13-07-2015, 12:27 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

11-07-2015, 12:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

09-07-2015, 22:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

08-07-2015, 10:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today saw cooler weather but it was sunny when I took the Vortex out for a spin at 8.15am. I wanted to check if the clicking sound it has been making since the KOTK ride was gone. The bike had been chez Filip Sport where they dismounted the bracket. The bracket turned out to be fine and they only gave it a new coat of fat. Unfortunately I could hear the click from the first couple of meters. Very mysterious. When I got home I retightened the screws of the chainrings. Have to wait for the next ride to see if that will do the trick. What is certain is that it occurs with every spin of the crank. I was having my doubts about the chain but that does not make sense. If the click is still there during the next ride I might replace the chain just to rule it out. I rode towards Haasrode and Bierbeek and then towards Korbeek Lo where I took the Tiensesteenweg all the way to Boutersem. Here I took a right turn towards Vertrijk and Willebringen. The wind had been blowing in my favor up till now but when I turned towards the southwest it was blowing more or less into my face. Up until I reached the Meldertsestraat where I took a right turn towards Opvelp and Bierbeek. I noticed I had forgotten my pump and this made me a little anxious about getting a flat. But all went well except for some windy passages towards the end when I took the Expressweg back towards Blanden.  

Ride Stats : 33K and 240 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h10mins

2302/16370

06-07-2015, 11:16 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

05-07-2015, 10:58 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

29-06-2015, 20:46 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today I took a day off from work to do some chores that have been accumulating during the past weeks/months. I decided to take the Litespeed Vortex out for a spin that would take me to Filip Sport. The bike has been making some noises since the Kom Op tegen Kanker ride and I suspect the bottom bracket to be the culprit. Making an appointment for the bike to be checked out and I was back on my way. The ride home was proving to be easier because the wind was now blowing in my favour. Take the Sint-Jansberg Steenweg I could maintain a good tempo and I enjoyed my ride.  

Ride Stats : 52K and 405 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h47mins

2142/15065

24-06-2015, 13:42 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was overcast but rather warm when I rode out with the Merlin this morning. I wanted to do a long ride but didn't feel like riding on the roads. So I chose to do the Meerdael Bloso routes. Picking in on the Green where it crosses the Prosperdreef and already forced to do a slight detour because of workings on the roads past Sapellenbos. No worries , I continued on and took the new bikepath instead of the tank track parallel to the E40. A lot faster and also the next passage alongside the E40 I took on the easy southern side. On the blue where things became more hilly and I incorporated a secret offroad trail recently found in the vicinity of the Hercules salon. Just because I like it. Picking up on the blue again and settling down for a long passage in the sand along the Savenel wall. People were walking here but I managed to keep the wheels rolling. A little further I was on the Red and I could relax a bit on more easy going roads. The long uphill out of Bierbeek towards Mollendaalbos was very crowded with walkers and cyclist. I still managed to set down a fastest personal time - unintentionally - on this uphill as well as a 5th overall on the complete Red Bloso. On the Blue again and in Vaalbeek I switched to the Green for the last couple of kilometers. Cooling down with a little lap over the Wijngaardberg and alongside the Rooikapel into Meerdael Forest again. I felt good even though I was tired from a 25K forest walk I did yesterday.  

Ride Stats : 60K and 660 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h43mins

2090/14660

21-06-2015, 13:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After some rain during the early hours of the day, it dried out and the sun and wind were further ameliorating the trails and by the time I was home the trails were perfect again. I took the Merlin Works 4.0 and decided to ride the Green Meerdael Bloso in the reverse direction. Only two diversions from the trail, one the bikepath going from the west to the east, just south of the E40, instead of the bumpy trail on the other side of the highway. And another diversion because there was work in progress on the Parnassusdreef from the Sapellenbos to the Vinkenbosstraat and I had to take the Damendreef instead. There was also work in progress on another section of the Parnassusdreef and I was quite shaken when I arrived at the Oud-heverlee straat, full suspension or not. But I felt strong throughout the ride and could maintain a high pace. Just over an hour to reach my starting point on crossroads of the Monarkendreef and the Sint Joris Weert straat.  

Ride Stats : 27K and 255 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h07mins

2030/14000

18-06-2015, 20:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was dry and sunny but rather fresh with a northern breeze blowing. I decided to ride out with the Merlin for an hours' ride in Mollendaal Forest. Following my BBW Mollendaal trails, meandering up and down and squirming through the forest like a snake. I had very good legs today, feeling strong and my heart was following along almost effortlessly as I tackled the succession of turns and twisty trails. When I checked afterwards I completed the lap at an average speed of nearly 21.5kph, which is not bad considering the many turns and uphills. Of course the full suspension bike is also credit to that. But still, it left me with a satisfied feeling.  

Ride Stats : 24K and 315 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h05mins

2003/13745

16-06-2015, 19:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another sunny day and in the afternoon I decided to ride out with the Litespeed Vortex. I was aiming for a recovey ride, enoying the sun and the breeze. And that is exactly what it turned out to be. I could maintain a good speed when riding along the Tiensesteenweg to Tienen. Took the ring and then arrived in Oorbeek where I took a loop towards the Goudberg and the little Chapel on top of the Goudberg. Back over Oorbeek and Willebringen towards Bierbeek and Blanden. Some creaking noises coming from my bracket which could be a sign of needing a new one. I will have to contact Filip SPort about this soon. 

Ride Stats : 51K and 430 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h48mins

1979/13430

14-06-2015, 14:57 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This morning it was raining a little bit so I set out for a walk into Mollendaal and Meerdael Forest. 15.4K later I was back home. In the afternoon things cleared out and the sun was shining brightly when I took the Merlin for a stroll into the forest again. There was a strong wind blowing from the west as I made my way towards Bierbeek, Beauvechain, L'Ecluse and Sclimpre. From Sclimpre I rode to the west so I had to brave the wind for a while. Arriving in the fields south of Gottechain I rode towards Bossut and then into the Nethen valley. Into Meerdael Forest for a last stretch of offroad before arriving in Vaalbeek and Blanden. Had a good ride at a fast pace and with a low average heartrate of 114bpm. The Merlin performed as usual, flawlessly and dependable. 

Ride Stats : 44.5K and 430 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h56mins

1928/13015

13-06-2015, 17:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Fine weather today, sunny and warm with a steady eastern wind. Coming home from work I took the Merlin out for a spin along the Ignatius trail. I felt good and set a new speed record on this trail. The trails were excellent and I decided to ride into Nethen and take the trail south towards Bossut. From Bossut I took a left into Les Claines where I entered the Meerdael Forest again for a last stretch along the Prosperdreef into Blanden. Great legs. Superb ride. 

Ride Stats : 32K and 335 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h23mins

1884/12585

10-06-2015, 18:38 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time for a ride on the Merlin today. The weather was fine, sunny, dry and with a fresh wind blowing from the north. I started out for a ride that took me to the south of Meerdael along some technical descents and spicy uphill work. Into Beaumont and then back into Meerdael Forest for a succession of climbs and descents. I really enjoyed this ride with the Merlin providing me with fun and the technical ability only a full suspsension bike ahs on the gnarlier trails.  

Ride Stats : 26K and 380 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h15mins

1851/12250

08-06-2015, 21:03 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another sunny day so I set out for the Haasrode Industrie park again for a session of laps. First did 2 big laps, riding out of the industrie park to the Lindenboom and then back along the Geldenaaksebaan towards the entrance. After those I did a couple of smallers laps on the terrain itself. Legs felt good and I noticed some sunburn on my arms when I arrived home.  

Ride Stats : 32K and 220 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h06mins

1825/11870

07-06-2015, 12:28 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After doing a 17K forest walk this morning I still felt like I had some energy left for a ride. So I took the Litespeed Vortex out for a spin. Wearing the Kask helmet for the first time since last years ride where I experienced heart irregularities gave me a weird feeling. Part scared, part convinced that the helmet had nothing to do with it. I rode towards the Haasrode Industrie park where I did some laps around the grounds. The wind was playing with me and I had to settle for counter-clockwise laps. This left me with wind in the back during the climb and wind in the face on the flat part working my way around the lap. After some 35 minutes I decided to call it a day and rode back towards Blanden along the Expressweg. No irregularities of any kind. 

Ride Stats : 29K and 195 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h00mins

1794/11650

06-06-2015, 16:08 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was fine today so I decided to ride out for an hours' ride into the forest. Starting out over Blanden and Bierbeek and the making my way into Heverlee forest I rode from west to east. Staying close to the perimeter but just following my front wheel without a real plan I enjoyed to brisk ride with the Merlin Works 4.0. The legs felt fine and the trails were perfect.

03-06-2015, 20:13 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf