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So just in case we hadnt got the message, we're doing 200km this Sunday. Weather looks stellar. I'd like to crack 7hrs, 7:15 last year, but 10km more and I'm a year older.
Ridiculously, I'm quite looking forward to it, though that may change......
Looks like we're going to get drenched.
Yeah sorry, that's my fault. I was getting my stuff ready for it yesterday and got the factor 30 out.
Theres a group of us Machen MigglyMoos entered ... we like it wet. So the forcast don 't worry us any ..
Forgot to enter until it was too late
Have fun and remember the overshoes and mudguards
See you guys there. I'm looking forward to it, although I don't think the route will be as good as previous years.
As tough as the Bwlch is from the Afan valley side, doing it twice might be a little tedious.
Just digging out overshoes. The route always used to go up the Bwlch twice.
I shall just be pootling round.
its a good route this year. The top loop of the 200k looks to have some nice descents.
Doing the Bwlch ...or more so the Afan valley leading to the Bwlch twice, is the challenge.
Rain forcast for early afternoon. So more incentive to get around quickly..
The top loop of the 200k looks to have some nice descents
Not sure exactly which bit you mean, but I know the route well and the only good descents are the Bwlch - either way and Cimla. Rhigos is OK if you have a tailwind, but a bit straight.
Personally I'd like to see the route come further North & West. More scenic and more climbing with no duplication.
Still the Dragon is a brilliant ride with a great atmosphere that no other Sportive can match.
Bloody loved that - first ever road event. You certainly see where all your money goes.
mtbmatt - the Bwlch, Rhigos, Glyn Neath, Coelbren and even the old Neath road offered some nice descending.
Great event. Enjoyed that better than any mtb enduro type thing.
Tour of Black mtns ride next month ... A thousand metres more climbing than the Dragon ... can 't wait!!!
I guess it depends what you call good descending. To me straight & fairly fast roads are not that fun, the twistier the better. MTB analogy, singetrack descent vs fireroad descent.
Top event though, really enjoyed it. Great atmosphere all the way around. Although it can be nice, I am glad that we didn't go from Penderyn to Storey Arms, that would have been into a mega head wind yesterday.
I enjoy the fast descents .. twisty or straight. Each is nice on a road bike.
love going past the guys who are too scared to let go of their brakes on the straight, and also going past the guys who brake to an almost stop into the corners.
Did see a fella body slam into the back of a car as we came down into Ogmore Vale. Coming into first row of houses after the cattle grid. He must of been doing 30plus when the car braked suddenly - the road being wet - the guy had no chance, and bravely put himself before the bike in the inevitable crash ... very hard thump!
The guy did the appols to the people in car .. and carried on amazingly!!
Enjoyed the ride, not the hour que to start, and my timing chip not working ( along with hundreds of others ) is unforgivable. 👿
Great ride, and the weather held off. The timing chip thing - they are pointing at people bending the number and damaging the timing chip. Mine worked, but a mates didn't, so now there's only his word against my evidence that he was faster than me! (by about 20 minutes).
Was a bit pee'd off by the number of gel & bar wrappers discarded - no excuse for that. Also, having to ride past the entrance to Afan without popping in for a cheeky lap was well out of order.
Just outside gold time as well, so, as a non roadie, I am well chuffed. And I didn't jump any red lights or anything!
The results page is a bit of a mess - lots of people missing timings, maybe they dropped out but guess that's mostly it's the chip problem. Mine didn't work but road with a mate and his times were recorded so they'll do for me. Curiously for the 200k distance 959 started and 1017 finished...looks like a lot of timing problems.
Mmmm... Dragon rolls
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I enjoyed it but seemed a lot easier than when I did it a couple of years back (I'm sure the shorter route did the Bwlch twice and Rhigos once back then whereas this year the 70 miler only did the Bwlch once and not much else). I think I actually enjoyed it more because it wasn't so tough though, I get that people want a challenge if they're going to pay to enter events but the trend for sportives to try and go up every hill in the area gets a bit tedious IMO.
The descents weren't too exciting but then it started raining after I crested the Bwlch so was probably a good thing :p
Oh and getting to the start line at 8am to find about 3000 people had gotten there before me sucked (9:30am actual start) but my mood was partially lifted by people arriving later and swearing as they walked past when they realised there were about 2000 people still behind me.