The Dragon Ride...

Cheers Tim for giving my access to the Blog...

Here's my Dragon Ride review..

Well the 'B Team' were out at The Dragon Ride on Sunday, what an event.The largest sportive in the UK, 118 miles and 3000 m of climbing as one of my mates reminded me, that's like climbing Ben Nevis 3 times! Bigboss, Tim and I drove down on the Saturday afternoon, pre ride preperation consisted of a meal in the Beefeater, a trip to Tesco for last minute supplies and to admire the local talent! The day dawned sunny with a cloudless blue sky, a perfect day for riding.
We drove to the start and met up with Big Simon (resplendent in full GB kit) & Jonesy who'd opted for a 5 mile ride in to 'warm up' Simon had reckoned they were staying only 1 mile from the start, well according to his 'map' it wasn't that far!!
There was the usual nervous banter on the start with lots of 'I'm not getting sucked in to a race' type of talk, then bigboss had to pump up his latex tubed front tyre with about 30 seconds to go...
And we were off, starting in groups of 100 we had plenty of company from the word go, after about 5 miles of rolling roads we turned uphill, thats when it really started! The first climb was pretty short but gave you a taste of what to expect, however nothing can prepare you for the Bwlch, what a climb, it just went on and on, coming off the top was a great feeling, passing other riders all the way down, through another couple of towns and onto the Rhigos at nearly 6 miles of climbing this was hard work, well it was for me... I was riding with Tim, Bigboss and Jonesy had gone with Big Simon (who had MTFU'd on a double chainset) close on their heels.
The first feedstation came at the top of Rhigos, High 5 on tap, jam tarts, fairy cakes and more bananas that I've ever seen. The downhill was fast and long and long, all this and we hadn't even got past 40 miles. At the bottom we hit the route split for the short or long route then off out into the Breacon Beacons, the route became more rolling, out in the wilds with the sheep and the horses, the neutral service car came past, funny how the sight of a yellow Skoda estate with Mavic down the side and spare wheels and bikes on the top can transport you to somewhere else... there I was riding in the peleton on a continental grand tour, sun on my face the rumbling sound of carbon rims filling my ears and then the strange feeling of ....... oh bollocks flat front!! So Tim and I pull over to fix it, the Mavic car dissappearing in the distance. Flat fixed off we go again, working our way up from group to group, we come off the moor road and onto a main road, finally the diesel engine in Tim kicks in and I manage to find some rhythm and we are starting to put some good effort in and make real progress along the side of a resevoir then we come off the top onto a very long downhill, we pass a lay-by full of motor bikes and Tim celebrates by unclipping and waving his legs at them, then realises that waving your legs around at 40 mph affects stability The route takes a sharp left and starts to go uphill again, not too long more like lots of shorter climbs, we're still making decent progress and pass some loud Aussies! as we approch a short downhill Tim notices a sign pointing out that the 18% downhill coming up I get on the drops and get tucked in, I manage to see 55mph on the speedo and pass everyone on the decent but my face is hurting from laughing so much.All too soon it over and we're back heading up hill again, all the riders I've just passed come back past commenting on my downhill prowess and my physique, skinny freaks.. after a few more uphill drags the second feedstation comes into sight.
We refuel and head off again for about 100 meters or so till I realise that my front tyre is going flat again... We get it fixed with my second and final tube and cartridge! We're off again and heading into a bit of a headwind then we start to drop off the top and into another long downhill, we start to accelerate off the top and get passed by a bloke who's really trying hard! he's built like a climber, small and skinny I'm up resting on the tops and sitting on his back wheel, he's going for it big time, in the big ring and at the bottom of the block, I'm just sitting up and laughing at Tim who's pedaling to keep up. Sometimes there is an advantage to being a big lad. We drop down through some small villages then turn left up we go again, a dead straight drag that just seems to go on and on, the road begins to flatten off and the Mavic bike goes by, my front tyre then seems to flatten off too aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh F*CK not again, we stop, Tim checks my tyre and finds a small flint in the sidewall, probably from last weeks Norwich 100, we use Tim's tube and pump the tyre up, with my mini pump!! this takes some time, then Tim suggests we swap wheels to try and prevent any more punctures. We're off again by this time Tim is berrating me and my choice of tyres, needless to say he's not a Vittoria fan!! We get back into the groove and keep up a reasonable pace, the roads swoop down and onto the valley floor, we manage to pass most of the riders ahead of us as we head for Neath, we ride through the town dodging traffic, which provides a change of focus! Then the road turns up hill and it's a steep one this time, this is painfull, we see our first walker of the day, this is a tough one as I head up Tim drops me and I just get my head down and concentrate of turning the pedals, as I approch the top I see the third and final feedsation, thank the lord.
We refuel again and head off on the final assault, the last 30 miles! Over the climb and back down to the valley floor, I trundle along with nothing left in my legs, my front mech has started to play up (I've since discovered that my frons shifter is broke) and won't keep the chain in the big ring, I'm past caring and just keep trundling along, wishing I hadn't buried myself on the climb out of Neath. I know what's coming, and start to feel the dread creeping in, I know that sometime and it will be soon, that the road will start to point skyward and we'll head up Bwlch for the second time. The afternoon sun is beating down on my back, it's just over my right shoulder, and I can feel it starting to burn the back of my right arm, I curse bigboss and his choice of jersey colour!
Then it starts, I look up and see Tim ahead the road is cut into the right side of the valley and it trails off into the distance through a row of cottages, Tim's already there about half a mile ahead, I put my head down, flick the right lever and start to spin, I don't look up until I'm aware that I've reached the villiage, then I glance up and my heart sinks, I see the road winding it's way up the valley side......... for miles! I'm spent and empty but just try to keep my leaden legs turning, I reach for the right lever and select a bigger cog.I daren't look up, I just keep ploughing on and it feels like I am pulling a plough, I glance up and see the road turn right, head down I ride until the turn, look up and see the road continue ribbon like winding it's way up the hill in to the distance. That's it I pull over and climb off, stopping for a drink. I climb back on but I've got no more to give, I get 100m further up the road and climb off again. I just need to rest, so I'm sitting there head in hands considering my options, broom wagon, walk, sit, ride, broom wagon, walk, sit ride, broom wagon, walk , sit, ride. I want to be at home on the sofa, not getting sunburnt on a Welsh mountainside. These thoughts continue as I just sit there considering my options over and over, riders pass by and ask if I'm OK, I just nod or mumble. I check my phone and see a missed call from Bigboss, I've got no signal, I text him instead, something along the lines of being completly ducked and that my legs have gone. The Aussies ride by, 'you OK mate?' I nod, 'head up only 4 k to the top' F*cking Aussies, 'cheers mate' I shout after them. I struggle to eat a bit of energy bar and drink some more High 5. After sitting for about 15 mins or maybe 20 I've made up my mind....... ride it is, I climb on select bottom gear and drag my big ass onward and upward, my new tactic is staring at the road about a metre in front of my front wheel. I pass a photographer and manage to maintain my 'I completly knackered' expression I pass another photographer who informs me that I have one bend to go, I daren't look up, I keep staring at the ground. Suddenly the pressure eases through the pedals, I drop a gear and keep pedaling, drop a gear and keep going, I look up and round the corner I see Tim sat at the top, what a guy, I can't believe he waited for me. To say I'm chuffed to see him is an understatement, I manage to get a bit of energy bar down me and more High 5 and then we head for home, Tim's been on the phone to bigboss who has already finished, Jonesy has beaten him and Big Simon has just finished. Heading of Bwlch is awesome, so fast, like a rollercoaster, there's a photographer on the way down, this time we're grinning from ear to ear.We ride the last stretch at a decent pace, I don't know where I'm getting the energy from but it keeps coming, we cruise back over the final short climb across a couple of roundabouts and arrive at the finish (we were getting faster down the home straight but I remember I can't sprint finish as I cant get into the big ring) to be met by bigboss, the commentator giver Streetlife a name check!!
I can't believe we made it. What a ride, long hills, fantastic decents, great countryside, Team Streetlife putting in some great rides, Jonesy just over an hour behind the Cervelo pro Dan Llyod.

The Dragon Ride, MTFU and get on with it.

The Deathstar