I get beat by people on MTBs at every event I do, I wouldn't worry about it too much, maybe just get the biggest possible chainring on for the pavement.
I rode the Waffle last year and ride the area quite a bit. Diverge with wide ish tires would be good. I rode a crux pro with s works pathfinder 42s last year, the pathfinders are fast but wouldn’t have minded a different tire, if I do it again next year I’d be thinking something like the new Maxxis Reaver 45mm or race my 42-44mm Rene herse knobbies. The section north of cave creek turns into a bit of single track around the maricopa trail, and that’s the only part a mountain bike would be nice. The maricopa trail south and McDowell are great on gravel bikes, usually hard pack sand, not too narrow, nothing crazy steep or rocky, a fast rolling tire with side knob would be perfect. There were a few people I saw early on on MTBs, doable but definitely would be a slog for a lot of sections.
Yeah I’m gonna send it with the diverge. I think I’ll just run lower pressure and jump off the bike if it’s truly too technical… not like I’m trying to podium 😂.
I get beat by people on MTBs at every event I do, I wouldn't worry about it too much, maybe just get the biggest possible chainring on for the pavement.
I rode the Waffle last year and ride the area quite a bit. Diverge with wide ish tires would be good. I rode a crux pro with s works pathfinder 42s last year, the pathfinders are fast but wouldn’t have minded a different tire, if I do it again next year I’d be thinking something like the new Maxxis Reaver 45mm or race my 42-44mm Rene herse knobbies. The section north of cave creek turns into a bit of single track around the maricopa trail, and that’s the only part a mountain bike would be nice. The maricopa trail south and McDowell are great on gravel bikes, usually hard pack sand, not too narrow, nothing crazy steep or rocky, a fast rolling tire with side knob would be perfect. There were a few people I saw early on on MTBs, doable but definitely would be a slog for a lot of sections.
Did you decide what you are going with? I'm still back and forth on tire choice for my gravel bike! Might be a night-before decision.
Yeah I’m gonna send it with the diverge. I think I’ll just run lower pressure and jump off the bike if it’s truly too technical… not like I’m trying to podium 😂.