First Big Race of 2024 Takes It's Toll | BWR Arizona

There were a lot of crashes at the first big race of 2024. The Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona Edition offering a lot of tricky off-road sectors that had many pro's finding themselves in the dirt, myself included.
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[@paulthomas3381]

With no cameras rolling, I saw Floyd give his front wheel to a competitor who flatted. While she rode off to the races again, he fixed her flat and rode into the sun with no cameras rolling.

[@TheTurdFerguson]

Fun fact: Floyd Landis and myself have won the same number of TDFs Also, love the irony of saying you got stuck behind people who can’t ride their bikes after hitting the deck twice

[@bigredactionsportsstuff1245]

Poor bike handling is in the eye of the beholder

[@drewbuffington]

What an annoying person you are XD

[@mgrant6607]

And ... those guys that "couldn't ride" probably still finished in under 6 hours .....

[@michaeljohnson254]

Landis cyclery is a joke...allways overpriced and they hire douche half ass mechanics

[@TheBushleaguer]

You slide out twice "BEHIND riders who can't ride their bikes"

[@jamiesutto]

"Caught behind ppl who can't ride their bike" while being behind them because you crashed... multiple times...🤔

[@jkelleypga]

You pulled a Dylan and finished 16th! I feel like he would be proud that a Bonk Bro is carrying the torch of 16th place finishes.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

They mentioned that on the pod this week. Haha. Hadn’t even crossed my mind.

[@danielsiapin]

16th thumbs up!!!

[@graemehill]

"caught behind riders that can't ride their bikes" Reminds me of when I play an online game with a matchmaking system and people complain about how bad I am and I'm like well you got matched with me so...... 😂

[@jamegumm]

Glad you’re narrating the race vids again

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Only when I can do it from the comfort / privacy of my office. Haha.

[@dscoduc]

Ironic for the guy who crashed twice is complaining about being behind guys “who can’t ride their bikes”. 🤣

[@gabebikes]

What a fun day. I got caught up in that big rut near where the first person crashed. Luckily I didn’t crash, just had to hop out of it. 😂

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Oh nice. Glad you had fun out there!

[@trevorwilliamson5141]

Great video. Super stoked you bailed multiple times and still ended up placing well and had good legs. Bravo.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Thanks Trevor!

[@gattmolson]

The Slow Ride Cycling Podcast always says 16th place is a sign of forthcoming greatness. Love the mix of titles and voice over on this video, and congrats on beating a former Tour De France Champion LOL

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Thanks. I hope they are right about 16th place. Haha.

[@themississippikidful]

Its called a Honorary Lead-Out for Landis . I'm sure he was asked to do it .

[@mikemorris3421]

Would have thought with his history that would be a negative.

[@DavidSaundersPosts]

I think Floyd has paid his debt to cycling, plus some. At this point he’s a good guy IMO.

[@bludog4657]

That looks like a fun race. Right on, thanks for sharing.

[@Dadventurecyclist]

I was one of the riders you passed in McDowell and also crashed multiple times - should've let some air out too!

[@Dou8leShot]

Stoked for your season. “Legs” look like they’re ready to stand on some gravel podiums.

[@claudiahansen4938]

Music is dope! Smooth commentary, and exhilarating downhills. Does everyone already know the whole course having ridden it before?

[@ChupacabraOffroad]

My first gravel race and I loved the course, dirt sections were rad. Nice video

[@seagulls4life12]

So if the people who can’t ride their bikes end up in front of you, does that mean that you also can’t ride your bike??

[@jimsteinway695]

No it doesn’t. We had a group who rode together for 15 years. We also had another guy I’ll call him Fred . Fred was a genetic freak. He had absolutely no bike handling skills but occasionally he could get to the front of the group. And when he did he’d have a brain fart and take the whole group down. We had a world downhill champ, a national time trial champion and and all military road champion in our group. And Fred could cause us all to crash. So no you can be an excellent bike rider and conditions can take you down.

[@michaeljohnson254]

​@@jimsteinway695hahah that was a good laugu...fred

[@robbchastain3036]

Awesome footage, thanks so much for taking us around the big lap. And perhaps the rider who asked about your road shoes was hallucinating late in the race. It happens, you lose your focus and wonder about other people's shoes. :)

[@billyblanco8106]

Nice mellow "doctor's office" muzak...whoooo-haaaa...LOL...thx for the escape video DD...

[@dt5337]

Oh, that giant morning sun and the hypnotic flow of the later single track. Great video! And a good result fighting back to top twenty after a slightly shambolic early half of the race. Quite inspiring, Mr Dillman. Keep it up!

[@robp3431]

Thank you, excellent video and very enjoyable !!!

[@CharlieSchad-ko9wq]

Guy crashes 3 times and flats, complains about being behind people who can’t ride 😂

[@dustind9242]

Sweet race vid.... The main thing is you went up that final climb faster than Dylan... So, you can deduce, if you hadn't crashed, you would have beat him.

[@GeekonaBike]

All that cholla (AKA jumping cactus) is good incentive not to fall off the bike in McDowell park.

[@brickpasta]

Your camera work and editing are absolutely top notch! Great race looking forward to seeing you win this year.

[@user-jm5hu4xr3h]

It is def a very technical course and can be very challenging for many. Tire pressure, size and tread are all important variables and if it is only a few lbs too much it can act like marbles on concrete. I agree road shoes are more comfortable but for this type of course you have to be able to clip in and out quickly to avoid actually hitting the ground when the front tire breaks loose. MTB set up for the AZ route would most def had helped. I grew up in that area riding motos there very often and it takes time to get used to that type of dirt or DG.

[@BlueJayGer]

The narration is appreciated. I put a converter on my road shoes so I can run them with mtb pedals

[@jimjr4432]

Love the video! Very cool and I'm impressed with the speeds on the single track sessions. Thanks!

[@Ivar77777]

Man, I loved this video! Keep up and congrats on a good performance!

[@CyclingOffToSomewhereIDK]

That was cool. Especially the part about maple syrup. I've been using peanut butter and syrup sandwiches (childhood favorite) on my longer rides, so YESTERDAY when walking through the supermarket I spotted flasks of maple syrup and thought, Hmm.. How do you use it, right out of the flask or into a water bottle? Thought I saw someone putting it into a water bottle. Well done, nice video

[@TheBRad704]

What a beautiful route!

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Agreed. I had to remind myself to look around and enjoy the view a few times.

[@user-hh9cu2px9g]

Great camera and narration, as always. Thanks.

[@Mgrant8163]

Still not used to seeing drop bars on the dirt. I'll keep my flat bars, even wider tires and full suspension for non-paved surfaces thankyou. Looks like fun though.

[@israeladams6439]

nice footage drew, have fun..

[@jjwa5410]

I'm just here to remind the group of the absolute banger of a video you made of the CX nats course for '23 in which the camera was aimed 2 feet in front of your wheel and the sound was you randomly narrating made-up barriers. That video should be in the smithsonian.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Thanks for the reminder. We all needed it.

[@JBmadera]

excellent video, and what a great finish (esp considering your wrecks).

[@brianbowerbank9245]

Great job on the race! And nice video! I believe you are going to have a record year starting out like this. 💪🏽🚴🏼‍♂️

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Hope you’re right. Thanks!

[@cookiebearxd1541]

Including us! Went to first aid right away after hit the finish line!

[@DanaBlack]

I miss riding out there, love the footage because it makes me super nostalgic for when I lived out there. Not sure if my next trip back will be for this or Chino Grinder.

[@TheBushleaguer]

I mean you are flying!

[@drewbuffington]

Drew, I’m not a gravel expert or anything, and good job passing all those people… BUT next time you gotta pass Keegan. It seems like a good idea idk. Easy for a Hoosier.

[@Timmeh2Buck]

Maybe you can go to a gravel skills camp led by Adam and DJ 😂

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

I need it obviously.

[@rolffuchs2737]

Great footage!

[@Handletaken4]

At 10:49 your front wheel is going 6-12" back and forth. This is why you crash. Your ear is in front of the steering axis and your balance isn't on the bike balance point. Your top tube is prob 30mm too short. Get this fixed and your bike will go straight.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Do they make a 160 stem?

[@switthoff]

Awesome Video...just to point out, Lael Wilcox has been running suspension for many years on her drop bar bike. She rips on descents as I should probably follow her lead and get myself some suspension

[@ZenEndurance]

Yeah, anybody running suspension is not a "trendsetter". Even I was running a suspension fork on my first drop bar gravel bike 3 years ago. It's more the case that people that won't because they think it's "uncool" need to quit worrying about what other people think so much. They work great on lots of gravel courses. What's needed is a suspension fork with a remote lockout. Then you can turn it off when on pavement, climbing, or sprinting. Would sell like crazy. I'm not buying another one until they make it with a lockout.

[@renemacias6356]

Shocks on road bikes been around since mid 90s for Paris Roubaix but didn't last long. Wonder if they will take off in Gravel?

[@aneczka2114]

Course looks amazing

[@graham_dbraun]

Very nice ride

[@justinofboulder]

I don't race, but enjoy the content! Love to ride gravel in my road shoes....if a route requires walking than I'm bringing my MTB

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Yep. Agreed. But this one didn’t have any walking except a few gate crossings so I opted for road shoes.

[@bludog4657]

Hoping to get started racing this year. Cheers!!

[@ezr168]

Nice shred

[@MTBman]

awesome trails! Looks like you made a good tire choice!

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Eh. Could have gone wider.

[@rab0309]

@@DrewDillmanChannel all Dylan does is talk about wider tires...

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

@rab0309 it’s annoying right!?

[@Ramenscooter]

So as realized this was gravel I turned it off. Kinda the pickleball or road racing 😂

[@travistej]

This is the first time I have ever seen maple syrup from a can.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

I think it’s a Canadian thing.

[@travistej]

​@@DrewDillmanChannelfigures.. great result despite the crashes!

[@Whim396]

Did I see them blending it in water?

[@bikenliftdad9983]

Good job dude. You ever have your hand injury in the back of your mind? My shoulder injury still haunts me

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

I did once it went numb the last hour. Haha. But no pain or problem using it. And it felt fine after the race.

[@LloydjHardyFishing]

Awesome video! Curious about your camera setup. Looping? Battery power? Thanks!

[@darrelduke]

looked like a cat 4 race there at the beginning of the 1st gravel section.

[@evdb7246]

If you're passing people, crashing then having to re-pass....might be a sign

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Oh I had that same thought Buddy. Trust me.

[@scottheitmanmarinesurvey3557]

Once again Top Shelf sound track

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

If this is sarcastic, I don’t care. Haha.

[@jimcarriefanclub1537]

You did a 100Miler in the desert on two bottles? Wow I can't do that in cool conditions.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Grabbed water from aids. Should have mentioned that.

[@TNW84]

How did you mount the camera?

[@neilashton9459]

Excellent video footage - how did the State bicycle perform for yoy?

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Loved it! Definitely wasn’t the bikes fault I hit the ground. That was user error. Haha. Excited to race it this season.

[@mattdowney6540]

That “roller coaster” section early in the race reminded me of Mario Kart.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Accurate.

[@specialist211]

I guess maple syrup is cheaper in Canada as that would be a pretty expensive option here in the UK!

[@scottm2770]

What pedals are you riding with your "road shoes?"

[@Over50sroadie]

Check out the Lauf Grit fork. Better than "normal" gravel forks.

[@sherwin3williams]

It does have in Xc mtb race with road shoes on . But it do have mtb shoes that are light and comfortable . But to each its own

[@jonlebeau1963]

My Spidey senses said that there are several e-bikes in this race

[@BrightLight105]

16th place, your new name is Andrew Dylman

[@efraer]

Nice ride, Drew!! Excellent video, too. Thanks for sharing. What tires are you using?

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

I need to start putting this in the video. My bad. Challenge Getaway XP 40.

[@efraer]

@@DrewDillmanChannel How do you like them? I ran the Getaway Pros for a little while, but the sidewalls were fragile, and the handing in loose conditions was vague and not very confidence-inspiring. I found myself being overly timid far too often. The ride quality of that handmade casing was sublime, however. I expect the XP version addresses the sidewall issues. Currently, I’ve taken on a MTB approach for tires - fast in the rear, traction up front. It’s been much better for the way I want my bike to respond.

[@chicagomuziek1376]

With that many cacti and thorny bushes on the trail, do you put an extra liner inside your tire to avoid flats, or is there a specific fluid you put in the tubeless?

[@BridgerFlory]

new kits are sweet

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Glad you think so. I love it! 🔥

[@michaelangelos5117]

Maybe Floyd landis thinks he is, well, Floyd Landis

[@Jamesashleycoyle]

LFG 🎉

[@iiHazmat]

was that truck pulling into the track??

[@tyleraltom6026]

Pretty sweet skills by these guys. I know, I hear you too, MTBers.

[@tyleraltom6026]

Esp at the beginning with the crowd and super variable terrain

[@myhumps2730]

BWR… Bros Will Ride 👊

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Haha. I like it!

[@altosmusiclab2248]

I like your commentary; had to leave another channel the guy points out every flaw... lols. there's pain and problems but you must expect them, don't act angry or surprised - and don't spew hate at less skilled riders.

[@lolbubs11111]

What tires do you run for this?

[@PedalsNPetals]

Races are funny 😅

[@edgarpereira4865]

Don't crash and you do top 10 :)

[@michaelsrealm9365]

How many oz of fluid (2 bottles only)?

[@michaelsteven1090]

Do you mix the maple syrup with water?

[@mrwezbo]

So the maple syrup is mixed with water? Or just taken straight?

[@TheBushleaguer]

Well positioned? There's room for two semi trucks lengthwise

[@SolePilatesNYLocustValleyNY]

Amazing trails. Are those open to Enduro Dirt Bikes?

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Yea. We saw a lot of dirt bikes out there.

[@HIcycles]

Maple syrup FTW!

[@YeahRightWm3]

What are the water packs these dudes have? They look sleek af

[@hoogabooga9736]

maple syrup? in a can?? chase it with water i assume...

[@h20s8804]

Great recap! I know you're a good technical rider, but what's with all these crashes? Do you have a mountain bike? Maybe you need to hit the park? ;)

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

🤣 thanks for the advice Coach! Just got a new mtb so I’ll hit the trails. Haha.

[@h20s8804]

NICE! @@DrewDillmanChannel

[@h20s8804]

It was something I heard on a coaching podcast ;) @@DrewDillmanChannel

[@FantaconeBoxWorks]

The evolution of gravel, lol. It's gonna be hard tail mtbs soon. There should be limitations. Narrow tires and no support.

[@jacobschoolfield3543]

Did you know you can run road shoes with a mtb pedal? Few of my buddies do that

[@cartersheley1567]

I am not sure who Keegan is, is that Tobin's teammate?

[@mikerutledge914]

Crashes twice “and now I am stuck behind people who can’t ride their bikes”, crashes again… maybe ol’ Dillman should re-read those scriptures about pride coming before a fall!

[@sloprun]

Great video. However, the noise that some would consider music is distracting. I want to hear the sound of the terrain under the wheels, the breathing, and discourse with other riders. I turned off the noise.

[@mountaintruth1deeds533]

And look at those socks, what tools..

[@alenm7826]

204 max! 🫀

[@femacampetiquettefordummie6979]

Was Floyd Landis starting in the front, a ceremonial thing for the race? If so, wouldn't you want to mention that...so it doesn't make him look like an idiot?

[@stevenleslie8557]

I ride mountain bikes and I don't know how you can ride these trails with low slung bars with thin unknobbied tires through dirt, rocks and sand.

[@mynameiswilson_]

So… two bottles for a 5:30 race. The carbs make sense… is that all you are drinking or do you have water as well?

[@justinofboulder]

That's a good question!

[@Whim396]

They usually have bottle hand ups (water bottles) for guys towards the pointy end of the race. Occasionally they have carbs but usually just water. Hence he supplemented the remainder of his carbs not from bottles

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Yea. You’re right. I grabbed water at aids.

[@DrewDillmanChannel]

I grabbed water at aids.

[@jimcarriefanclub1537]

Ok makes sense now. Camel Diz 😂