Dragon Ride 2008

dombo6

I can vouch for the steel/carbon Lemond Buenos Aires with a triple. Geometry seems slightly more laid back.

While the Dragon climbs are perfectly do-able on a 39x23, the option of slapping it into the granny and twiddling for the second climb up the Bwlch was most welcome.

Doom

Bad News:

I'm can't make the Dragon ride anymore as prep for the Marmotte.

Good News:

I'm spending a week in the Alps instead 8)

Its a pity as I really fancy a crack at the Dragon but I just can't turn down a chance to spend a week training in the Alps...

jackfeeder

As this is my first sportive I tried some of the route on Sat - found it not so bad. Did the Bwlch from the Afan road, I believe it's steeper from the Nant-y-moel side.
How much so and would it be a good idea to try it from this side before the 15th?
Ta

Simon Notley

I can't quite work out what the route is this year, I know it will be signed, but it would be nice to know in advance. I made a GPX of what I thought was the route using bikeroutetoaster.com and it only comes out as 174km, so I'm wondering if I missed a little bit. There's a route on bikely.com but that is even shorter as it goes the wrong way near the end.

Does anyone have memory map and wouldn't mind converting the .mmo from the official site to a GPX?

I'm planning on riding 53/39 and 12-27 as the climbs don't look too crazily steep.

Mark Alexander

www.dragonride.co.uk
or
http://www.dragonride.co.uk/uploads/doc ... %20map.pdf

The west assent is Ave 4.5% as opposed to 6% but is 1 mile longer. I rode all 5 assents of the Bwlch and Rigos the other day. for me though the challenging rise was actually from Rhigos to the A470 over the hill. there's normally a headwind.
Love hills, headwinds are saitan's sweeping brush :twisted:

Don't forget though, the west assent has the greatest increase in altitude and is marginally the 2nd longest climb. It is however, once you reach the top, ALL DOWN HILL FROM THRE! almost anyway

Mark Alexander

Doom wrote:

Bad News:

I'm can't make the Dragon ride anymore as prep for the Marmotte.

Good News:

I'm spending a week in the Alps instead 8)

Its a pity as I really fancy a crack at the Dragon but I just can't turn down a chance to spend a week training in the Alps...

Have fun, good luck, please report back to this post if possible 8)
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/vi ... t=marmotte

topcattim

Has anyone had their registration pack yet. I cunningly deleted the email that the organisers sent a while ago that said when these would be sent out. Was it something like 2 weeks before the event, i.e. I would probably expect to get it at the start of next week?
After a series of disasters at the Tour of Wessex this year, I'm hoping for great things at the Dragon....

richa

Nope. No registration pack yet.

DazzaOnTheRoad

On the website it says they will be sent out beginning 27th May and should be with us by 6th June.

Dazza

deal

Simon Notley wrote:

Does anyone have memory map and wouldn't mind converting the .mmo from the official site to a GPX?

I'm planning on riding 53/39 and 12-27 as the climbs don't look too crazily steep.

i can do this for you this evening, is there anywhere i can upload the .gpx files?

Mark Alexander

Hi,

Can anyone recommend what to eat in the morning of the ride? the itinerary for Marmotte says that there's an early breakfast of pasta...

Simon Notley

My effort was based on the official map, but it's hardly detailed, and the route comes out 6km short.

I don't have a pack yet either, but I'm sure one is one its way.

Deal, I have pm'd you.

Simon

vermooten

Simon Notley wrote:

I'm planning on riding 53/39 and 12-27 as the climbs don't look too crazily steep.

Nope no steep ones at all, just a few longish ones.

reaper2

Got my pack this morning. Now have to steal 4 saftey pins at my next race and i'll be ready

de_sisti

I won't be able to enter this year's event due to an impending operation. My entry #179 is
available to anyone who wants it.

Michael Anderson
maander727@hotmail.com

deal

finally got around to converting the memory-map file to gpx and have uploaded it here

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Dr ... Gran-Fondo

Simon Notley

Thanks very much, that's great. I've been able to use that to create a higher fidelity (i.e. the line follow the roads) version here, which I think is correct. I've been studying the profile in order to give me some idea how to pace myself.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Dr ... 80km147163

deal

Simon Notley wrote:

Thanks very much, that's great. I've been able to use that to create a higher fidelity (i.e. the line follow the roads) version here, which I think is correct. I've been studying the profile in order to give me some idea how to pace myself.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Dr ... 80km147163

better do some speed work if you are planning on riding that route!

you seem to have made a little mistake and have included a little section along the M4, the route should return to the start via the B4280 road

:

Simon Notley

lol - so I have... that's what I get for putting too much trust in auto routing... although I could have sworn it was fine before I converted it to GPX...

I'll do a correct version tomorrow...

Mark Alexander

there's a map link via
http://www.dragonride.co.uk/route.php

Red GT

Did anyone manage to download the full route from the memory map site? I think the link has disappeared from their website.

I would quite like to have a look at the bad-boy on a decent map before the big day!!

oldwelshman

Why do you need a map? Its sign posted

Pirahna

oldwelshman wrote:

Why do you need a map? Its sign posted

I can't recall seeing any signs last year, I just followed everybody else.

While I think of it, don't drink the degreaser.

Dragon Master

Cranberry flavoured this year!

Mark Alexander

Red GT wrote:

Did anyone manage to download the full route from the memory map site? I think the link has disappeared from their website.

I would quite like to have a look at the bad-boy on a decent map before the big day!!

Ignorance is bliss

bendertherobot

Weather looks "ok" at the moment. Fingers crossed.

Mark Alexander

wether was great for the 100 today so fingers crossed.. my pack's arrived

topcattim

bendertherobot wrote:

Weather looks "ok" at the moment. Fingers crossed.

My watching of metcheck over the last week shows the prediction has been getting steadily worse. This time last week, the forecast for the Dragon was full sun and 20 degrees. Today the forecast is showers and 11 degrees.

bendertherobot

topcattim wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Weather looks "ok" at the moment. Fingers crossed.

My watching of metcheck over the last week shows the prediction has been getting steadily worse. This time last week, the forecast for the Dragon was full sun and 20 degrees. Today the forecast is showers and 11 degrees.

I've been doing much the same. However, I console myself with the fact that:

a) Metcheck is often "cautious" and progs rain when it doesn't in fact turn up;

b) Temps are often about 5 degrees underplayed.

Netweather says that a Northerly will arrive on Wednesday but that a real North South divide will allow the South to stay reasonably warm and settled.

topcattim

Robot, I prefer your forecast! (And recent history suggests you're right re metcheck. This weekend in Winchester was forecast to be light showers...turned out to be full on sun )