I ride the single track sections out there regularly on my gravel bike (also a checkpoint with 40mm tires!). You’ll be fine! There won’t be scorpions out on the trails (more likely to find one in your air bnb or hotel lol) but it is snake season. I saw a baby rattler out in that regional park yesterday. Unless you’re at the front of the group, the snakes will have left the trail by the time you roll through. Feel free to message me with any other questions, I live in the area and I’m doing the Waffle course.
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Thanks! Was just joking about the scorpions but have seen ‘em in Phoenix while on business. I’ve run over a rattlesnake, at speed, out here in NorCal. Good times.
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Thanks for sharing the course info @WindWarrior. I’m planning on running some meaty 45mm Pirelli Gravel M tires with Crush Core Gravel.CX inserts. For me, the challenge of these long gravel events is less about the time and distance and more about how beat up rough roads make me feel by the end. I ran the same tires at BWR Cedar last year and I felt totally confident with them in the single track MTB section. There wasn’t anything too technical at all just a few rocks that required nothing more than momentum and I’d expect something similar in Scottsdale. The tire inserts will be a first for me but I’m hoping to run an even lower pressure and add some extra comfort plus some flat protection.
You’ll be fine…even with tubes. Go slow on single track & save the tires, but other than that…let ‘er rip!
40mm broken cross, ramblers or the like are perfect. Do not overthink it
See you soon!!
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called REI the other day and its suppose to be a 2023 Checkpoint with Bontrager GR1 team issue 40c tubeless. Yay for tubeless!
I’ve dropped the overthinking, but since you mentioned tires I pulled up the GR1s and here is the tread:
I’m a gravel tire newb, here is the IRC recommended tire:
whatever 
I’m not going to modify a rental bike, the GR1s are good enough!
I’m really curious to hear about your experience in this event, specifically related to your affinity to “steady efforts”.
Good Luck
Doubt the off road sections will be steady efforts. FWIW I’m sub-3W/kg and planning to take my sweet time, and possibly take a shortcut to spend more time with in-laws and not ditch my wife all day. Hate paying this kind of money for a post-ride beer and AFAIK the roads aren’t closed to traffic. Scenery should be fantastic. Weather forecast keeps changing but temps should be perfect.
It would be satisfying if you push yourself to finish your first gravel race, you’ll feel good afterwards.
I’m interested in seeing how the route goes, my dad lives right down the street from the start. Unfortunately work is too busy right now to take the time off but hopefully next year I can make it.
Good luck to everyone out there!
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First gravel race was last year - Nova Eroica California - Where did you ride OUTSIDE today (2022) - #389 by WindWarrior weird day that was, but my mom is still with us although back in the ER yesterday. Life is short, live it and love it as best you can.
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The course is released! Not sure of the entire routes off road conditions but the wash trails most likely have some chunky rocks involved.
Took this photo last year, pretty much part of what you guys will be riding!
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Is there a link to the course? I just moved away from Phoenix but rode up there every weekend and I’m nosey.
All the information is in this link, they have ridewithGPS course links in there.
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Very nice, I rode my gravel bike up there a lot over the summer. I have wiped out in a wash in McDowell on 35s, but I think much larger than 45 won’t be helpful. I’d probably ride some 40s, I’d prefer a slick center over knobs.
Also from what I understand it has been very rainy lately, which makes the sand worse in washes. As far as creatures go, I’ve never seen a scorpion in the wild ha. But lots of cute lizards in the sun, if it is a nice dry day expect to potentially see a rattler, especially if you’re in the front group.
There is a 100% certainty someone is going to end up covered in cholla haha.
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thanks, what’s the terrain like over the fairly long downhill like from mile 15 to 35-41?
elevation profile:
more so mile 15 to mile 31 where it runs along what looks like a sparsely populated area with houses.
Not familiar with 15 to 24. I ride back there just not that trail. I assume it’s identical to…
Mile 24 (crossing Bartlett Damn Road) to mile 27 is fast wide (think razor or jeep drivable) crushed granite. Can be slippery due to the nature of the crushed granite but, more in a number of corners the surface is off camber in spots. Nothing to worry about but, you will be going really fast here. Easy to ride on tires less than 40 but, some side knobs helpful with corners at speed.
Mile 27-ish to about 31 is mosty single track crushed granite. Easy to ride on tires less than 40’s and same comment on side knobs.
Mile 31 to 35 is dirt road.
Mile 35 to 37 is more fast flowing single track like mile 27 to 31.
Mile 37 to 40 is more dirt road.
Mile 40 to 41.3 I’m not sure…
Mile 51.5 to 56.5 is single track crushed granite like 27 to 31. Super fun!
Mile 72 to about 77 while paved has some punchy rollers and lots of turns. Just watch for loose gravel/sand in corners.
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Thanks. Like clockwork my annual ‘get allergy sick, or maybe its a cold or flu’ hit late last week. So I’ve been off the bike for 4 days and getting back on today. Sad panda. But hey, it allowed me to find the time to start a new mobility program. I really needed to do something about tightness in hips and left shoulder.
I’ve got 3 plans for Sunday - a) do the Wafer, or b) if not feeling it call and audible and cut off miles 35 to 58 by continuing straight on N 144 St to E Rio Verde and rejoin the route, or c) bad allergies persist worst case scenario - do the Wanna.
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Miles 15-24 ish is probably the most challenging part. The descent is on an atv trail, rutted and sandy, you cross through a wash then there’s a climb up on the maricopa trail to bartlett rd that is tough even on a mtb. The challenge will probably be having to dismount if cyclists in front of you get off. It will be hard to get going again. Once across Bartlett rd, the trails are fast and flowy. The rest of the course is great! The trails in mcdowell regional park are in awesome shape and the weather looks real good!
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thank you!
