Forum Baby Dragon Ride

Anyone interested in a Forum ride in South Wales 24th March 2012 10 am start/ Finish in Neath following a shortened version of the famous Dragon Ride?

I have plotted a route of about 7okms (45 miles) taking in the major climbs of the Bwlch and Rhigos Mountains. Obviously theres a bit of climbing on this route but none of it is stupidly steep and there are some breathtaking views .

There are a few cafes on the way round, if anyone wanted we could do a small detour to see the Melincourt Waterfall near the end.

Dont worry about being left behind. I am not fast and propose plenty of stops for photographs cafes etc.Conversely anyone wanted to do more miles could easilly plot a longer route back from Glyn Neath and meet up again in Neath.

Link to route map here..http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=345000

I d prefer march if possible ?

i could come along to that too - would be gd training for the asthma uk beach to beach - altho i do hate climbing hills.

Would be great training for your charity ride. Obviously there is quite a bit of climbing but its all fairly gradual and the last 20 miles or so is downhill/ flat to the finish.4000 people pay £30 plus to ride these roads on the Dragon, we get to do them for free

This is very tempting - I hope that you settle on a good date.

March 24th ,Set off about 10 AM.

hopefully will suit most people.

The whole route is on tarmac.I last rode the route about a month ago and all the surfaces were good.

Should give me just enough time to ride there and back in daylight. Im there !

Excellent. I might ride over and train back , may have to have a pint while waiting for the train

Sounds good Graham. Nice route. It's possible I'll be in London on 24 March, but if I'm at home then I'm in.

Sure I could fit a pint or 2 in somewhere, eh TC ?

It hadn't occurred to me, of course, but now that you mention it I suppose a jar or two might be nice, for a change. Frustratingly the route takes us within a couple of miles of the fabulous Red Lion at Penderyn, but a spell by their fire with a few pints is not the sort of thing that fires one up to climb the Rhigos. Of course, if we were to take the route anticlockwise, it would be pretty much downhill all the way back to Neath...

Actually I'll have to take it easy on the beers anyway, cos I work on Saturday nights

I had planned on doing it anticlockwise anyway to take advantage of the long downhill from Rhigos to Neath at the end. If people want to we could easilly visit Penderyn to refil the water bottles :-)

Pub or Distillery Graham ?

Perhaps if TC sees Ade she could give him the heads up on this,as they don t seem to come on much now.

More the merrier. I think Distillery visits have to be pre booked. Would be simpler just to visit the pub.

Not always, when I went I just turned up. Well worth the trip by the way, even got to try neat spirit direct from the still, what an experience.......

Will do. He works just across the road from me.

Oh I'm away that weekend, singing in the depths of some Surrey woods (long story). I'd be very keen to do a ride like this another time though, and stay on in Wales in my van to explore. I've only been there a couple of times, and a week in Rhyll thirty years ago doesn't really count does it.

Thats a shame TMN and they all count!

Theres an article in cycling weekly 19th jan edition about Dan Pearson (national Junior Road Champion) he describes his favourite training route as basically our Baby Dragon Route.He didnt mention stopping at Red Lion though funnilly enough

A few more pics