Dragon Ride Wales 2009

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Comments

  • r3 guy
    r3 guy Posts: 229
    Seriously ! What is it about the timing chip and the skewers.

    Its really is very very easy!
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Just checked the start of the route. It's Brynna and not Llanharran. So more climbing ;)
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • bprice
    bprice Posts: 61
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Just checked the start of the route. It's Brynna and not Llanharran. So more climbing ;)

    Oh well Ive got half of it right! We used the A4119! :wink:
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    bprice wrote:
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Just checked the start of the route. It's Brynna and not Llanharran. So more climbing ;)

    Oh well Ive got half of it right! We used the A4119! :wink:

    Last minute change for roadworks. Check the Dragon site. They changed it last night ;)

    Anyway, good day. But please tell the organisers A BUCKET OF CRISPS DOES NOT DENOTE SAVOURY FOOD!
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    I liked the crisps didn't like the headwind :lol:

    Great day out never sweated that much in my life and boy did those climbs go on and on and on worth every minute for the descents I'm still smiling now i'm tempted to go back next weekend.

    Weather permitting ...

    I'll be back next year for sure and booking myself into that Premier Inn at the start, great pub too :roll:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • dave milne
    dave milne Posts: 703
    great ride. clocked 6 hours 11 on mygarmin so reckon I might sneak into the top 100. Dan Llloyd absolutely bombed past me on the bwlch 2, the only time I got passed on a climb the whole day
  • bprice
    bprice Posts: 61
    Anyone notice 6 Cardiff Ajax cc riders today? 4 male 2 female. We were together for most of the route except for Bwlch 2 where we splintered, but came in within 5 minutes of each other.
  • attica
    attica Posts: 2,362
    Why wasn't there a sign saying in big letters "left for short route, right for long" at that roundabout?

    I signed up for the short and ended up doing the long - the marshall at the roundabut merely waved me through.

    "No worries" thought I "ITBoffin is just behind me, he'll catch me at the feed station and we can ride together."

    Give you one guess who did spot the turning to the short route and then chose that one.

    Still it was to my advantage because I got an extra 40 miles of fantastic scenery, gentle climbing (Really, compared to the North Cornwall Tor, The hills were practically flat, hard work nonetheless) and awesome descents.

    I'll be back next year, but please please please can you lay on a food with lots of salt in it.(The crisps were distinctly unappetising after many hundreds of sweaty hands had already dipped into them) The sausage sarnie I bought just after the second feed station saved my life.
    "Impressive break"

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • yogi
    yogi Posts: 456
    Great day out. Some photos on the YOGi Cycling website - follow the link below.
    http://yogi.terapad.com
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,291
    When I went past, there was loads of signs in different colours (like it said in the instructions), and a bloke shouting "left for short route, right for long".

    I thought it was a great day, obviously helped by the fact it was this weekend's weather, and not the previous one. I didn't even see any crisps, but didn't much fancy any more cake by the end. (I had plenty of nutrition in my pockets, not knowing what I was doing meant I finished with two bars and some sweeties weighing me down.)

    And I got my only puncture of the day on the way back to the car park!
  • BMX Bear
    BMX Bear Posts: 198
    What a day, 3 punctures! till I found a very small flint in the sidewall of the tyre!

    The climbs hurt on the way up but coming down was amazing :D

    Only grumble is the feed stations were hectic and a bit messy, could have done with some better grub .

    Great event.
    www.icenivelo.co.uk - Norfolks most inclusive cycling club
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Attica wrote:
    Why wasn't there a sign saying in big letters "left for short route, right for long" at that roundabout?

    There was mun. And a bloke shouting at people. And one a km back saying split coming up!

    Good day yesterday.

    PROS
    Superb new start area really well laid out.
    Well organised and well marshalled.
    A great route of course.

    CONS
    Is the extra 10k really neccessary? Was it really designed to make us obey the lights? There are other routes that could have achieved that goal.
    Feed stations, IMO, not as good as last year. No variation. Savoury food is not a bucket of crisps. I was looking forward to a pasty or something. That really needs to be sorted.

    I did the Gran Fondo. Enjoyed it, done it. If I do come back I fancy blasting the medio and seeing what time I can get it down to.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • coulcher
    coulcher Posts: 95
    Did they set any gold/silver target times for this? Most sportives seem too but I couldn't see anything on the website.

    Lovely ride yesterday. First time I've done it and loved the long climbs compared to all the six 15%+ climbs on the Chilterns ride a couple of weeks ago. Much better Marmotte practise. Also great road surface for most of the route too. We started in a select peleton of 4 as they called out over the tannoy for anyone else left in the car park to get to the start. Chapeau to the unicyclist we passed who looked pretty tired.

    Finished in 6hrs 52m on bike computer, official 7hrs 7m. The times are only viewable by individual rider. I know it's not a race...... but always curious to know how it compares.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,335
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Attica wrote:
    Why wasn't there a sign saying in big letters "left for short route, right for long" at that roundabout?

    There was mun. And a bloke shouting at people. And one a km back saying split coming up!

    Good day yesterday.

    PROS
    Superb new start area really well laid out.
    Well organised and well marshalled.
    A great route of course.

    CONS
    Is the extra 10k really neccessary? Was it really designed to make us obey the lights? There are other routes that could have achieved that goal.
    Feed stations, IMO, not as good as last year. No variation. Savoury food is not a bucket of crisps. I was looking forward to a pasty or something. That really needs to be sorted.

    I did the Gran Fondo. Enjoyed it, done it. If I do come back I fancy blasting the medio and seeing what time I can get it down to.

    That's interesting, as I, like many others, found the food stations last year quite poor. The Dragon Master even intervened on this very thread to reassure everyone that food stations were to be improved for 2009. Is a bucket of crisps what he means by improvement? Not sure crisps are exactly the kind of food an athlete needs to support exercise... the only upside if that they're cheap for him to buy...

    Sounds a bit like an own-goal to me... glad I didn't take part... I decided last year that if I have to pay to ride on public roads, at least I'd like it to be a non-profit event and the Dragon Ride does not fit in that category
    left the forum March 2023
  • dombo6
    dombo6 Posts: 582
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Attica wrote:
    Why wasn't there a sign saying in big letters "left for short route, right for long" at that roundabout?

    There was mun. And a bloke shouting at people. And one a km back saying split coming up!

    Good day yesterday.

    PROS
    Superb new start area really well laid out.
    Well organised and well marshalled.
    A great route of course.

    CONS
    Is the extra 10k really neccessary? Was it really designed to make us obey the lights? There are other routes that could have achieved that goal.
    Feed stations, IMO, not as good as last year. No variation. Savoury food is not a bucket of crisps. I was looking forward to a pasty or something. That really needs to be sorted.

    I did the Gran Fondo. Enjoyed it, done it. If I do come back I fancy blasting the medio and seeing what time I can get it down to.

    Are you kidding? That bucket of crisps, with a hint of chain oil and sweat, was food of the gods. Possibly the best crisps I've tasted anywhere, at any time, in a lifetime of crispe eating.
    The egg sandwich I'd left warming in the car all day came a pretty close second in the manna from heaven stakes :D
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Dombo6 wrote:

    Are you kidding? That bucket of crisps, with a hint of chain oil and sweat, was food of the gods. Possibly the best crisps I've tasted anywhere, at any time, in a lifetime of crispe eating.
    The egg sandwich I'd left warming in the car all day came a pretty close second in the manna from heaven stakes :D

    :D

    Also see "you know that bar snack and how many people's urine is in there." ;)
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Norch
    Norch Posts: 4
    The times are only viewable by individual rider. I know it's not a race...... but always curious to know how it compares.
    Go to racelive.co.uk and select the event. Don't put down a race number and then click the Submit button. You can sort by an individual field by clicking the column header.
  • attica
    attica Posts: 2,362
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Attica wrote:
    Why wasn't there a sign saying in big letters "left for short route, right for long" at that roundabout?

    There was mun. And a bloke shouting at people. And one a km back saying split coming up!

    If I remember correctly, 1 km back I was doing the sharp end of 40mph and concentrating on the car in front who was getting twitchy about overtaking those in front of me.

    As for the sign, I was quite probably still focuseed on the car in front, self preservation taking priority over awareness of where I was going. With that in mind, perhaps many signs should be the order of the day. ITB only realised he was heading the wrong way when James recognised where they were and they turned round, so I'm not alone - 3 of us went wrong at least, unfortunately I didn't have the benefit of having done it last year.

    Don't get me wrong though, I will be going next year. It was a fantastic day, and despite the gripes, one of the better organised sportives I've done.
    "Impressive break"

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    Found the food stations fine. IMO if you want to eat something specific like a pasty bring your own along. I happen to like Parmesan cheese but dont expect organisers to supply it.

    Found the route fine and best to date in 3 years of doing event. Rode well and worked with some fast groups, couple of minutes above/below 6 hours, not seen official time yet. Few too many traffic lights for my liking (similar length Tour of Black Mountains has only 1 on entire route and that's just on a narrow bridge) and wish there was a way to avoid Neath.

    But great marshalling (including at the route split point..), including several times traffic was stopped and we were waved through.

    + great support from vast majority of Welsh public, best I've ever seen for mainland event and close to TOI.

    Three others from club came along, 2 first timers and all had a great day.

    Recommended to all, especially good training for etapers). If finish at same place next year then Travel Lodge is great place to stay. Only 200m away from end and its next to a pub...
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • dombo6
    dombo6 Posts: 582
    Just checked results on www.racelive.co.uk.
    There are a lot of DQs. Was that for the RLJers the copper was noting down at Blackmill lights?
  • darren8
    darren8 Posts: 12
    Copied the times from racelive for both 120k and 180k and only come up with 500 finishers in both distances. Out of 3100 surely 2100 didn't show up.
    Had a good ride up to 90 miles suffered badly in heat bwlch2 dehydrated badly to the point of anything in my stomach was promtly rejected.Made it back in 7.56. i'am a big guy 16.5 stone sweat rate is high must learn to drink more regulary, because once core temp reaches critical levels evething will be rejected promptly.Long way to go if you can't keep anything down including water for last 30 miles. lesson learnt. :oops:
    d.j.avery
  • dombo6
    dombo6 Posts: 582
    click on "next page"
  • Norch
    Norch Posts: 4
    Copied the times from racelive for both 120k and 180k and only come up with 500 finishers in both distances. Out of 3100 surely 2100 didn't show up.
    You're just looking at the first page of results. I have 1544 finishers (not dq's) for the 190k and 813 for the 130k.
  • lochindaal
    lochindaal Posts: 475
    Just checked my time on racelive and it says DQ.

    obeyed lights, etc at all times. No idea why I have no time and currently pi*sed off.
    Tri Coaching
    https://www.h3otriathlon.com
  • attica
    attica Posts: 2,362
    Norch wrote:
    Copied the times from racelive for both 120k and 180k and only come up with 500 finishers in both distances. Out of 3100 surely 2100 didn't show up.
    You're just looking at the first page of results. I have 1544 finishers (not dq's) for the 190k and 813 for the 130k.

    Crikey, that's still over 20% who either didn't start, finish or were disqualified, that's quite high isn't it?

    Agree about Bwlch2 being stupidy hot, must have been the direction of the road and the sun and a lack of cloud or something, definitely caught more sun on my right leg than my left.
    "Impressive break"

    "Thanks...

    ...I can taste blood"
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    darren8 wrote:
    Copied the times from racelive for both 120k and 180k and only come up with 500 finishers in both distances. Out of 3100 surely 2100 didn't show up.
    Had a good ride up to 90 miles suffered badly in heat bwlch2 dehydrated badly to the point of anything in my stomach was promtly rejected.Made it back in 7.56. i'am a big guy 16.5 stone sweat rate is high must learn to drink more regulary, because once core temp reaches critical levels evething will be rejected promptly.Long way to go if you can't keep anything down including water for last 30 miles. lesson learnt. :oops:

    Just copied results of 180 event and got around 1600, including DNFs/DQed at the end.

    Fastest time, for those interested was, not surprisingly, Dan Lloyd who finished in 5:47.25. James Richardson (overall quickest over the 3 day TOW) was second just 25s slower. (Was riding with James for quite a while and know he got stuck at a traffic light forever...) Looks like 6:31 was cutoff for fastest 100. Longest ride 10:36.
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    PS. The traffic light mentioned above was around 45km into the ride. There were a couple of police there and they were taking numbers of anyone who went left on red. Guess that is one place where some DQs happened.
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • dombo6
    dombo6 Posts: 582
    lochindaal wrote:
    Just checked my time on racelive and it says DQ.

    obeyed lights, etc at all times. No idea why I have no time and currently pi*sed off.

    Get the organisers to check. If they were taking numbers from the papers I saw the copper scribbling on at Blackmill there might be a typo.
  • pdchaplin
    pdchaplin Posts: 27
    bprice wrote:
    Anyone notice 6 Cardiff Ajax cc riders today? 4 male 2 female. We were together for most of the route except for Bwlch 2 where we splintered, but came in within 5 minutes of each other.

    yes, I joined in the ranks for a short session on the last 10km - in my Focus outfit and focus bike..
  • coulcher
    coulcher Posts: 95
    Norch wrote:
    The times are only viewable by individual rider. I know it's not a race...... but always curious to know how it compares.
    Go to racelive.co.uk and select the event. Don't put down a race number and then click the Submit button. You can sort by an individual field by clicking the column header.

    Thanks Norch. 398th, I'm pretty happy with that. Despite having 2 young kids I'm getting older & faster.

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