinger and Santos went on to record some of the fastest ascents up Questhavensberg and the Dubbelberg. Doing so, I might add, after ensuring everyone in our group was okay. So, for this selfless exhibition of caring, when he could have had a much higher finish, Stinger gets the kUDOs Award for 2015.
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2015 BWR COURSE FACTS MILEAGE:
50 142.5 MILES 229 KILOMETERS
POWER EXERTED:
WAFFLES CONSUMED:
2,600
2.8
NUMBER OF ANTICIPATED FINISHERS:
MILLION WATTS
FEET OF CLIMBING:
600 12,000+
AVERAGE CALORIES BURNED:
DOUBLE-DOUBLES速
FOUR CHEESEBURGERS
TWO
SEVEN
CHOCOLATE SHAKES
NUMBER OF HALLUCINATIONS: THREE
20
ORDERS OF ANIMAL FRIES
OR ROUGHLY 9,140 CALORIES
BEERS CONSUMED:
112
OUCH!
4,720
104 ANTICIPATED FLAT TIRES:
600 FINISHER BEERS
+
30 KEGS
ANTICIPATED FAKED INJURIES: BWR RECAP - 29
2015 BWR AWARDS
THE OVERALL AWARD AWARD PRESENTED BY GQ-6
MEN CAM WURF PHIL TINSTMAN KARL BORDINE CHRIS DEMARCHI MIKE EASTER
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
BWR RECAP - 30
WOMEN RHONDA QUICK AMANDA NAUMAN CHRISTI PATRICK MARY DANNELLEY JILL CIEDERHOLM
THE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN AWARD (KOM) PRESENTED BY STAGEONE 1. 2. 3.
RONNIE TOTH DAVID SANTOS JASON SIEGLE
THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN AWARD (QOM) PRESENTED BY FIZIK
1. 2. 3.
RHONDA QUICK CHRISTI PATRICK KRIS GROSS
THE SPRINT AWARD (KOS) PRESENTED BY GIANT
1. 2. 3.
MICHAEL MARCKX PHIL TINSTMAN LARRY TANZO
THE HARDMAN AWARD PRESENTED BY SRAM
1.
LOGAN FIEDLER
THE kUDOs AWARD
PRESENTED BY THE LOST ABBEY 1. 2.
CASEY MAGUIRE ANTHONY VASILAS BWR RECAP - 31
THANK YOU!! SO MUCH GRATITUDE IS DUE TO THE HUNDREDS OF STAFF MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, CHP, THE LOST ABBEY, THE VARIOUS CLUBS, SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE CITIZENS THAT GAVE OF THEIR DAY TO MAKE IT SPECIAL FOR ALL THE RIDERS. HERE IS A LIST OF ALL THOSE AMAZING PEOPLE!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES TO JON DAVY AND JOE YULE OF STAGEONE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BWR IN THE FORM OF THE BAD ASS KITS THEY DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE FOR THE SPY BWR EACH YEAR. IT SHOULD BE NOTED ALL OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS YOU SEE FROM SPY FOR THE BWR COME FROM THE WAND OF JOE YULE, WHO NOT ONLY DESIGNS THE KITS, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE BWR RELATED.
SPONSORS Challenged Athletes Foundation (Beneficiary) Giant Bicycles GoPro GQ-6 RIDE Cyclery SRAM StageOne and Joe Yule The Lost Abbey (Tomme, Adam, Kelsey, Brandon) True Dentistry
HAPPY CONTRIBUTERS GoMacro Honey Stinger Kawasaki Kind Bar Lululemon Marriott Nestle TBG Event Timing (Joey and Adrian) Yamaha Generators BWR RECAP - 32
CHP Ofc Adam Degraffenreid Ofc Anthony Flores Ofc Brian Allen Ofc Chris Parent Ofc Eric Flynn Ofc Gil Ochoa Ofc Hurvey Milner Ofc Jim Gaffney Ofc Matt Gibbs Ofc Tim Fenton Sgt Lew Hall Sgt Scott Payson
STAFF Aidan Runner Alex Gregorie Alexis Valenzuela Andrew McSorley Andrew Thomas Angel Islas Arlene Vera Blake Nishimoto Brad Simonds Brian Hughes Britney Myers Brittany Reynolds Cammie Burke Casey Gee Casey Koteen Chris Abad Chris Cleary Chris Dettling Christine “Chawky” Hawk Connor Muirhead Corrie Machesky Crystal Lincoln Damon Cook Demian Lashlee Evelin Valdez Hermilio Munoz Jason Smith Jeff Ellis Jenna Klein Jesus Monzon Jim McGinty Jim Sepanek Johanna Cetina Jonathan “JD” Deguzman
Juliette Koh Justin Dyresen Kallie McNamara Kara McKinley Lauren Knight Lisa Brackett Maddy Isbell Marilyse Gagnon Martin Vera Matt “Smelly” Kelly Mauricio Obando Melissa Uffman Michael McGinty Mona Abdelmuti Nicole Fortunato Paige Och Paula Islas Ryan McGinty Sonia Martinez Steve DuPuy Sky King Tia King Todd Madsen Tony Larson Trina Jacobson Tyge Brackett Zach Sellers VOLUNTEERS Andy McClure Anne Bransen Austin Kruisheer Barb Donovan Brandon Pleman Brian Scarbrough
Brian Stack Brian Stringfellow Brian Zink Celo Pacific Chris Waggnor Damian Stevens Dan Findley Dave Gonyer David McNeal Djohara Halimaoui Dustin Hood Eamon O’Reilly Edwin Astudillo Emily Viveros Erik Dekold Faye Delosreyes Fred Muir Garrett Tanisawa Hilary Hainsworth Jennifer Jefferson Jon Nist Karla Baltazar Kelsey Mullen Larry Hosli Lauren Smith Logan Fiedler Ly Nguyen Marco Cubillos Marianne Zapella Michael Williams Mike Zines Mission Hills High School Moise Pham Nathen Hakken Nick Jones BWR RECAP - 33
Nicole Duke Paul Vaccari Robert Perez Rod Simmons Ryan Johnson Salvador Rosales SDBC Racing Team SDSU Cycling & Triathlon Team Seth Davidson Shannon Olson Shelley Driscoll SkyFlash Team SPY Giant Ride p/b GQ-6 Team Stephen Lavery Steve Seapker Susan Hollander Swami’s Club Tae Dickey Taylor Vaccari Terri Andrews Tina Araya/Celo Wives Tomo Hamasaki Ty Williams UCSD Triathlon Team Vickie Vanosdol Weston White FRIENDS OF SPY City of San Marcos Dave Hekel with SDRT Ed Christensen at Lusardi Our friends at Canyon De Oro and Seaquest Trail Questhaven Robert Fuller and San Diego County
THANK YOU BWR RECAP - 34