Wiggle Dragon Ride 2013

Valedoc44

It look as though the temporary traffic lights on the descent on Cimla hill into Neath will still be there on 9 Jun.

jim1985

I was wondering if anyone here is doing the dragon ride and driving back to the london area? I've managed to get a ticket at the last minute. However, the train company are really funny about having to reserve bike spaces, of which none are left. I'm a bit worried about chancing it on the train and not getting let on as it's full of Dragon Riders and their bikes.

if anyone is heading back to London and has space, I'd happily offer them a good chunk of the petrol cost, and of course, my fine company for the long drive home.

Please contact me on here or at jim_cotton85@hotmail.co.uk if you can help out at all!

Thanks

jim1985

To Cyclingsheep - thanks for your PM, but I can't reply as I'm too new to the forum!

I'm doing the long route, did it last year in just under 8 hours. I was in better shape then, but am on a better bike now, so hopefuly can do it in 8 - 8 1/2 hours this year.

I'm mostly after a ride back, as can get a train out there if needs be. But if there's a space on offer, I'll certainly consider it! I live in Hackney (N16), but am happy to ride / train etc home from wherever you can get me!

Hope you see this, maybe best you email me back on the hotmail address above as I don't seem to be able to use PM yet.

Jim

jim1985

If anyone is feeling like a good samaritan and wouldn't mind dropping cyclingsheep a pm on my behalf asking him to emial me at jim_cotton85@hotmail.co.uk i'd much appreciate it. i still can't pm as i'm too much of a newbie!

thanks

bendertherobot

Valedoc44 wrote:

It look as though the temporary traffic lights on the descent on Cimla hill into Neath will still be there on 9 Jun.

Been told by a mate today that a 4 mile stretch of Crai has been resurfaced leaving that loose surface dressing in place. Not pleasant. Particularly if the rain comes off.

b45her

it has, i was up there last sunday, its not a problem though should be settled by sunday 9th.

bendertherobot

Weather looks better now. b45sher, in what way will it settle?

dp_1410

I'm trying to plan a strategy at the moment and am really struggling with the defined distance. Numbers are ranging from 206km to 216km for the Gran Fondo. Can anybody shed any light on it? It seems last year was 211km and I'm not aware of any route changes yet the course info is saying 216km.

Cheers

bendertherobot

I had it at 213km last year. I'm not sure what you mean by strategy. Does 5k (max) make a difference?

dp_1410

Thanks for the reply. More to do with calculating average speeds needed to try and form a schedule for hitting a target time. Another 5km can skew it a little thats all really.

pantsani

My knee hasn't healed as expected so unable to do this. :-(

if anyone is interested in my place on the long route , please pm me , obviously too late to transfer names etc but have the pack - can sort out paypal'ng some cash and special delivery etc otherwise will give it to a mate

cyclingsheep

Does anyone have a gpx for this years Grand Fondo route?

b45her

bendertherobot wrote:

Weather looks better now. b45sher, in what way will it settle?

settled as in the loose chippings will be mostly gone.

bendertherobot

b45her wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Weather looks better now. b45sher, in what way will it settle?

settled as in the loose chippings will be mostly gone.

Gone where? They'll be towards the gutter yes, but they take ages to disperse

t0nyhawk

Hi all,
My ticket is up for grabs for Sundays Gran Fondo route for the Dragon ride as my riding buddy doesn't want to do it now and I was only doing it as last year I did it, but he pulled out due to a broken leg.
If someone wants to buy it face value PM me. I have the race pack and live in the Gloucester area if we want to catch up tomorrow PM to hand over the pack and cash.
Weather is looking fab and you want to do it at least once.
My mates one is also spare I reckon so two could be up for grabs if required.
Cheers
Jason

cyclingsheep

Good luck tomorrow to everyone who entered (and are actually going to ride), tomorrow. Weather is looking great. See you all at the finish line.

DavidJB

Riding this on my ghetto winter bike and leaving my racer at home...more of a challenge

bendertherobot

Its been brutally hot here today. But windy. Less wind tomorrow but no less heat.

Hottest dragon ever?

dodgy

I think pleasantly warm rather than "brutally hot".

cwm

some happy snaps of ride on black mountain and rhigos,link to picasa3

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p ... directlink

Eddie72

Great ride today, couldn't have asked for better weather.

Anyone know if the guy who crashed at the bottom of the Bwlch decent was OK? looked like a bad one.

nort757

Airlifted go hospital I believe , hope he is ok , saw a guy on a stretcher in a neck brave with his face smashed in by maesteg I think guy with him had a wiggle top
On, looked on a bad way again hope he's ok

Pumpkin Positive

I came across the aftermath of at least four crashes. The chap near maesteg looked particularly unhappy. Hope he's doing OK.

It was a slow and painful ride for me. I nearly gave in on the way up to the last feed stop at 165km, but got a grip and carried on. Up to now the most I'd done in a day was 160km and 2100m ascent which felt OK.

It was a great event, the organisation was slick and it was good to have marshalls on the junctions and NEG riders keeping an eye open. My only criticism was a lack of gels / jelly babies / energy drinks at feed stops. I found I just couldn't swallow anything solid at the feed stops and just had to stop at the last two stops for 30mins trying to force bakewell tarts down my throat.

usedtobefast

Hope the guy who got airlifted out is recovering and his condition didn't get worse.

It was a great day and the 3rd time I'd tackled the Medio but yesterday I just didn't bring my climbing legs oh well.

Only stopped at the first feed station to get water as I go self sufficient and can carry enough gels, bars and Nuun tablets for the distance so one doesn't rely on the organisers having the right stuff for me at the feed stops. The only thing you can't be self sufficient with is the water.

Loved getting the text just after I'd finished with my ride time, especially as last time I didn't get a time due to the timing system problems in 2011.

sampras38

Does anyone know what the gold time was?

twotyred

Having slagged the organisers off for the 2011 debacle and vowing never to do it again, based on last years good reports I gave it another go this year. Fair play to them they have sorted just about every criticism- no queues to get on site, properly organised starting pens with hardly any wait to get started, a timing system that worked and a challenging and interesting course. Near perfect weather helped too

Burton

It was a great event, far too many crashes, especially earlier on in the ride.

Food was my issue too, wheat intolerant so I could only eat the potatoes and there were none left at the second stop or the last.
Didn't see any drink mix, only water so it was a good job I was carrying (just) enough to keep myself going.
What exactly were powerbar providing? I'm sure that's the 1st event I've done where there was no product.

There was however a shameful amount of discarded gel wrappers on the road, why wouldn't you just put the empty back in your pocket? Are you all a bit too "pro" or just worried about getting sticky residue on your rapha jersey's?

No excuses.

Tough but rewarding day in the sun. Well done all who made it.

Eddie72

Agree on the discarded wrappers - really no excuses. This was a ride where the locals were on side and cheering us on (unlike another sportive I did recently where there were protests against the ride!). We should do our bit and not litter the countryside.

While I'm complaining there were some examples of really dangerous riding, particularly from some fast and presumably experienced riders who should have known better. Riding on the wrong side of the road when there was oncoming traffic as an example.

Overall though a really good day and a great atmosphere on the ride.

nort757

The disgarded wrappers i thought was a disgrace along with some riders who blatantly jumped red lights,rode on the other side of the road while cars approached and rode 3 or 4 side by side so no one could pass, i was quite amazed by some peoples attitudes but it was only some overall really enjoyed it,didnt think the food stops were up to much unless you wanted a banana or an apple pie,jaffa cakes and some small powerbar products at first feed stop then didnt see anymore
weather was great but made it hard on the climbs

Eddie72

By the way, the gold time for the long ride was 7 hours if you're under 40. I've got the other times if anyone wants to know