Usually, when you sign up for a Belgian Waffle Ride, the only thing you are contributing to is your own future physical demise and perhaps the local economy of a small town’s brewery scene.
But for 2026, the self-proclaimed “most irreverent unroad cycling series” is getting serious about a cause.
BWR announced today a national partnership with Bike MS, the fundraising giant of the National MS Society. The collaboration will span the entire 2026 calendar—including the stops in Arizona, California, Utah, and Montana—effectively merging the “gravel privateer” crowd with the charity ride ecosystem.
Waffles with a Side of Philanthropy
The partnership essentially integrates the Bike MS mission into the BWR torture chamber.
Starting this season, riders can add donations to their registration (optional, but don’t be cheap), and proceeds from specific “shakeout rides” will go directly to MS research. If you are already a Bike MS participant, you’ll seemingly get “exclusive benefits” and discounted access to BWR events.
“Riding With Purpose” (Besides Survival)
Michael Marckx, the creator of BWR and a man who usually speaks in riddles about Belgian ale and cobbles, played it straight for the announcement.
“Our riders show up for challenge, but they also show up for each other,” Marckx said. “It’s not just about riding hard. It’s about riding with purpose.”
It’s a smart pivot for the series. Bike MS is a juggernaut in the cycling world, organizing massive road rides that have raised millions. Bringing that infrastructure to the gravel/unroad scene—where the “vibe” is king—makes a lot of sense.
The Verdict
We spend a lot of time and money in this sport buying carbon wheels and arguing about tire pressure. It is easy to forget that riding a bike can actually do tangible good for people who can’t ride.
So, when you line up in San Diego or Utah this year, go ahead and throw a few extra bucks at the Bike MS option. It might make those final 10 miles of cramping feel slightly more noble.