Pendragon - Tour of the black mountains

Cornish-J
Cornish-J Posts: 978
edited August 2010 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
Anyone doing this?

I'm thinking about signing up but not sure if it's already sold out ...
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Comments

  • rjh299
    rjh299 Posts: 721
    If it's anything like their other events it'll be brutal!
  • galatzo
    galatzo Posts: 1,295
    Fancy this although waiting till a bit nearer date to check weather as it's a bit of a drive to the event for me.

    Is this 120 on this much tougher than the Dragon Ride 120 miler then ?
    25th August 2013 12hrs 37mins 52.3 seconds 238km 5500mtrs FYRM Never again.
  • Toks
    Toks Posts: 1,143
    It's definitley tougher!
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    I'm going to do the 100mile if any, scenery must be fantastic!
  • JSB24
    JSB24 Posts: 37
    Im in, after doing the Marmotte this month, everything else will seem (relatively) easy
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    Doing this one again, third time which I think says enough about how good it is and a fab route;
    Pendragon site shows just 210 entries so should still be space, it is WELL worth riding!!! Hardest bit being the 2 mile climb up Llangyndir Mtn at the 100 mile mark, on yes and of course the Heol Senni hairpins climb at 1:6 / 1:5 :)
  • jackfeeder
    jackfeeder Posts: 269
    Doing this for the 1st time. Done Gospel Pass and the Devil's Elbow (that's going to be a s#d at 60-70miles in :shock: ) in the last few months - are they the hardest climbs?
    The last climb at 100 miles - how does that compare to the 2nd ascent of the Bwlch on the Dragon, as I coped ok with that :) at about the 100mile mark?
    Had a look at the finishing categories - seem quite tough. I'll be really chuffed to get a silver, but perhaps a bronze is more realistic.
    Hope the weather improves!!!!!
    All my life I've wanted to be someone; I guess I should have been more specific.
  • SteppenHerring
    SteppenHerring Posts: 720
    I'm doing this. I'm scared. The Dragon Ride was hard enough.

    Watch out for some exhibition wheelsucking.
  • rhys_gibby
    rhys_gibby Posts: 45
    Can we enter on the day for this?
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    so far the weather looks good for this weekend, still unsure wether to enter or not...
  • HuwS
    HuwS Posts: 12
    Cornish-J wrote:
    so far the weather looks good for this weekend, still unsure wether to enter or not...

    Go for it, whats the worst that could happen :D

    Cracking route (I'm local and have covered most parts of it over the last few weeks), will be great as long as the weather holds up (otherwise the Brecon - Merthyr section will be grim)
  • TheBullet
    TheBullet Posts: 58
    I'm doing this.
    the weather is looking good so looking forward to a hard day in the saddle.
    I'll be looking to get a nice group going straight from the start.
    Winners never quit and quitters never win!!
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    not so sure about `waether looking good`...more like drizle and mod winds showing for Sat :(
  • TheBullet
    TheBullet Posts: 58
    not so sure about `waether looking good`...more like drizle and mod winds showing for Sat
    Yeah, it keeps changing from day-to-day. One day it's says syunny, then cloudy then rain. At the moment it just says cloud with 8mph winds and if it stays like that I'm happy.

    The worse the weather the more need there will be for a big group to form so I can shelter at the back and get sucked along ;)
    Winners never quit and quitters never win!!
  • The Sportiver
    The Sportiver Posts: 9
    I've always wanted to do this event. I'm down to ride. Not sure on the 120 mile or 100 mile route. See how I feel on the day!
  • staringatthesea
    staringatthesea Posts: 28
    Hi. does anyone know if entries are being accepted on the day? And how this compares to the Dartmoor Classic?
  • HuwS
    HuwS Posts: 12
    StaringattheSea wrote:
    Hi. does anyone know if entries are being accepted on the day? And how this compares to the Dartmoor Classic?

    I mailed the organisers re entries on the day and the response i got was:

    "We Prefer entries in advance but a few entries on the day are available from cancellations"

    Which I guess means if there is space then you will get in :)

    Re comparisons to the Dartmoor Classic I would say (from the sections that I have ridden) that this one is harder. Definitively, my legs will tell you on Monday :D.
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    weather still sticking with light rain and mod breeze....... :(
  • rhys_gibby
    rhys_gibby Posts: 45
    I've attempted to enter although doesnt accept my payment, will try again tomorrow.

    Booked a B&B 10mins north of Abergavenny.

    Anyone else here B&Bing it tomorrow night?
  • The Sportiver
    The Sportiver Posts: 9
    I reckon the 120 mile route is as hard as some of challenges like the Dave Lloyd Mega. Looking forward to the scenery especially on the climbs of Gospel Path, Fan Nedd Pass and Cwn Claisfer. Route loaded onto Garmin!

    See you at 8am Saturday. Groups of 50 setting off. Should be a fantastic day!
  • staringatthesea
    staringatthesea Posts: 28
    Well cheers for the info about entry on the day. Went over this morning, signed up and rolled out. Sooo much tougher than anything i've done. I though the climb out of the valley above Heol Senni was bad but the road up from Llangynidr went on and on, and on. An excellent day though.
  • TheBullet
    TheBullet Posts: 58
    A great day out with some amazing scenery that tested me physically and mentally to the limits. There were some brutal climbs but the long descents made all the effort worthwhile.

    My only gripe was that the second feed stop was too far away and having ridden past the first one I ran out of water at about 60 miles. Luckily some kind rider gave me some of his and I just about made it to the next stop before dehydration and cramps got the better of me!

    After the feed stop I felt much better and actually felt the best in the last 20 miles and finished the 120 mile route in a respectable 7hrs.

    Would definitely do it again for the scenery alone.
    Winners never quit and quitters never win!!
  • rhys_gibby
    rhys_gibby Posts: 45
    TheBullet - Were you in a blue jersey rising a Focus? If it was you then I was riding with you for most of the route with the chap in red assos on the Scott Addict. Yep, blew up on the last couple of climbs but hooned it on the last descent and through town to the finish.

    Rhys
  • TheBullet
    TheBullet Posts: 58
    Yes that was me, thanks again for the drink, it was jut enough to get me to the last feed stop.

    Also thanks for doing some good riding on the front and dragging my ass around. That last climb did go on and on and on and on!!

    JD
    Winners never quit and quitters never win!!
  • senoj
    senoj Posts: 213
    If I am honest it was the hardest day in the saddle ive ever had.
    Done the 120 Dragon Ride, but the climbing on the TOTBM was something else.
    And I only done the 63
    Only my 2nd year on the road bike bike.but scraped a bronze.
  • SteppenHerring
    SteppenHerring Posts: 720
    Yep. That was hard. All day today my legs have wanted to pedal cos they were being forced to do it for so long yesterday.

    Great ride and great scenery though. Pleased to get round the 120 mile route (eventually). Much harder and more impressive than the Dragon.
  • senoj
    senoj Posts: 213
    SteppenHerring wrote:
    Yep. That was hard. All day today my legs have wanted to pedal cos they were being forced to do it for so long yesterday.

    Great ride and great scenery though. Pleased to get round the 120 mile route (eventually). Much harder and more impressive than the Dragon.

    Were you riding with your missus?
    I think i recognize your Jersey,if you wore the one in your avatar
  • Toks
    Toks Posts: 1,143
    senoj wrote:
    Were you riding with your missus?
    I think i recognize your Jersey,if you wore the one in your avatar
    Nope, you're probably talking about Amy and Phil. The Addiscombe crew also featured myself and Stephanie my girlfriend. Man that was one ridiculously hard sportive. I rode most of it n my own except for a few minutes spent on someone in the Belgium National Jersey's wheel. Unfortunately he blew up spectacularly on the last Climb.

    I've been riding sportives since 2003 and that was definitley one of the three hardest ever. Big thanks to the organiser Nick Bourne for sending us up that last monster climb near the end (I can't remember the last time I grovelled up a climb at 5mph) :evil: No fast run back to the finish for us :( Imagine my despair having seen signs for Abergavenny but were then sent up every bitch-ass climb in the vicinity. I nearly cried when I read 11% back up to towards the Brecan Beacons before that fast descent home. Damn that was tough. :shock: :D
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    Stephen so that`s why you were worried about Ti / Carbon frames in a bike rack, setting of for one BIG day`s suffering; did 104 miles good hard route and lovely climb up Llangyndir to finish it off (training for Pyreneess you see!) :)
  • SteppenHerring
    SteppenHerring Posts: 720
    What Toks said. Yes, that was me and Amy. My missus doesn't do cycling.

    Toks: I was so tempted to just turn onto the dual carriageway and head that way back. But no, we did the whole lot. And yes, you may have found it hard but you still shot past us in much the same way the Rapha Condor boys did.

    (Also, it's "Steppen" not "Stephen". It's a stupid joke based around a Herman Hesse book)

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