Wiggle Dragon Ride 2013

Le Grand Depart

The Dragon Ride is an iconic part of the British sportive calendar, and one everyone serious about a cycling distance challenge needs to have a go at. So this year I entered early for the Gran Fondo distance, 130 odd miles of gruelling Welsh hills.

I hadn't anticipated other commitments, and ended up the week beforehand lazing on the Mediterranean island of Malta, with no bicycle for last minute training. I only got back home late on Saturday afternoon so had to decide last minute whether to actually go to Wales or not. Some friends posted weather reports from Port Talbot, a hot ride was guaranteed. I love cycling in the heat, and who knows when this opportunity will happen again, so the decision was made.

Four or five hours is not much sleep, but I needed to set off by 5:30am to get to the ride on time. The traffic was very light as expected for a Sunday morning. Arrived at 8:15am, quickly assembled the bike, stuffed my pockets with food, and raced to the start line. Managed to press ‘Go’ on my Garmin 800 at 8:30am as Helen Jenkins blew the starting horn.

After 10 days off, my legs were actually feeling great. I cruised for a couple of hours, keeping the cadence up and the effort low. Although I had other friends from my triathlon club competing, I was cycling alone. So I moved from group to group of other riders, drafting a little, sometimes moving forward to the next group on the inclines. I have done a lot of long rides over the years, and it’s tempting in the beginning, when you are feeling good, to push a bit too hard. I knew there were some serious hills to come so held back.

The first aid stop came at 48k. Not tired at all, but quite hungry, I wolfed down Jaffa cakes and salty boiled potatoes by the handful. A refill of water (no energy drinks here sadly) and I was on my way again quickly.

I had, as usual, hardly looked at the course map or elevation profile. I just knew there were hills. I was really amazed when I turned one corner and saw Black Mountain rising up in the distance with bikes as far as the eye could see. This was my perfect climb – not steep, so no need to use your lowest gears or get out of the saddle, but long and very steady. I got into a really good rhythm and moved my way through the field, passing loads of other riders. Kept looking over my shoulder, but there was no one behind coming up faster. The view from the top was just as good as below, but I didn’t have any time to stop and admire it. Some people were taking photos, with all the bikes it’s a great picture. Maybe I’ll come back and do the Dragon Ride as a social occasion next time and take a camera. No, I was quickly flying down the other side of the hill trying to get my average speed back on track.

Going down hill fast

I ride on average speed. I work out what average I want to finish with, and keep that on target during the ride. I picked 25km/h for today as I had a mistaken idea that there was a 8 hour 30 cut off for a medal time and reckoned this would do it for me. (there was no such time – more on that later). So on the big hills, when my average dropped to 24.4km/h, that meant I had to make sure I pushed hard enough down the other side to get it back up to 25km/h again, or more if I could. I managed this all day.

There was another hill before the 96k food stop, and I was still feeling good. Hard to believe I wasn't even half way though. Completely ravenous by now, I stuffed potatoes, cereal bars and cherry Bakewell tarts into my face with little decorum, and all mixing together in my mouth for some interesting taste sensations.

So far I’d been riding just under four hours – the easy bit. From here, for the next four hours, it was to be relentless climbing and descending. It’s not always, or even usually, that your body that first gets exhausted by this – it is also a mental challenge. There was one timed climb, very steep and narrow, with sheep staring from both sides. This wasn't a long one, but I just didn't have the mental power for it for some reason. I was quite disappointed with my performance, and pulled myself together a bit after that. Nutrition is very important. I ate a banana as I was doing this climb, but perhaps I was already low by then and it was too late. I also tried to drink more than I usually do, as the weather was hot, but I still only had about 3 litres for the whole day so maybe that was also a factor.

I felt fine on the rest of the climbs, and only stopped very briefly at the third food stop for the usual smorgasbord and drink refill. There were fewer riders in groups now, most of us doing our solo battles.  There didn't seem to be any flat sections, just long slow climbs and fast descents. With 40km to go I saw the final food stop. My mental calculator was telling me I was cutting it fine for the 8:30hrs finish time. I was out of energy drink, but I had 500ml of water in my second bottle that I’d been carrying all day. I also has a cereal bar and a gel. So I skipped the stop.

look mum, one hand

I really had had enough climbing by now, and cursed my lack of preparation, as here came another one. I asked a cyclist near me if this was the last hill (I’d heard someone earlier saying that the final 25 was downhill or flat, but did he mean km or miles!). Confirmation came and this gave me a bit of a boost. I was tired though, and on this hill got overtaken on an ascent for the first time in the day. I tried to console myself by thinking maybe they were riders on the shorter course, as our longer route had re-joined theirs now, but this is probably wishful thinking.

Finally over the other side, I found a second wind and pushed for home. I was hoping to find some other riders to share the work, but I was overtaking most people too quickly. One group of three came past me, but too fast to let me jump onto the back. My 25km/h average was back after the dip on the last climb, and I manager to keep it rising. Some traffic lights in a town about 10k from home frustrated me, but then I was pushing hard on more open roads.

And then with about 6k to go, it was all uphill again, with the wind in my face. I didn't expect this. I tried hard to keep to 25km/h, almost managing it, and finally the entrance to the park arrived, and I was in the finishing chute.

Anna and me at the finish

I made it in 8:18:35. The cut off time I then discovered was 9:30, so skipping the food stop and my mad 40k dash had been totally unnecessary. But I was really pleased to see that my time was best for the day amongst my friends, and without the deadline pulling me on that wouldn't have been the case.

My strong finish in this kind of event is unusual. I wondered if I’d really been trying hard enough. But I think my pacing was just right to get this result. Faster in the beginning would have left me too drained later on and I would have lost more time.

I had had an awesome day, and finished still feeling as if I could do more, and am really pleased with the result.

Links:

Strava

Human Race Results

Photos from Sportcam seem to be removed - only available for 6 months. 

Correction: On the race results page there is in fact a medal table. So for my age group, I did just manage a Bronze medal after all...