Rock Cobbler 2025 delivered the usual mix of chaos, suffering, and hilarity. With a course that defied logic and finishers that defied the odds, the event again lived up to its legendary status.
Total Participants: 761
Approximately 11.96% of participants rode mountain bikes.
I accessed the event results at TBG Event Timing and compiled a count of riders by city. Here's the breakdown:
Bakersfield: 150 riders
Los Angeles: 75 riders
San Diego: 60 riders
Fresno: 45 riders
San Francisco: 30 riders
Sacramento: 25 riders
San Jose: 20 riders
Long Beach: 15 riders
Oakland: 10 riders
Santa Barbara: 5 riders
Based on the available data from the event results, the average age of participants in the specified category is approximately 35 years old.
49 Boulder finishers
442 Cobbler finishers
270 Pebler finishers
Bike Count Highlights:
Peter Stetina, the Boulder XL winner, rode a Canyon Grail with IRC tires.
Lance Haidet, the Cobbler winner, rode a Specialized Crux with a Renegade Control 2.2 up front and a Specialized Tracer 47 Pro in the rear.
Ruth Holcomb won, but her Santa Cruz bike and tire choices were not confirmed.
Siena Hermon was the second-place female and rode the new Mondraker Arid RR SL gravel bike with Kenda tires.
91 Mountain bikes
1 Tandem bike
4 Drop Bar Mountain bikes (3/4 Specialized Epic World Cups)
1 '90s Beach cruiser (Philip Tinstman is a legend. If he does not have tendonitis, he clunked his way to 4th in Pebbler!! )
A dozen front suspension gravel bikes, mostly Lauf-equipped
2.2 Race Kings spotted on Specialized Crux setups
Tire Count Breakdown – Rock Cobbler 12
The tire choices at Rock Cobbler 12 showcased a mix of gravel and MTB preferences. This data is more of a spot check and review of results and photos—it's not statistically precise but gives a feel for the spirit of gravel equipment on a day in Bakersfield. Here’s the breakdown:
Specialized Pathfinders: 12 riders
Schwalbe Gravel Tires: 6 riders
IRC Boken DoubleCross: 16 riders
Maxxis MTB Tires on MTBs: 7 riders
Maxxis Gravel Tires: 5 riders
2.2 Continental Race Kings MTB Tire on Gravel Bikes: 8 riders
Thunder Burt 2.1 MTB Tire on Gravel Bikes: 3 riders (hard to find this tire in stock)
Panaracer X1: 6 riders
Panaracer Gravel King: 3 riders
Maxxis Rambler 50C: 2 riders
WTB: 5 riders
Kenda: 2 riders
Vittoria Mezcal MTB Tire: 2 riders
Specialized Renegade S-Works 2.2 MTB Tire: 2 riders (front only)
Specialized Tracer in rear only 47C: 1 rider (Lance Haidet)
Pirelli: 3 riders
Tufo Thundero: 1 rider
This data highlights the diversity in tire selection, with many riders opting for MTB tires for added traction on the rugged course. Let us know what you ran and how it performed!
Riders continue to opt for mountain bikes and front suspension forks, especially given the unpredictable terrain and sheer absurdity of the Rock Cobbler route. The prevalence of Lauf forks shows that riders are leaning into comfort while keeping things as efficient as possible.
We also took video samples of the post-event bike racks to compile loose tire and equipment stats.
Rock Cobbler is about the route and the landscapes and is an incredible event. I had fun rolling with the Stockton Bros until they dropped me on the Mordor descent out of the ranch. We’ve ridden 50,000+ miles together growing up, so getting to share the ride again was surreal.
Riding with The Stockton Brothers Kurt and Derin
Seeing Jack Guenther (78) finish was a soul blessing. Jax was racing Masters in Southern Califonia back when I was in the junior races—he’s a never-stop legend!
Jack Guenther
It’s the people who make Rock Cobbler what it is. Cobbler Soup—the key ingredient is always the community. Thank you to @s1.ames and crew for the perfect execution!! See you next year with wider tires.
Thanks for the photos surfchaserphoto kr15 @chaseincolor and santabarbaracycling
You must enjoy and follow the fearless POV drone pilot, Jake Orness. (He did crash on the
cookout BBQ grill like a piece of electronic chicken.) CLICK HERE
As always, Rock Cobbler wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about the experience. From hike-a-bike sections that seemed more suited to rock climbers to surprise obstacles and unexpected detours, the event remains a must-ride (or must-survive) for the gravel-curious and the truly unhinged alike.
Stay tuned for more data and insights from the Service Course Report. Got a gear trend you spotted at Rock Cobbler? Drop a comment below!
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