Belgian Waffle Ride California, live.

Hell of the North County, where the Unroad began

The sixteenth Belgian Waffle Ride California returns to San Diego County on 1 and 2 May 2027.

BWR California is the one that started it all. In 2012 riders gathered over waffles and coffee before a long day of pavement, dirt, climbing and sand, and founders Michael Marckx and Phil Tinstman built the event around what they now call Unroad: a course that follows the character of a place across whichever surfaces make the journey interesting.

Three distances share the North County terrain. For planning, the organiser publishes the 2026 course figures: the Waffle at 107 miles with 7,367 feet of climbing, the Wafer at 64 miles with 3,832 feet, and the Wanna at 30 miles with 2,046 feet. Final 2027 routes, sector counts, feed zones, the venue and the start times are still to be confirmed.

Expect pavement that gives way to dirt, sand and rocky sectors, and climbs that split groups. Bike choice, handling and pacing matter as much as fitness. Every rider gets a race number with an RFID timing tag for an official finishing time, stocked feed zones, marked courses and on-course support, and the Wanna gives newer gravel riders a shorter way into the same terrain.

Friends and families are welcome at the festival, with the Unroad Expo, waffles and the post-ride gathering. The weekend also includes the Gran Roadie-Oh, a paved ride with a 100 mile option.

On Livebib you can follow a rider who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry on the bike. That position comes from the rider, not from the organiser's timing, and the official results are published by the organiser.