Dragon Ride Wales 2009

sampras38

I've also bitten the bullet and entered this, and it'll be my first ever Sportive.

Probably a daft question, but does anyone know what sort of food they have the food stops? I was planning on relying mainly on my own drinks, energy bars and gels and just using the stops to refill the bottles, but any advice would be much appreciated.

I've taken a shining to the Honey Stinger and Go energy bars..;-)

dbg

Not bothering this year, having to register the day before isn't possible for me and the thought of queuing on the morning of the event to register fills me with dread after the problems just getting parked last year!
Also £29 is way too much money especially considering the paltry refreshments on offer last year (only bananas! - come on). Someone is making a lot of money out of this event.
Having said all that the actual route is a good one.

sampras38

OK, thanks. Sounds like I'm best to sort my own catering out then..;-)

I'll be staying overnight in a local hotel, so not so much of a problem registering on the day. Might even try the route in April sometime too.

sdbiker

Book your digs early, Sampras - there will be NOTHING available nearer to the date! I'd recommend riding some or all of the route beforehand if you can get there. It's worth it if only to tame the fear of those famous climbs. They're really not that steep, but they do go on for miles and miles and miles...
Great atmosphere on the day. Well over 2,000 bikes on non-closed roads. It's a hoot!

sampras38

Does anyone know where I can download the Dragon Wales route to my Garmin 705 GPS? Perhaps a link to a GPX file? I know they don't have the official 2009 route yet but I'd be happy with the 2008. Just need it to do a trial run. Their own website has some links to downloadable maps but they don't seem to work.

Thanks

jhop

I agree the food was poor last year, mainly simple cakes which is way below what is on offer at most other sportives. But the route does offer those longer gentler climbs that I have yet to find on any other UK event.

itboffin

Okay I'm worried now, I signed up for this after the high of completing this years HOTA, now i'm not so sure :?

Is there a time limit?

jhop

No need to worry despite the drawbacks it is a great day and each year they do seem to try and work on addressing the weaknesses from the previous ride. Last year we waited an age to start, with queues moving at a snails pace so lets hope that is sorted in 2009.The food could easily be improved on and I gather the route has been 'tweaked' for the better.
For me it is always a high priority, most riders seem to have a great day I expect you will too.

caw35slr

Having to pitch up to register is a real inconvenience. What a bloody nuisance and a shame! This is not an improvement. What on Earth are the organisers thinking?

ugo.santalucia

caw35slr wrote:

Having to pitch up to register is a real inconvenience. What a bloody nuisance and a shame! This is not an improvement. What on Earth are the organisers thinking?

Profit?

caw35slr

Yes, I suppose I could spend Saturday soaking up the atmosphere of the "Expo Area" in Pencoed. Woohoo!

LOL :-D

I wonder if they're under pressure from the local council(s) to get competitors to stay in the vicinity for longer. From the local standpoint, 2000 cyclists dropping in for the day and sodding off again might be viewed as a missed opportunity..

ugo.santalucia

caw35slr wrote:

Yes, I suppose I could spend Saturday soaking up the atmosphere of the "Expo Area" in Pencoed. Woohoo!

LOL :-D

I wonder if they're under pressure from the local council(s) to get competitors to stay in the vicinity for longer. From the local standpoint, 2000 cyclists dropping in for the day and sodding off again might be viewed as a missed opportunity..

I think they just want to save the stamps money... I did stay last year, coming from west London it did seem sensible to stay the night: 15 pounds for the privilege of putting my tent among those of other hundred cyclists... hear their snoaring noises and smell their farts all night... value for money indeed.

The all Dragon Ride experience has been very little "value for money" in truth, mediocre course (proably Rhigos and Bwlch being the only nice stretches), logistical nightmares with other thousand riders, poor feeding stations, you name it... that's why they won't get me this year!

topcattim

caw35slr wrote:

Having to pitch up to register is a real inconvenience. What a bloody nuisance and a shame! This is not an improvement. What on Earth are the organisers thinking?

Yup, I'm not riding it this year, after having done so in previous years. I've enjoyed it and would be riding it again, but just can't register the previous day.
I hope the organisers note all this unrest and change their plans for future years.

GeorgeShaw

I emailed the organisers yesterday. If there is a group of you, for example members of a club, then one person can sign everybody on and get their rider packs if they bring copies of the entry confirmation emails. Our club plans to do that, sending one person over the bridge on the Saturday to avoid the scrum.

caw35slr

GeorgeShaw wrote:

I emailed the organisers yesterday. If there is a group of you, for example members of a club, then one person can sign everybody on and get their rider packs if they bring copies of the entry confirmation emails. Our club plans to do that, sending one person over the bridge on the Saturday to avoid the scrum.

So there's no need to be there in person, which begs the question: why?

It's time that the Dragon Master responded to this!

Can I send you a stamped, addressed envelope so that you can send the start bumph for everybody in my club? It would make life easier by far. As far as I can see, you've replaced a start-line bottleneck in 2008 with a Sunday registration bottleneck in 2009!

Come on DM: have your say, please.

nickwill

There is an explanation for the change of system on the website, under FAQs
Why aren't you sending out riders entry packs and transponders this year?

We've gone back to a conventional signing on/registration this year for a couple of reasons:

*400 non returned chips from 2008!
*We will be using chips with Velcro straps in 2009; these are more bulky to post out and a lot more expensive if not returned.

We did contemplate a deposit system for the chips but felt that this would be logistically unmanageable.

There is a plan to use a totally disposable system in 2010 which will allow us to revert back to posting out rider’s packs. However this needs further reliabiility testing before use.

toontra

I was thinking of entering this year but this early registering and the talk of last year's chaotic start and under-stocked feed stops has made me decide against it. Can't see why I should pay a small fortune to travel across the country to ride on roads crowded with cyclists along with the regular traffic.

The smaller, better equipped and organised sportives seem much better value for money - for example the White Horse Challenge. Turn up on the day, get your chip, set off when you want and eat and drink as much as you want on the way round - £22.

padonbike

We've gone back to a conventional signing on/registration this year for a couple of reasons:

*400 non returned chips from 2008!

maybe people didn't return chips in 2008 because they were too busy returning another kind of chips directly from their bellies?

ugo.santalucia

The official excuse of the non returned chips sounds reasonable... shame the money saved by not sending the chips is not reflected in the reistration fee, which instead has gone up 10% compared to last year (let's blame credit crunch, oil, copper and wheat prices, shall we?).

I don't know why they don't go for registration on the day, it works smoothly for sportives up to 1000 entrants. With an effort it can work for the DR... it might even be helpful to break up the queue building up at the startline. This "day before" registration is a bit ridiculous, really... but I seem to recall it was the way it used to work before 2007 (with lots of complaints from the welsh riders)

nickwill

ugo.santalucia wrote:

The official excuse of the non returned chips sounds reasonable... shame the money saved by not sending the chips is not reflected in the reistration fee, which instead has gone up 10% compared to last year (let's blame credit crunch, oil, copper and wheat prices, shall we?).

I don't know why they don't go for registration on the day, it works smoothly for sportives up to 1000 entrants. With an effort it can work for the DR... it might even be helpful to break up the queue building up at the startline. This "day before" registration is a bit ridiculous, really... but I seem to recall it was the way it used to work before 2007 (with lots of complaints from the welsh riders)

There is the option of registration on the day!
I'm going to come across as an apologist for the organisers here. The only axe to grind that I have is as an entry to the event.

SBezza

Yes you can either register the day before (easier for those having to travel from a distance IMO), or register on the day, probably easier for those that travel there on the day.

I am doing mine on Saturday, as I will be in Wales for the weekend, so the Saturday is easier and more convenient for myself.

ledburyloafer

not sure that not returning the chips would ebe an issue, you have to pay by credit card, so would be billed as per the terms of your entry conditions on loss or non return of chip.
and the system of putting it on the front hanger is easy, + you don't get a tan line if its a sunny day, from a velcro strap!!

ugo.santalucia

Nickwill wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

The official excuse of the non returned chips sounds reasonable... shame the money saved by not sending the chips is not reflected in the reistration fee, which instead has gone up 10% compared to last year (let's blame credit crunch, oil, copper and wheat prices, shall we?).

I don't know why they don't go for registration on the day, it works smoothly for sportives up to 1000 entrants. With an effort it can work for the DR... it might even be helpful to break up the queue building up at the startline. This "day before" registration is a bit ridiculous, really... but I seem to recall it was the way it used to work before 2007 (with lots of complaints from the welsh riders)

There is the option of registration on the day!
I'm going to come across as an apologist for the organisers here. The only axe to grind that I have is as an entry to the event.

Then I don't see the problem. If you can register on the day, it's like any other sportive... what are you all going on about? Instead of queuing to start, you will queue for the registration, it seems less pointless to me.

ledburyloafer

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Nickwill wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

The official excuse of the non returned chips sounds reasonable... shame the money saved by not sending the chips is not reflected in the reistration fee, which instead has gone up 10% compared to last year (let's blame credit crunch, oil, copper and wheat prices, shall we?).

I don't know why they don't go for registration on the day, it works smoothly for sportives up to 1000 entrants. With an effort it can work for the DR... it might even be helpful to break up the queue building up at the startline. This "day before" registration is a bit ridiculous, really... but I seem to recall it was the way it used to work before 2007 (with lots of complaints from the welsh riders)

There is the option of registration on the day!
I'm going to come across as an apologist for the organisers here. The only axe to grind that I have is as an entry to the event.

Then I don't see the problem. If you can register on the day, it's like any other sportive... what are you all going on about? Instead of queuing to start, you will queue for the registration, it seems less pointless to me.

It shouldn't be, but if the signing on is in the yard and carparks are the same as last year, the to and froing of a 2000+ people will be intresting to watch!1

caw35slr

Nickwill wrote:

There is an explanation for the change of system on the website, under FAQs

Aha! Well found.

ledburyloafer wrote:

Then I don't see the problem. If you can register on the day, it's like any other sportive... what are you all going on about?

They seem to be going out of their way to tell us that registration will be "limited" on Sunday. I take that to mean that we'll be enjoying a different kind of queue this year.

OK, I'll stop moaning. I have entered, BTW, so I'm happy to act as a counterbalance to Nickwill's position as official apologist! LOL ;-)

I'm glad to see that they've promised some sort of change at the feed stations, but it's best to sort most if not all of your nutrition out for yourself.

One thing that me and a mate who rode last year did find was that the run from the last feed at Cimla is a long old drag. The weather warmed up on the second pull up the Bwlch and we arrived at the top with barely any water. The good news is that we found a handy unofficial feed station in the shape of a corner shop in the first built-up area after the descent. We'll be dropping in again!

I would recommend the Dragon Ride if you haven't done it before. It's a heck of a route and that climb up Bwlch from the Cimla side is pretty awe inspiring.

Ken Night

I really enjoyed the ride last year, great route, but with the problems so well aired above

I understand the Dragon Master's goal is to get UCI Golden Bike status for this ride.
On the showing of previous editions, not a hope-and I have that from a very good source

The price increase, limited preregistration, almost certain parking problems on the day don't augur well for the future either

From personal experience of continental sportives large and small, there is a way to go how about
-better stands at the end, or even on preregistration
-a better organised start than meandering through a farmyard
-a meal included in the price, rather than some overworked overpriced burger stands,and coffee wagons
-coffee and madeleines (OK, Cardiff buns) gratis at the start (you get that at most French sportives, and at the EDD
-some form of medal/certificate

Come on Lou, giving your punters a good time rather than the feeling they've entered a dearly priced event, run on the cheap, is the way to ensure the future of the what is a really nice to ride route

ugo.santalucia

Ken Night wrote:

I really enjoyed the ride last year, great route, but with the problems so well aired above

I understand the Dragon Master's goal is to get UCI Golden Bike status for this ride.
On the showing of previous editions, not a hope-and I have that from a very good source

The price increase, limited preregistration, almost certain parking problems on the day don't augur well for the future either

From personal experience of continental sportives large and small, there is a way to go how about
-better stands at the end, or even on preregistration
-a better organised start than meandering through a farmyard
-a meal included in the price, rather than some overworked overpriced burger stands,and coffee wagons
-coffee and madeleines (OK, Cardiff buns) gratis at the start (you get that at most French sportives, and at the EDD
-some form of medal/certificate

Come on Lou, giving your punters a good time rather than the feeling they've entered a dearly priced event, run on the cheap, is the way to ensure the future of the what is a really nice to ride route

I quote it all...

oldwelshman

I rode last two years, but with the queues at the start and lack of meal at end (compared to continental events) and crappy goody bag with stuff no use to anyone, I will just turn up and ride the route or as much of it as I want to. I cannot justify the entry cost.
Can turn up at start or any part of route and just ride around and have a laugh.
No need to use the crappy feedstations will take my own stuff. Niot worried about having a timing chip either, just enjoy the route and treat it as a training raide and chat with others.
If the price was a bit more reasonable, with meal at end I would register but not as it is.

dmb4

I have done the dragon for the last couple of years and I must say I did not find the start that much of a problem. Things can always be improved and the food was better 2 years ago than last year.

I am looking forward to doing it again this year. If you were to compare the cost to some of the other mass participation events like the London Marathon or the great north run it is not that bad.

Also the messing around a the start and the end of the great north run is much much much worse than the dragon ride.

Also there is an excellent burger van at the top of the second climb

dbg

This ought to be a great event but there is too much evidence of a stiff entry fee not being used to the riders advantage - at the end of the day all we want is vfm - well stocked refreshment stops and some grub at the end, not goodie bags and god knows how many outriders/ambulances