Dragon Devil 2025

When:

Distance: 183.86 miles Elevation: 14,715 ft

Time: 13 hours 38m Weather: Variable from overcast to apocalyptic

This event and I had unfinished business. I've done the event a few times now, but only tackled the devil once. Unfortunately, that one time, I didn't do the true devil as their was an accident on the Bwlch, meaning we were diverted, so I don't feel like I had truly completed the devil. I was due to do the event last year, as a culmination of my four events back to back, but I was too broken, so this year was about putting right a few wrongs. And boy did it make me work for it.... I felt pretty good about this event, a relaxed day the day before, a steady drive down and even found a pub to have a pint before getting myself together for the morning. As is the norm for me, this involves, checking and rechecking my kit about 100 times. Satisfied, I finally fell into bed at a decent hour. I had a decent sleep, the standard instant porridge, nana and then off to the start. It took a bit longer than I thought to get there, which meant no coffee, but as build ups go, it wasn't bad. 

The start is usually a good one, a nice flat ride out, passed Tata steal and a glimpse of the mountains to come. I managed to get in a group that was going at a good pace and hang with it, making the flat and fast start all the more enjoyable. The climbs weren't bad, a good wake up of the legs and the weather showed no sign of what was to come later, glimpses off sun, but mostly overcast.... for now. I even managed a few chats with other riders and very much the most relaxed I've been on a ride. 

Before long it was the first real climb the black mountain, but this is the sort of climb I enjoy. It's long, but constant and I am proud of how hard I've worked. I'm not going to challenge the greats of climbing, or even the mediocre, but it's probably my strongest "talent" on a bike. Find a good gear, get in a rhythm, and climb away. Unfortunately, Wales delivered the foggy weather that scuppered the views with nothing but fog, the glimpses of the landscape though, a welcome change, from the garage walls, and the constant training for this event. Still one climb in the bag, and rolling into the rest stop, I was feeling good.

Now this is where the trouble began. The cassette started to kick the chain off the top gear and I was to distracted by this and didn't fuel properly for the Devils Staircase, which was a really rookie error. This is a very sharp, unforgiving gradient, that requires mental strength, stamina and full gas. So of course on the way up a sharp climb: cramp and the walk of shame up the climb. I just hadn't fuelled well for this being distracted, and didn't have the explosive power needed to get up it. Luckily it didn't cost me, and I had the reserves to recover and have the physical strength and endurance to get round the remaining 100 something miles.

There was no time to dwell though and the next bit of riding is some of my favourite roads I've ever ridden, fast sweeping bends, with views over the lakes and my mood did lift, in spite of the increasingly challenging weather.  And then the chain came off and got really stuck, my frustration was really getting to me as I failed to get it unstuck and was about ready to hurl my bike into the Quarry Lake. So thanks so much to the two guys who stopped, helped me out, and had the tools to adjust the limit screws to stop this happening. The gears weren't great for the rest of the ride, but the chain stayed on and that was one less thing to worry about until I got home.

And just in time, as the weather really came at us then. Heavy rain, endless wind and thank God I'd grabbed my coat just before I left. After the rest stop and a regroup, making sure to have a word with myself, as it was a mentally hard section and the next section was the same. It's not the prettiest part of the ride, some busy a roads, exposing you even more to the elements, few views to distract you, and no groups, as it breaks up by now and the weather made it every man/woman for himself.

It was a long bypass and the weather made it so mentally tough, the wind made it a constant battle to keep the bike stable, and my body was aching. I rolled into the next rest stop, quick fed and go as it continued to hammer it down. I find if I stop I just struggle to keep going, to the emphasis was, fuel, 5 mins rest, check bike, go. If my descriptions are even more vague than usual, it's because the unforgiving wind, which drove the rain into you, made me keep my head down and just focus on moving. By now I wanted to be anywhere, but on my bike, but being in the middle of no where, you have a good motivator to keep moving. To the next rest stop more of the same, head down as the rain drove the rain into you so much it hurt. Any thoughts of a good time had long gone and it was just about getting round.

As I got to the final rest stop with two big climbs ahead, I was soaked through and it felt so easy to hide with others, we were all suffering, everywhere you looked, the thoughts you had, reflected on the faces around you. So again, resist the heaters, the foil blankets Russ, just wee, fuel and move. Again rolling out shortly after, rest would come when I'm done. It was then the bike started making a noise....

Five mins down the road I realised I'd lost a spoke. By now I am used to not being frustrated by Mechanicals, It's part of the make up of endurance events. Again, thanks to the random South Africa out shopping who held my bike while I wrapped the spoke. He told me I was too close to the end to stop and to enjoy the Bwlchh and he was right, I'd chosen to do this.

So up Rhigos and this was hard, harder still when spoke 2 went, but I did it. Another long, winding climb, with lots of switch backs. Even in the horrific weather, the views were spectacular, seeing the true Wales! By now I was shouting at the wind, like a mentalist, hoping it might see reason and stop. But the anger drove me on and I some how pb'd the Bwlch! One long descent and a ride into the finish and I'd be done.

The descent was hard, all sorts of crap on the road, spray, wind, but the end was insight. By now it was getting dark and I was sore, tired, but relieved. I had fuelled and paced well, so had

Crossing the line I just felt.... relief.... I grabbed some Mac and cheese, a medal and hide it the car. By now it was 9pm and I was just glad to be done. I reassured Em I was OK, drove to hotel and fell into bed.

Now looking back, I'm bloody proud of myself, I wanted to give up, I didn't. That's the longest hardest ride I've ever done and the time doesn't matter, I did it and put some demons to rest.

My second dragon devil done. Its the last for now... next year is a return to the giants head and its too close to this event. Maybe I'll return in a few years.....

This event I should have trained harder for and that's my reminder for the Marathon. I've been too complacent and I need to respect events (more on that at two tunnels.) With the Marathon, I need to commit to my long runs, I find to many excuses to put them off, I can't rely on previous muscle memory, I have to put the effort in.

I also have upgraded my bike. Poor Alan has been battered and it was time. He's had a much needed repair, but big events our now for ginger, my 2025 defy. I love this bike but Alan isn't going anywhere, it will be my winter/training bike....

After a few weeks of proper recovery, including yoga and nothing silly, finally I did it right. It was onto the two tunnels.