The UK - UCI Golden Bike world series round
Margam Park, June 10th 2012
Entries open 09.00, December 14th 2011
As announced last month the start/finish venue for the 2012 Wiggle Dragon Ride will be Margam Park, near Port Talbot, South Wales. Margam Park is situated just a few miles from M4 junction 38.
The move further west to Margam has allowed us to look at some climbs that the Dragon hasn't used before and the re-introduction of an old favourite we've not used since 2007.
So for 2012 the Gran Fondo route will include the climb of the Black Mountain and the return of the "hill with no name", (Bryn Melyn or Devil's elbow), in the middle of the Brecon Beacons.
These ascents will be scaled in addition to our signature climbs of the Bwlch and Rhigos plus Cimla and Cray - all run in the opposite direction compared to recent years.
All in all a much more challenging route than we've ever used in the past with a considerable increase in the amount of climbing but with only a slight increase in distance.
The Medio Fondo will include Cimla, the Rhigos and the Bwlch as well as Coelbren and Glynneath Bank; once again the amount of climbing is increased with yet again slightly more distance
The Corto Route will essentially be a circuit of Margam Mountain at 37km and 430m of climbing.
Dragon Ride route map here>>>
Gran Fondo 206km/3350m (2011 -196km/2645m) route profile here>>>
Medio Fondo 125km/1875m (2011 - 113km/1230m) route profile here>>>
Corto 37km/430m (2011 - 47km/450m) route profile here>>>
Source Bikehike - all distances approximate.
Full route details, maps and profiles can be viewed on the route page of Wiggle Dragon Ride website: http://www.wiggledragonride.com/route.php
Car Parking and start procedure
The car park will be situated in Margam Park within a few hundred yards of the start area. The closer proximity to the start and a significant increase in parking marshals should relate to fewer delays in getting parked. More toilets will be sited at the car park as well as the start village.
In order to reduce waiting time once riders have reached the start area the starting groups will be increased, the initial start time will be brought forward to 07.30 and Gran Fondo riders will depart first with Medio and Corto following later. Due to the staggered start format which we are required to follow it is inevitable a delay to start will occur for some riders, we will however try to minimise that wait as much as possible.
2011 video
During this year's event a film crew captured the action from the 2011 Dragon Ride. Check out the 2 versions on You Tube.
Short version http://youtu.be/CzIasGyW814
Longer edition http://youtu.be/l6NX1exRbOw
Cycle Show
If you're attending the Cycle Show at the NEC Birmingham, between the 30th September - 2nd October please come along and visit us at stand E22.
Website Facelift
To reflect the Dragon Rides Golden Bike status, the website has had an update with a slight change of colour to, yes you've guessed it - gold, the basic layout remains the same.
