Mark and i met up at St Clears at 6am. I was feeling a little tired from the wales sportive the day before.
Having rode the dragon the previous year and had an hour and a half wait to set off, this year was well organised. No hanging around at all. Mark and i set off with our bunch at 7.40.
I was feeling a bit leggy but Mark insisted we ride together. Half way up the first climb of the day after about 20 miles i had a puncture. There was a big group on the hill and Mark was about 5 meters ahead of me, not knowing i stopped he carried on to the top. A marshall on a motorbike soon stopped and very kindly offered some help. He went on to explain that his son is a very keen cyclist, so he knew everything there is to know about changing a tube. I then had to listen as he spoke about what races his son had done before changing my tube! He even had to use his own tyre levers which were on his bike on the other side of the road which took up a bit more time. In fairness he was very good and he found a piece of glass in the tyre which i wouldn`t of bothered looking for, i would of just changed the tube and had another puncture 100 yards further on.
Whilst all this was going on Mark was at the top waiting for me. I was so long he thought i had ridden past him so off he went never to be seen again. I`m glad he did because i would of held him up, and he went on to post a cracking time so well done Mark, a brilliant effort all in the name of Roger.
By this stage i wasn`t interested in a good time, it was all about finishing. It was a brutal course so much harder than last years. I was fine on the climbs just taking them nice and steady. There was one climb that stood out called Bryn Melyn. What they did was put signs up before the climbs with the details of how long they are and how steep. Bryn Melyn was 1.5k long at 20% which was a bit off putting seeing that! There were dozens pushing their bikes up that.
Got to the top of the bwlch at 4 o`clock and busted a gut to try and get back in under 40 min to finish under 9 hours. But the last 4/5 miles dragged on and it was not to be.
It was a long day and if id of known it was that hard i perhaps wouldnt of rode 2 in 2 days.
Well done to all who rode it. Nick, Mark, Huw, Clover and our newest member Gareth who snapped a spoke and rode the last 53 miles with a buckled wheel and still said he enjoyed it!!
I must say the Wales sportive the previous day was superb. Relaxed start, great support around the course and a fantastic finish in Tenby with a great atmosphere. Thats the one for me next year.
