Two-day Health and Fitness fair at ViaSat campus part of the event
For the third year, Carlsbad-based Spy Optic is paying homage to the Northern European tradition of grueling spring bike "classics" by hosting a one-day, 136-mile race through hilly course along North County backroads featuring 11,000 feet of punishing climbs, water obstacles and waffles.
Yes, waffles.
Spy's Belgian Waffle Ride (BWR) 2014 takes place on April 27. It honors Belgium's history as a bike racing capital, starting with a morning breakfast for riders and food and beverages along the course. Featured foods will include Belgian-themed delicacies such as waffles, moules frites and ale. A sold-out field of 500 riders (among them Olympians as well as world, national and state champions) will brave the challenging ride, which according to race creator and Spy President and CEO Michael Marckx, features more gravel, dirt, pavement and climbs than in previous years. Riders are warned to expect a "multifaceted, ugly, technical, tactical, grinding, pounding, relentless, spirit-sapping, muscle-cramping beatdown in the finest tradition of long road races."
Proceeds from the event, more than $20,000, go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, whose mission is to "provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics."
The race also includes a two-day Lifestyle and Fitness Expo, which be open to the public and be held at ViaSat's Carlsbad campus, 6155 El Camino Real, which serves as the start and finish line for the race. The expo is from noon to 5 p.m. on April 26. On race day, the expo will start at 6:30 a.m. and run through the duration of the event (the race itself starts at 8 a.m.)
Jim Miller, performance sales director at Spy Optic and event director for the BWR, said the event has grown exponentially. The first year it had a field of 150 riders, and last year 360 braved the ride. This year, the event sold out in advance of all 500 riding spots.
"The word of this event has gotten around," Miller said. "This year alone, we have people from three different countries, and 38 states are represented. The ages range from the early 20s up to the 60s."
For the public, the lifestyle and fitness expo at ViaSat, which will feature nearly 40 businesses and groups, including a booth from the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, provides a perfect opportunity to get a sense of the irreverence of the race without having to take on the course. In addition to browsing through the booths, the public will be able to follow the action on the course through live broadcasts. Post-race celebrations and the awards ceremony will also take place at the expo.
"Local businesses, the cycling and non-cycling community will come together for an afternoon to celebrate fitness," Miller said. "We're glad to make this a community event where we get to showcase the unique local businesses in the area."
For more information on the race, go to the event's page on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SPYBWR.
For the third year, Carlsbad-based Spy Optic is paying homage to the Northern European tradition of grueling spring bike "classics" by hosting a one-day, 136-mile race through hilly course along North County backroads featuring 11,000 feet of punishing climbs, water obstacles and waffles.
Yes, waffles.
Spy's Belgian Waffle Ride (BWR) 2014 takes place on April 27. It honors Belgium's history as a bike racing capital, starting with a morning breakfast for riders and food and beverages along the course. Featured foods will include Belgian-themed delicacies such as waffles, moules frites and ale. A sold-out field of 500 riders (among them Olympians as well as world, national and state champions) will brave the challenging ride, which according to race creator and Spy President and CEO Michael Marckx, features more gravel, dirt, pavement and climbs than in previous years. Riders are warned to expect a "multifaceted, ugly, technical, tactical, grinding, pounding, relentless, spirit-sapping, muscle-cramping beatdown in the finest tradition of long road races."
Proceeds from the event, more than $20,000, go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, whose mission is to "provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics."
The race also includes a two-day Lifestyle and Fitness Expo, which be open to the public and be held at ViaSat's Carlsbad campus, 6155 El Camino Real, which serves as the start and finish line for the race. The expo is from noon to 5 p.m. on April 26. On race day, the expo will start at 6:30 a.m. and run through the duration of the event (the race itself starts at 8 a.m.)
Jim Miller, performance sales director at Spy Optic and event director for the BWR, said the event has grown exponentially. The first year it had a field of 150 riders, and last year 360 braved the ride. This year, the event sold out in advance of all 500 riding spots.
"The word of this event has gotten around," Miller said. "This year alone, we have people from three different countries, and 38 states are represented. The ages range from the early 20s up to the 60s."
For the public, the lifestyle and fitness expo at ViaSat, which will feature nearly 40 businesses and groups, including a booth from the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, provides a perfect opportunity to get a sense of the irreverence of the race without having to take on the course. In addition to browsing through the booths, the public will be able to follow the action on the course through live broadcasts. Post-race celebrations and the awards ceremony will also take place at the expo.
"Local businesses, the cycling and non-cycling community will come together for an afternoon to celebrate fitness," Miller said. "We're glad to make this a community event where we get to showcase the unique local businesses in the area."
For more information on the race, go to the event's page on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SPYBWR.