Time for the 2013 edition of the Dragon ride. We had boycotted 2012 in protest of the timing chip and start time fiasco of 2011 and, if we were being honest, apathy. But we’d heard some reassuring feedback that the problems had been solved for the 2012 ride. I’d had most of May off the bike due to a holiday in Asia, so wisely decided not to take on the rather horrible looking 130 miles Gran Fondo route, electing for the 85 mile easy option instead.
The ride was conducted in glorious sunshine, with none of the problems of the previous years. Simon and I started out together, but he was going strong and dropped me like a stone on the first steep climb. The rest of the ride was typical Dragon fayre, a mixture of fast B-roads which allowed some decent group riding (if one was lucky enough to chance upon some riders going at the right pace) and the usual signature climbs up the Bwlch and Rhigos, but this time in the opposite direction as from previous years.
My legs started to cramp up in the final 10 miles, which meant that a bombastic sprint finish was off the cards. I finished in 5:19 for the 85 mile medio fondo which was just outside of the Bronze cut off time and a somewhat mediocre result compared to previous performances. I’m sure I’ll be back for future Dragon rides, but it would be good if they shook up the formula a bit with some new climbs.
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