PTW

This weekend I will be joining the masses of weekend warriors (to quote Pip) on the dragon ride. I have searched through the entry list and see there are a few other members entered, so if you want some club company let me know. 

I'll see you there. I'm ridding under someone elses name. He cant make it so I'm using his number.

Well done on ordering perfect weather.

I'm not opposed to these events (in fact I positively like them) but can't understand why local riders would pay to do this one.

@ Dave, to help out with the charity's.

Ditto Wayne's comment,

Also for 1 day only I have gone from being the worst climber on a Sunday, to passing many masses going up the Bwlch. What a great sensation.

Back to normality and more kick ins next week.

That's fair enough, good reason. Who were you guys riding for? Should have said on here - could have drummed up some sponsorship!!

OK. So how did everyone do?

I spent the weekend in the company of a baby with croup, so however much you think YOU might have suffered on your 200km ride, that's nothing...

And funnily enough on our way to and from (Newtown) hospital at 2am (don't ask), we saw at least half a dozen Audaxers pottering along in ghostly silence with nuclear powered lighting. I reckon they must have been doing the Offa's Dyke 600km, although that's only a guess. Yep, that's 600km.

Just been on Dragon website to see official times and hardly any times listed. Those times which are listed many seen dodgy (e.g. 120km in 2 hr 14 minutes). Notice says they have had problems with timing chips, so all pretty embarrassing for organisers Wiggle. That's enough of sportives and charity for me, should have saved the £30+ and the hour waiting to cross the start line and just rode around with my old reliable Timex.
Glad the well oiled PTW machine doesn't get these problems on Thursday nights, suggest all PTW timekeepers apply for vacant positions due to be advertised on Wiggles website soon.

Dave C, I concur. I also don't understand why local riders would want to ride a shambles like this.

The Dragon ride has a terrible reputation for the level of service it gives to the riders. I have ridden a few sportives in my time (not local) and they have been excellent compared to the stories I here from the Dragon Ride each year.

Out of curiosity - did you raise money for charities separately or did you think your entry fee was going to a charity? Because that's not actually the case... quite the opposite in fact.

Guys you shoudl take a look at the Tour of the Black Mountains Sportive in July - excellent event and great course.

I decided not to do the dragon this year, sounds like they had a bit of a mare. BUt I have ridden it 3 times previously and I have to say they organisation and facilities was always good. Better than some enduro's I've done. I guess sometimes things go wrong. I thought the course was a little unispiring this year.

Sounds like it was a bit of a shambles by the reports I've had regarding Sundays shenanigans....Whilst on the subject of sportives, anyone have any reports / thoughts regarding the Sarn Helen ride, I see the website is no longer up 'n running......Does this mean the event is NO longer???

AORboyo wrote

Sounds like it was a bit of a shambles by the reports I've had regarding Sundays shenanigans....Whilst on the subject of sportives, anyone have any reports / thoughts regarding the Sarn Helen ride, I see the website is no longer up 'n running......Does this mean the event is NO longer???

I have it on good authority(Richard Smith) that the Sarn Helen Sportif ride is going ahead,Quote : They are having some little problems with the hosting site.

Rant over!

Though I believed, probably like many others that a proportion of the entry was probably going to the very worthy Prostate Cancer charity, especially considering the entry fee amount and the 4200 or so entries. It is extremely disappointing if this is not the case.

May consider Tour of Black Mountains closer to date, but will make sure I wind up my timex at the start as backup

Seems like you and Wayne were duped. I'm a lawyer of course - I ALWAYS read the small print.

If you want guys I'm sure we could organise a club run that covers the route, and we could organise it on a day where it isn't pissing down. I'm sure Spot will waive the £30 entry fee too!

Cheers Dave, will keep that in mind next time. lol
Im just glad that my climbing legs are getting better an stronger.