Ahh so excited for this! I’ll be at the feed station after the Rhigos (Treorchy Feed Station) we’re a jolly bunch will be my 3rd year on the feed station 😁 really looking forward to seeing all the cyclists safely through and of course to cheering you all on! If anyone in the comments spots me do say hello 👋🏻 Just a heads up we’ve had a major fire on the Rhigos that fire crews have been working hard on the road was closed for some time yesterday but is back open now. However, there are traffic lights on the Rhigos as inspection work is on going from last years wildfire burned through the mesh that stops the rockfall so please be cautious as it’s down to one lane for a reasonable distance controlled by traffic lights.
I’m not doing it but I’ve got my own 80 miler planned, from tonypandy up rhigos, penderyn, down to Brecon town , jump on canal path to Talybont-on-Usk then up the side of Talybont reservoir (off road) down to pontsticsill res then taf trail to ponty on the gravel bike, we’ve got some of the best riding routes in the uk for sure!! Enjoy the dragon ride👍
Great video Ed. Very useful and pitched well for the audience on this one ie not treating us like numpties. See you on start line for Devil tomorrow. Good luck and riding everyone.
That section between feed 1 and 2 on the gran fondo looks savage! Off the bike at the moment with an injury, but definitely in for this next year. Loved the Geowizard reference!
Thanks for the video, Ed. I watched the video before the event this weekend and found it incredibly useful. You posted an incredible time. Hope your Grandad was impressed!
Thanks so much Ed. This video is mega! Excited but also scared sh*tless as I’ve done centuries but not this much climbing. Hope to get a selfie with you if you’re still around when I get done the Gran Fondo!
Thanks for the guide, good job I didn't watch it before signing up :-) I did the Grand Fondo, only my 2nd event and it was epic. The view were fantastic, really well organised, good food and great support. The climbs were monstrous! I'm not sure which one was worse, but I got over them all, came home in about 11 hours, so a long, long day. My Garmin reported 14 climbs, and I thought some were as hard as the official 8 climbs. You're absolutely right, in that the hills keep on coming at regular intervals, after the first couple of hours there's really no respite.
Great video Ed. I’ve signed up to the 2024 dragon ride. I’m following a trainer road gran fondo plan and doing hill reps / long rides on weekend. Anything else you think that could benefit? Loving the content 👍
Welcome aboard! Great event! To be honest you can't go wrong if you are prepping this early, just remember to train your gut to tolerate lots of carbs to perform over 7+hrs, that would be my top tip!
I think your note on the Staircase is the difference between a true amateur and a true pro. Most of us amateurs don't have the fast twitch muscle fibre or VO2 max to get up these extremely punchy, sharp climbs at any considerable speed. I can certainly spin up it in a less than 1:1, but I'm not holding anyone's wheel. There's a hill near me that's somewhat similar though not as extreme. It's less than 100m of climbing but over like half a kilometre. Pitches of 20-25% enough to get you out of the saddle in the smallest gear. I took it at a thermonuclear 2.3kmh, almost autopausing my garmin.
Hey, thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. I think the biggest goal for most people on the day of the event is to make it to the finish and if they manage to stay on their bike the whole ride then that's a bonus!
Hi Ed, could you possible do a sort of deep dive video into the nutrition app HEXIS which you displayed in your welsh championship video. I only ask because there’s not a lot of informational videos out there for it and also the app doesn’t offer a trial period so would mean committing straight to payment and information would be very helpful in this decision. Many Thanks.
Ahh so excited for this! I’ll be at the feed station after the Rhigos (Treorchy Feed Station) we’re a jolly bunch will be my 3rd year on the feed station 😁 really looking forward to seeing all the cyclists safely through and of course to cheering you all on! If anyone in the comments spots me do say hello 👋🏻 Just a heads up we’ve had a major fire on the Rhigos that fire crews have been working hard on the road was closed for some time yesterday but is back open now. However, there are traffic lights on the Rhigos as inspection work is on going from last years wildfire burned through the mesh that stops the rockfall so please be cautious as it’s down to one lane for a reasonable distance controlled by traffic lights.
Hi, do you know what we can expect on the feed station, will they have gels or will it just be food?
@@oliverjohn6897 they usually have gels and other bits from SiS as they sponsor the ride along with biscuits, bananas, etc
I’m not doing it but I’ve got my own 80 miler planned, from tonypandy up rhigos, penderyn, down to Brecon town , jump on canal path to Talybont-on-Usk then up the side of Talybont reservoir (off road) down to pontsticsill res then taf trail to ponty on the gravel bike, we’ve got some of the best riding routes in the uk for sure!! Enjoy the dragon ride👍
Doing the medio fondo, should be a cracking day out 🤙🏼
Great video Ed. Very useful and pitched well for the audience on this one ie not treating us like numpties. See you on start line for Devil tomorrow. Good luck and riding everyone.
That section between feed 1 and 2 on the gran fondo looks savage!
Off the bike at the moment with an injury, but definitely in for this next year.
Loved the Geowizard reference!
Thanks for the video, Ed. I watched the video before the event this weekend and found it incredibly useful.
You posted an incredible time. Hope your Grandad was impressed!
Thanks so much Ed. This video is mega! Excited but also scared sh*tless as I’ve done centuries but not this much climbing. Hope to get a selfie with you if you’re still around when I get done the Gran Fondo!
Thanks for the guide, good job I didn't watch it before signing up :-) I did the Grand Fondo, only my 2nd event and it was epic. The view were fantastic, really well organised, good food and great support. The climbs were monstrous! I'm not sure which one was worse, but I got over them all, came home in about 11 hours, so a long, long day. My Garmin reported 14 climbs, and I thought some were as hard as the official 8 climbs. You're absolutely right, in that the hills keep on coming at regular intervals, after the first couple of hours there's really no respite.
Awesome!! What a day!
Great video, thanks. I would love to see a detailed video how you eat on bigger rides. Thanks in advance
Just watching for last minute tips. Only the medio for me, huge respect for you devil's maybe next year
Nice one Ed. Keep the content coming mate, motivational for sure!
I still have nightmares thinking of the staircase 😢
Have booked the Fondo for 2024!
Doing the devil. Scared but excited. Any thoughts on how the rain might impact things? Are the downs likely to be treacherous anywhere?
Thank you 🙏
Currently resting and carbing up already.. any advice for a low volume high carb breakfast on the day?
Sorry I missed this, but rice pudding is a good one!
Unexpected shoutout to Geowizard! Straight line ride across Wales when?
Great video Ed. I’ve signed up to the 2024 dragon ride. I’m following a trainer road gran fondo plan and doing hill reps / long rides on weekend. Anything else you think that could benefit? Loving the content 👍
Welcome aboard! Great event! To be honest you can't go wrong if you are prepping this early, just remember to train your gut to tolerate lots of carbs to perform over 7+hrs, that would be my top tip!
The Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge was the hardest sportive event in Wales!
I was not aware :O
Apart from the staircase should be able to control power on the other climbs , steady away wins the day
I watched this video on Friday, then litterely 10 minutes later you rode past mevof Fairwood common 😂
I think your note on the Staircase is the difference between a true amateur and a true pro. Most of us amateurs don't have the fast twitch muscle fibre or VO2 max to get up these extremely punchy, sharp climbs at any considerable speed. I can certainly spin up it in a less than 1:1, but I'm not holding anyone's wheel.
There's a hill near me that's somewhat similar though not as extreme. It's less than 100m of climbing but over like half a kilometre. Pitches of 20-25% enough to get you out of the saddle in the smallest gear. I took it at a thermonuclear 2.3kmh, almost autopausing my garmin.
Hey, thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. I think the biggest goal for most people on the day of the event is to make it to the finish and if they manage to stay on their bike the whole ride then that's a bonus!
Hi Ed, could you possible do a sort of deep dive video into the nutrition app HEXIS which you displayed in your welsh championship video. I only ask because there’s not a lot of informational videos out there for it and also the app doesn’t offer a trial period so would mean committing straight to payment and information would be very helpful in this decision.
Many Thanks.
Noted, I'll try and incorporate in over the coming videos/weeks.
@@edlaverack sounds perfect, thanks again
I’ve just signed up for the Gran Fondo for 2025. The route no longer seems to include devils elbow?
Indeed, it was absent this year, I'm not sure why though. Good alternative though.
What Bike tyres do you recommend ? Thanks.
For big days like this you want a tyre that is reliable and fast rolling. Something like the Conti GP5000, maybe set up tubeless
@@edlaverack Thanks. great video ..
Weather looks Biblically wet !!!
This is the reverse route to when I done it in 2017. Why have they done that?
I'm not sure tbh
Probably to make the ending section of the ride more fun I suspect. I think it's the better way round, though does make it very second half heavy !
useful walker thru and reminders thanks
Thank you 🙏
You’re welcome 😊