Having completed the Dragon Ride for the first time in 2010 and thoughly enjoying it i made this a must do ride again this year

As the Dragon usually clashes with the Norwich 100 i did think about giving up my ride to support the IV members in our first year at Norfolks largest mass particpation bike ride although the lure of the stunning scenery, ten mile climbs, 50mph decents and a 124mile test of endurance was to much to turn down

This was my third sportive of the year and the one i was aiming to do well in this year. Although there was not as many riders from the club as there were last year we still had a healthy turn out from IV members, Dave, Big Rob, Andy Eddy, Paul Asplin, Big Si and Stef where out in force and sporting the Kit. It was unfortunate that Si and Stef arrived late and didn’t make it in time to ride together with us

We meet the night before in a local pub for a meal together, Me: Chicken and Chips = Carbs, Dave: some veggie stuff with a stick of something limp and green = healthy,  Andy E: Salmon and spuds = healthy and carbs, Big Si: Mixed Grill = fatty, greasy and massive, but boy did i wish i had of ordered that

Things looked ominous when back in the hotel room and getting the bikes ready i was pumping up my borrowed wheels as i had melted my ones in the Lakes only to get a puncture pumping the tyres up, great! Luckily i had bought some more borrowed wheels to swap the tyres over

Any way back to the ride, we joined the cue at 7.15am for the off at 8am, this was wise as very soon we had about 400 in front of us and another 3,000 behind us on this cold Welsh morning. The organisers let us away 100 at a time to the annoying soundtrack of the Pirates of the Caribean movie, this did start to wear a bit thin after the fourth time

All to soon and we where away, turning right and 400 yards in to the ride and already the preorganised plan of a steady pace until the first feed station plan was out of the window with Dave snapping away up the first little climbs. Navigating our way through the hords of riders sometimes four and five abreast was interesting with some equally intersting riding styles in view. I remember one random rider shouting to warn us that it was a long way to go, i have to admit i very nearly shouted  back “well get a f**king move on then”

Concious that the first feed stop was only at about 30ish miles i dug in to keep with the IV group knowing that the longer i could hang in there would dramatically reduce my overal time. Dave was setting the pace and the IV steam roller was reminisant of a pro team trail with us five line a stern with some excellent through and off going on, great to look behind to see a masive line of stranger cyclists hanging off the IV train

The terrain was undualting out to the coast and a mile from the first feed station i slipped off the back of the other four up a steep little climb, knowing that the stop was around the corner i didn’t push to hard to get back on knowing i would roll in within seconds of my club mates. As there was no attempt from my club mates to ease the pace slightly when i was distanced off the back i knew i was on my own today and i had to ride for myself

This was indeed the case and i was rolling to a stop about ten seconds after the rest, i quickly made up my mind that this would be a splash and go stop and the intention was to leave before the others as my thinking was to get a jump on them to limit the inevitable dropping that would happen sooner rather than later

Surprisingly i didn’t see them for some time and about 20 miles later half way up the Bwlch climb for the first time the inevitable happened with Dave passing me and then very closely followed by Andy, Rob and Paul, not able to maintain their pace they disapeared up and away to the summit of the Bwlch. Knowing we had to ride this again at about 100 miles in today was a sobbering thought. Not silly steep but extremley long for a UK climb the Bwlch is probably my favorite climb so far. On a good day you could easily pull out 20 minutes on your competitors (as i found out to my detrement) (twice)

The route was made up of a mixture of long climbs and long decents, with scenic country lanes and not so scenic run down ex mining villages and towns. It is sad to see what was once a thriving economy turn in to towns where the only businesses doing well are the building maintenance companies boarding up shop windows and houses. Although i am glad i didn’t have a repeat of last year when a local threw a can of special brew at my head

Thanks to Big Robs ingenious map that we taped to our cross bars i knew when the climbs where coming and this helped to pace my self. This was needed as at about 80 miles my legs had nothing left and i had vowed that this would be my last hilly sportive ever. I was quite serious about this and i may still see this through as i get my enjoyment from riding with my friends and riding 80 miles on my own around Wales wasn’t if i am honest all that fun, i can do that any day of the week for free

Anyone who has ever done a long ride or sportive will know what i meanwhen i say that all i wanted was for the ride to be over, especially when tackling the Bwlch for the second time that day. Unlike the year previous i didn’t seem to get in a group that suited my pace, i was either riding away from the group or being dropped of the back of another one, nothing in the middle

Once over the top of the Bwlch for the second time and you know you have about 18 miles to go of rolling hills although there was a little stinging climb shortly before the end where my energy left my body completely. A quick refuel with gels and a bar and i was rolling in to the finish with a few miles of a solo effort with speeds averaging 27mph, where did that come from? or was it just the will to finish and get home

Crossing the line i was pleased and proud to finish, although not as hard a ride as the Lakeland Loop or the Autumn Epic it was a hard day out.

I was pleased that i did it but more pleased to finish it

My club mates had better expiriences then me with Dave first one home in an impressive time of just over 6.30 with Andy Eddy close behind very closley followed by Paul and Big Rob. Big Si and Stef also rolled in in very repectable times

I would love to be able to ride this again but only if i was able to attack it rather than survive it

The jury is still out on this one although for anyone wanting to test them or complete there first real sportive then this is a great one to tick off