Long, wet sportive (Dragon Ride). Tips? Kit?

craker

Aside from the usual nags about fitness, bike condition etc now I'm wondering how I'll get on with 140 miles this coming Sunday if it's as wet as it is now. Any special tips to stop chafing? I have chamois cream to apply before the event but after 12 hours or so it may have worn off. My raceblades wont fit the carbon bike, surely I don't want the winter commuter out for the biggest ride of the season?

I have overshoes. That'll keep me dry. And the £10 Aldi emergency 'waterproof' that did a good job of attracting water when I wore it last week.

Oh, it'll be fine ...

Crispyapp

I was just thinking the same.... I'm also doing the dragon on Sunday. I think I'll just pack everything from winter wet gear to summer gear and then decide on the day what's needed. Last years etape du dales was horrendous in the cold wet weather so I won't be having a repeat of that.

A shower jacket is ok for about an hour or 2 but once it's wet you will become v cold. If u have 1 I would pack a goretex jacket.

galatzo

Not bothering going.
Bugger the £40, I'll have more fun on a 2 hour local ride in a (hopefully) dry spell than 8 potentially soaked hours in Wales.
That's providing my new bike is ready soon ....

bendertherobot

Though it will be wet it's likely to be warmer than it has been, potentially around 17 degrees. So as long as it ain't raining constantly you'll dry out very quickly. No need for anything other than shorts, shoes, socks. As to tops, skin is waterproof. A gilet would be better than a jacket.

Mudguards? Depends. If it ends up being really awful I may well take the winter bike. My main issue is that a lot of the route is very isolated and could be quite muddy/thron strewn. On that basis I will be at least changing my best bike to hardier tyres.

Grifteruk

Can't agree with Bender sorry.

Having ridden most parts of the route over 2 days last weekend, waiting to dry out is simply not an option. Knowing the area very well (I ride the area every weekend wet or dry) there is simply too much exposed ground and descents because you will get cold even on the flat sections if yo uget wet. One of my club members went in bib shorts and short sleeve jersey - he ended up suffering badly on both the Bwlch and Rhigos descents and that was only over a 55 mile loop which did not include Cimla, black mountain, Crai etc... Being cold and wet on the Crai descent will be vicious, although surely it cant be as bad at the -4C we had over the winter.

Armwarmers, gilet and rain jacket for me as a minimum along with a cap to keep me 'ead warm - will review the rest on the morning.

bendertherobot

You've been riding in much colder temps recently. IF it's 17-18 degrees then that will help immensely.

As to gilet, you may have noticed that's what I said. But gilet AND rain jacket? Whatever for?

bendertherobot

Of course, the absolute BEST way of doing the Dragon this year is quite quite clear.

Do it on Saturday.

Mendip rouleur

Does anyone know how far (and how long it will take to get to) the split point for the long route at YSTRADGYNLAIS from the start? I have a late starting time of 8.45 and after the chaos of last year, and getting a puncture, I'm worried I won't get there in time.

Crispyapp

Mendip rouleur wrote:

Does anyone know how far (and how long it will take to get to) the split point for the long route at YSTRADGYNLAIS is from the start? I have a late starting time of 8.45 and after the chaos of last year, and getting a puncture, I'm worried I won't get there in time.

I was wondering this, how have they worked out the times? I too have a time of 8:15 to 8:30 but I will starting with a mate who is the same start time as you. When I rode the eape du dales 2 weeks ago I was riding for 7:30.... Does the ride have cut off times then, if so what are they..?

Saying that it makes no difference to me as I've no idea what I'm up against as I'm not from the area, I've never ridden the area either.

mrushton

If it looks wet then a jacket. Armwarmers/legwarmers can be removed/added. I once bought a newspaper on a wet italian ride and shoved it down the back of my bibshorts. Kept my backside dry for a couple of hours.Also a newspaper down your jersey is an old trick but it really works.Wool socks and some kind of overshoe. If you get wet it's the wind that is making you cold so keep the wind out and you stay warmer

alex1rob

Come on guys no negativity! Last I checked the forecast is changing quickly. Currently forecast 6mm of rain, hardly a tropical storm.

bendertherobot

Less than that now. No worse than last year. Quite warm too

pantsani

Maybe it's just me as I run hot - but couldn't believe the amount of gear some people were wearing on the Tour Of Wessex last Saturday, full legs and arms , some jackets etc - it was 18 degrees at 8 am and dry and only going to get warmer - whilst pedalling my ar$e off I'd boil in all that gear .

After years of outdoor sports the only weather forecast I ever use as a definitive guide is the one the day before and even that can be badly wrong , 3 days out it's pointless to use the forecast as anything but a rough indicator. I wouldn't be making any kit packing decisions until the night before and then I will wear as little as I can realistically get away with on the morning.

Good Luck All - I'm sure it will be an epic day on the bike regardless of weather.

rusty nuts

Split time is calculated at an average speed of 14mph for the whole route from the last rider leaving at 09.00. Access to the long route will close at 11.55, so don't hang around for too long at the Crynant feed stop.

Frankly if riders can't go quicker than that they are not good enough to be on the longer route, safer if they do the Medio.

Mendip rouleur

rusty nuts wrote:

Split time is calculated at an average speed of 14mph for the whole route from the last rider leaving at 09.00. Access to the long route will close at 11.55, so don't hang around for too long at the Crynant feed stop.

Frankly if riders can't go quicker than that they are not good enough to be on the longer route, safer if they do the Medio.

Whilst I agree with your last point it's not always down to rider ability. Organisation plays a big part too.

Last year the organisation at the start was so horrendous that I didn't leave the start point until 9.45, despite being in a queue to start for the best part of 2 hours. Add 10 minutes into the mix for a puncture, 5 mins. for a feed and I missed the cutoff by 5 minutes despite riding well above the alledged cut-off speed. I was naieve, had I known in advance, like this year, I will get though that cut-off before stopping if it looks dodgy time-wise.

It's the only cut off i have ever missed, and is nothing to do with my riding, it was the delayed start that got me.

I have little faith in the DR organisers, why am I doing it, you may ask? Because the course looks testing and interesting to me, and I'd like to do it in company. Fingers crossed.

mudshark

Yeah I only just made the cut-off last year as I left after 9:30 and then spent far too long at the feed stops - that was my mate's fault really as he wanted to take his time. We hadn't worried about the cut-off time as we thought we'd be setting off far earlier than we did. Anyway, we got around fine though being out later meant we got the worst of the rain. Felt sorry for some guys who struggled around the full route then didn't get a medal at the end as they'd run out.

I wasn't planning to do it this year but the course is a lot tougher and we now have start times so I got a ticket and am hoping all will be well - some websites are even quite positive about the weather now....

ugo.santalucia

mrushton wrote:

If it looks wet then a jacket. Armwarmers/legwarmers can be removed/added. I once bought a newspaper on a wet italian ride and shoved it down the back of my bibshorts. Kept my backside dry for a couple of hours.Also a newspaper down your jersey is an old trick but it really works.Wool socks and some kind of overshoe. If you get wet it's the wind that is making you cold so keep the wind out and you stay warmer

A copy of the news of the world saved my life descending the col du tourmalet on a cold wet day...

Anonymous

ugo.santalucia wrote:

mrushton wrote:

If it looks wet then a jacket. Armwarmers/legwarmers can be removed/added. I once bought a newspaper on a wet italian ride and shoved it down the back of my bibshorts. Kept my backside dry for a couple of hours.Also a newspaper down your jersey is an old trick but it really works.Wool socks and some kind of overshoe. If you get wet it's the wind that is making you cold so keep the wind out and you stay warmer

A copy of the news of the world saved my life descending the col du tourmalet on a cold wet day...

I knew the News of the World would go downhill one day.............
I'll get me coat. :-)

sampras38

Major flooding in West Wales this morning.

Dragon's not going to be fun at all.

bendertherobot

Well, the Dragon's nowhere near the flooding. And it's rather nice here now, very sunny and with a brisk wind there'll be little standing water.

There will undoubtedly be some pooled water in places and the forecast is dry till mid afternoon. So a good dry start in prospect.

So nowhere near as miserable as it could have been.

sampras38

Thanks for the info.

I'm certainly no profit of doom and will enjoy it whatever.