Can I Complete "The Dragon Ride Gran Fondo" in 6.5 Hours?

Can I Complete "The Dragon Ride Gran Fondo" in 6.5 Hours? - 215km 3500m+

Рет қаралды 11,745

Күн бұрын

Last year I managed to come within 5min of completing the 296km Dragon Devil in 9hrs! This year we took on the shorter but hilly route (per km) to see if the sub 6.5hr goal was achievable!
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Пікірлер: 48

@TJP32 3 ай бұрын

The route, scenery, local support and patience from drivers is second to none. Excellent event and agree....the Mac and cheese at the end was pure gold. Yum.

@hampshirecyclist 3 ай бұрын

Chapeau 🧢 Super impressive 💪🏻 I managed a much slower 07:55 moving time 😂

@dpthompson 3 ай бұрын

Also did the Gran Fondo route on Sunday. First time at the Dragon and have to say it’s the best event by far. The amount of fellow riders, on different routes, with different goals is amazing. The infrastructure and setup by the marshalls is absolutely perfect. It’s a must do event in my book and I’ll be back next year with friends.

@benharding3029 3 ай бұрын

Honestly the event was amazing. I even found on my rides to and from the air bnb/train stations and around the devil route all of the drivers were patient and I never really got buzzed at all

@nigelgittins 3 ай бұрын

Looks and sounds amazing. Not sure how it would be on a wet day. Still must do

@peterthomas8053 3 ай бұрын

I was going to comment on the stunning scenery, but if you're Welsh, then you already know that. I'm totally hooked on the planning and execution of your rides. I don't pretend to be a climber, TT rider or racer. in any way, shape, or form, but, loving these videos. Keep em coming Ed.👍

@jonathantalbot1648 3 ай бұрын

Did the media fondo this year in just 6hr. Sold to come back for the Gran Fondo next year with target sub 8hr.

@chrishayward9615 2 ай бұрын

Did Medio Fondo aged 60 in 2018. Route was the reverse and included Devils Elbow with Cimla the last climb. You are bang on the money about how good an event it is.

@Back2Basics1871 3 ай бұрын

The mac'n'cheese was fantastic! Well done on your target time. I did the Gran Fondo as well. Completed in a target time of 11 hours including stops (10:52 actual). We ended up faster on the road than planned but some extra/longer stops due to a puncture and wait for toilets. It was a great day though.

@tomturobin-harrington9064 2 ай бұрын

Well said Ed. Did it this year too and you flew past me on the 2nd major climb. But yeah great event, beautiful scenery, well organised. Even though it isn’t on closed roads, a lot of route is on very quiet roads

@tatumboy 3 ай бұрын

Great video, well done. How're you carrying the water bladder on your back? Thanks

@richardl-m6e 3 ай бұрын

Amazing time! My first dragon ride this year & First time riding south wales. Particularly scenic route really great day out. 8:15 elapsed time so I was 1hr 50 down the road still working my way up a climb somewhere while you're enjoying your mac and cheese! will be back next year though undecided on the devil or the gran fondo route again.

@misterpoppy2845 3 ай бұрын

The footage and commentary is absolutely amazing. Great work!

@benharding3029 3 ай бұрын

Done the devil this year for my first ride in wales and it was fantastic. The roads are butter and the climbs are so nice and even compared to Surrey where I normally ride and that’s ignore the descents which were unbelievable. Even the staff, whether they were at the start/finish, feed stops, on motorbikes or standing on junctions were all lovely. Honestly couldn’t have asked for a better day out and well worth the entrance fee

@arrieredupeloton Ай бұрын

Interestingly you mentioning the closed/open roads. I stopped doing human race events for this very reason. Considerably more expensive than some other events especially when compared to the continent and no benefit to them like closed roads. Granted it’s been a decade but I did L’etape in 2016 for around £60 at the time. Completely closed course. 3 years later I did the Harrogate worlds sportive (by human race) £120 and only the first 10ish km on the actual worlds final circuit was closed. Granted it is much harder to close roads in the uk especially in remote locations like the dragon ride in wales where the diversions would be massive but I don’t feel its value for money for roads I can go out at any time and do with the traffic. Enough moaning by me however great vid and great ride as per usual Ed 👍

@edlaverack Ай бұрын

I agree Tom, Euro events feel so far ahead but it's also because of the way sport and sporting events are viewed there too. Other than football, we don't have that in the UK.

@veloman59 3 ай бұрын

Very beautiful countryside. A great challenge 😊

@BeefAndCheeseRugby 3 ай бұрын

Can wales win a rugby match do

@arweldavies2541 3 ай бұрын

With the bladder, are you using the Rule28 gravel suit with the integrated bladder holder?

@edlaverack Ай бұрын

No, just down the jersey.

@duringthemeanwhilst 3 ай бұрын

great to see local roads again - so enjoyable. that loop used to form part of my training for the WCA 12 hour. nice to see (the back of) Lewys Hobbs too - top bloke 🙂

@Bandyrobs1 3 ай бұрын

When did the reverse the route? This was the opposite way round to when I did it in 2017

@gamma_dablam 2 ай бұрын

22 iirc

@mechanicOn2Wheelz 3 ай бұрын

Hi Ed!! Awesome video as usual 😜 Have you heard of the “Quebrantahuesos” sportive in spain? I noticed near start of video there was a lad with the top from 2018 edition sat on your wheel!! (Blue top, red specialized) 200km 3700m rides starts from Spain over Pyrenees into France and back into Spain defo think it would be a ride that would suit you!! Maybe worth a look for next year?😜🚀 (Normally is around end of June on a Saturday) All the best for next grand fondo UCI events coming up 😜 im sure you will smash it out the park as you do 😎💪🏼

@stevemiell4555 3 ай бұрын

Agreed Ed, there are "harder" events but this route was excellent & the descent from Bwlch to Port Talbot was "free miles"...I loved it as did the other 14 from my club, I did get my strategy wrong, was flying up over Penderyn Moor & struggled over the Bwlch, but it was still a blast, great ride BTW! The feeds & marshalls were also top notch!

@Philatlondon1 3 ай бұрын

Really inspiring video. Did I ride any of these climbs when I used to ride the 5 Valleys RR? Pretty sure we went up the Rhigos and Bwlch. It was always my favourite race.

@JamesSmith-ly2ef 3 ай бұрын

I saw you in the pen and was going to shout over but i really didn’t want to be that guy 😂 That was my first time at the Gran Fondo as i have only been cycling just over a year now and yes it was fantastic, i paced myself, fuelled up all the way round and and managed just over 8.5hrs moving time. Fuel stations were well stocked and the descents were fantastic. The only crap on was the one with traffic lights on it!!!

@MrYoungkimba 3 ай бұрын

Was really hoping to get a selfie with you Ed. Looks like you set off about 25 minutes before me. Well done! Can I borrow some of your FTP for next year, please?

@2freeheel 3 ай бұрын

Another fantastic video Ed and I really appreciate your time and effort in putting it together ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐there's a lot of insight and inspiration too for us more ordinary riders that are looking for nuggets of information to help us improve. You won by quite a margin too. 👍👑

@stevenfreeman7798 3 ай бұрын

Another class 1 racing snake performance Ed! Backed up again by Charlie as usual not many like her about lol!!. Be careful though you dont burn yourself out!.

@alexparker8355 3 ай бұрын

The reroute almost got me too, Garmin was not happy. I just chilled and enjoyed the ride as I am not a strong rider . Spent to much time at feed stops so was 11hrs total but 10ish moving. Loved the ride and met some great people.

@user-dm84 3 ай бұрын

Great breakdown and mammoth effort as always! My friend and I both watched this and I think you may have convinced us both to smash this next year 💪🏻

@niklasbirksted8175 3 ай бұрын

How does it feel riding with a camelbak on the back? It doesn't seem to be the gravel aero suit, so I imagine you just jam it down the speed suit, or?