Dragon Ride 2014

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Comments

  • nunowoolmez
    nunowoolmez Posts: 867
    I did the Dragon the same year as I did the Fred & the are both tough in their own right. I found in each one I had a point where I felt I was riding through treacle half way through, but came through that, got a 2nd wind & was able to funish strongly. The extra mileage on the Dragon is mostly flat or downhill from memory & if you can get in a group & do turns then all the better. The group I was with formed purely by accident really off the last big decent & we tonked it in from there at a real lick. I did the Dales this year & probably found that as tough as the Fred, but again finished strong. The climbs on the Dragon are far less severe but longer, so you can just select a gear & tap out a nice rhythm.

    I guess my point is that you will be fine. Just pace yourself, take on lots of fluids & nutrition & make use of the excellent feed stations. When you come of the last big decent you know you are on the final stretch & can really dig in & give it all you've got.

    Blimey, I can't wait now!
  • giant63
    giant63 Posts: 3
    Thanks for letting me know that, very useful .Just one more question ,how much difference in time on the bike should I expect between the dragon and the others if the conditions were the same
  • nunowoolmez
    nunowoolmez Posts: 867
    giant63 wrote:
    Thanks for letting me know that, very useful .Just one more question ,how much difference in time on the bike should I expect between the dragon and the others if the conditions were the same

    Jeez, I don't know man, does it matter? I don't know how strong you are or what kind of rider you are, so it is all relative really. I've tried to remember the difference between my Fred & Dragon times, as that would help, but I can't. I really wouldn't worry, if you can finish the Fred & the Dales then you are going to be ok. Just train well so you'll enjoy it, rather than endure it.
  • shazzz
    shazzz Posts: 1,077
    The Fred and the Dragon took roughly the same time for me this year. Completely opposite conditions, though! But I don't think that made much of a difference to my times.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    Fred is much more difficult. The Dragon can be ridden by toddlers.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • THampshire
    THampshire Posts: 18
    This will be my 'first' proper sportive ... my mate was thinking about it but didn't make up his mind in time before it sold out so will just be me. Got a hotel booked in bridgend and will train it across from London. Has there been anywhere to dump a bag at the start in the past(as obviosuly I would have checked out by then and won't have a car or anything to stow it :()
  • badgerbeaver
    badgerbeaver Posts: 102
    speak to the hotel about stowing it for you

    refer to their excellent reviews on tripadvisor, which led you to have such confidence in their customer service...
  • Roman Schoolboy
    Roman Schoolboy Posts: 14
    Further places will become available as riders drop out through injury nearer the time etc.... They usually post on here that their place is up for grabs and you negotiate a price. You have to ride under someone's elses name but you get to ride...
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    If anyone ever wants to do the Dragon without paying a silly amount of money or having to ride with thousands of choppers then let me know. I am more than happy to take one or a few people on the route any time. I'm serious about this.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • ManOfKent
    ManOfKent Posts: 392
    Grill wrote:
    If anyone ever wants to do the Dragon without paying a silly amount of money or having to ride with thousands of choppers then let me know. I am more than happy to take one or a few people on the route any time. I'm serious about this.

    Related question: how quiet are those roads the rest of the year? I'm concerned mainly whether it would be safe for me to ride in that area on my own. Places like Glasfynydd and Devil's Elbow seem very remote in the event of a mechanical problem or accident.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    I ride those roads solo year round with no issue.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • Pumpkin Positive
    Pumpkin Positive Posts: 392
    ManOfKent wrote:
    Grill wrote:
    If anyone ever wants to do the Dragon without paying a silly amount of money or having to ride with thousands of choppers then let me know. I am more than happy to take one or a few people on the route any time. I'm serious about this.

    Related question: how quiet are those roads the rest of the year? I'm concerned mainly whether it would be safe for me to ride in that area on my own. Places like Glasfynydd and Devil's Elbow seem very remote in the event of a mechanical problem or accident.
    Seriously? It's S Wales not Tajikistan. The biggest danger you're likely to encounter here is a close encounter with Grill :wink:
  • ManOfKent
    ManOfKent Posts: 392
    It was a serious question. My recollection of the Dragon Ride was that there were almost no houses along large parts of the route and most of the roads seem to go nowhere in particular. We don't have empty scenery in Kent so I had no clue how much passing traffic there might be.

    It's good news that it's OK to ride there on my own. I'll certainly come to Wales for the weekend even if none of my clubmates wants to join me.
  • bernardmcdonald
    bernardmcdonald Posts: 42
    ManOfKent wrote:
    It was a serious question. My recollection of the Dragon Ride was that there were almost no houses along large parts of the route and most of the roads seem to go nowhere in particular. We don't have empty scenery in Kent so I had no clue how much passing traffic there might be.

    It's good news that it's OK to ride there on my own. I'll certainly come to Wales for the weekend even if none of my clubmates wants to join me.

    this is quite sad
  • ManOfKent
    ManOfKent Posts: 392
    bernardmcdonald wrote:
    ManOfKent wrote:
    It was a serious question. My recollection of the Dragon Ride was that there were almost no houses along large parts of the route and most of the roads seem to go nowhere in particular. We don't have empty scenery in Kent so I had no clue how much passing traffic there might be.

    It's good news that it's OK to ride there on my own. I'll certainly come to Wales for the weekend even if none of my clubmates wants to join me.

    this is quite sad

    ??
  • Moonbiker
    Moonbiker Posts: 1,706
    Sounds like your worried about being ambushed bandits in the mountains or something? Better check the FCO Travel Advice Restrictions page about the threat lvl in the area. :D

    If you have a mechanical you may just end up having to walk a few miles unless you have backup you can ring on the moblie I suppose?
  • ManOfKent
    ManOfKent Posts: 392
    I'm more concerned about the walking than the bandits. Carrying a broken bike to the nearest village in cleats or socks isn't my idea of fun, although I suppose it takes all sorts. I could ring for backup but as my nearest friends are in Cardiff and I'd likely have no idea where I was, I might be waiting a while...

    Anyway, a weekend in south Wales is now on my to-do list for 2014.
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    Do you break bikes often?

    May want to think about getting stronger bikes.

    There's very little that makes a bike truly unrideable - even if just on the flat and downhills. As long as it still has wheels that turn, you should always be able to get it to move slightly - you may have to scoot along one-footed or lower the saddle and use it like an old-style hobby horse - but it'll get you somewhere with civilization.

    I've seen snapped frames held together with gaffa tape and twigs, bits of broom handles cabled-tied across snapped bars, tyres/wheels held together by cable ties - virtually nothing will stop a bike being able to move. You'll wear out a pair of cleats - so what?

    If you're really that concerned about riding somewhere as 'remote' as Wales, then think about getting a rugged expedition bike.

    Otherwise - get out there and enjoy yourself. Maintain your equipment and it will look after you. If something goes wrong, work it out; but it's so infrequent that anything really bad happens that it just doesn't even feature in my thoughts.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • RallyBiker
    RallyBiker Posts: 378
    Rule #5
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    marcusjb wrote:
    Do you break bikes often?

    May want to think about getting stronger bikes.

    There's very little that makes a bike truly unrideable - even if just on the flat and downhills. As long as it still has wheels that turn, you should always be able to get it to move slightly - you may have to scoot along one-footed or lower the saddle and use it like an old-style hobby horse - but it'll get you somewhere with civilization.

    I've seen snapped frames held together with gaffa tape and twigs, bits of broom handles cabled-tied across snapped bars, tyres/wheels held together by cable ties - virtually nothing will stop a bike being able to move. You'll wear out a pair of cleats - so what?

    If you're really that concerned about riding somewhere as 'remote' as Wales, then think about getting a rugged expedition bike.

    Otherwise - get out there and enjoy yourself. Maintain your equipment and it will look after you. If something goes wrong, work it out; but it's so infrequent that anything really bad happens that it just doesn't even feature in my thoughts.

    This. Jesus.

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