20-11-2016, 10:44 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

16-11-2016, 20:40 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

12-11-2016, 20:14 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After another week of heavy hiking I was set for a stint on a bike today. The weather was cool but dry this morning so I rode out with the Obed. Both tyres at 4 bars because the rear tyre has Stans' liquid in it and the soupape is blocked. So I can't deflate it after pushing it to 4 bars to let the tyre settle on the rim. This provide a harsh and springy ride, not offering a lot of grip on the uphills but obviously snake bites are out of the question with this much pressure. I rode through Mollendaal forest and the set to the south until I reached the outskirts of Mille. Passing through Tourinnes and the up to the little Chapel in Nodebais. From Nodebais to Hamme Mille and up the Kromme Dreef to reach the Prosperdreef. This dreef I followed up north until it was blocked by the E40. Down the Bierbeekpleindreef and then into Blanden for a last stretch before reaching home. The ride went fine although I could feel my legs were not accustomed to riding a bike. Some muscles really strained.

Ride Stats : 29K and 380 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h26mins

4502/31520

06-11-2016, 12:28 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was superb this morning and rather warm for this penultimate day of October. I took the Merlin out for a spin along the Green Bloso in Meerdael. The trails were dry and covered with leaves. Demanding attention but very fast. I rode a good pace, also on the uphills, thanks to the effectiveness of this bike and good legs. Even though I have done nothing but hiking these last couple of weeks my cycling legs are still there.

30-10-2016, 13:06 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today the weather forecast called for sun and after yesterdays' 20.5K hike I was ready for a longer ride on the mountainbike. I took the Obed out and it was around 10 degrees C around 9 in the AM when I rode towards the Overijse Bloso trails. It had been a while - a little more than 2 years, believe it or not - since I did these and I was curious about the condition of some of the trails. I shouldn't have worried because they were fine. Here and there some deep ruts had formed in the descents and a some of the ascents were made better, especially the steep one up the Footpath 76 where some steps were put in place instead of the near impossible deept rut from years ago. Here and there some puddles of water were present, especially on the flat field trails. I quite enjoyed the ride, finishing with a little stint into Meerdael forest.

Ride Stats : 50K and 675 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h43mins

4445/30870

16-10-2016, 13:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It had been a while since I biked into Accro Country. Today looked like a fine day for it . The warmth of summer is gone, and with it also the horseflies and other flying critters. It was sunny but with an average temperature of 7 degrees C rather fresh, especially at the the start of the ride when I rode through Meerdael forest towards its southern edge near Nethen. I took the Merlin because the trails promised to be dry, hard and fast. Over the plains of Bossut and then down into Archennes. From Archennes I took the long climb up towards the south of Wavre. There was an organised ride taking place because I crossed a lot of mountainbikers. Into Basse Wavre and then up the valley out of Gastuche towards Ottenburg. Some climbing to be done here but I settled into a rhythm I could maintain and let the bike find its way. In Ottenburg I rode towards Eerken again, taking the tricky downhill on the red Overijse Bloso. Up the valley wall again towards La Malaise and then down into Nethen. Steep into the Meerdael Forest again for a last stretch of forest before arriving in Blanden again. I had a great ride, it was really superb to be able to ride on the demanding but beautiful Accro Bike trails.

09-10-2016, 14:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Some rain was forecast in the late AM so I rode out early on the Litespeed Obed. It had rained ever so slightly during the night and early morning so there was no more dust on the trails. But no mud either, far from it. I put 4 bars in my tyres so I was set for a fast ride. The reason for the 4 bars being that my rear inner tyre is a Stan Noflat and that inflates very badly due to the product that is inside the tyre which seems to block the air passage through the valve. Hard to get air in, but even harder to get air out. I needed to inflate the tyre to 4 bars in order for it to pop on the rim, but now I can't seem to get any air out. So I pumped my front tyre to a matching pressure and rode out. Needless to say, the ride was a fast one but the tyre is hell over heavy gravel . Was fine on most of the tracks though and I completed my ride with a good feeling in my legs.

Ride Stats : 31K and 225 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h24mins

4353/29540

01-10-2016, 11:48 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I was home this week for a late holiday but I felt a little poor during the first days , due to a sore throat. So I waited until the throat was better and today I felt confifent enough to ride out. I wanted to do a Merlin ride and I also set on doing a perimeter ride of Meerdael and Heverlee forest. The Merlin felt great and even though I was taking it easy I could maintain a good average throughout the ride. The technical bits were a blast on this bike. After passing from the Kouterbos into Heverlee forest the trails became more relaxing and less hilly. SO I could start my recovery. The weather was still okay with an average of 17 degrees C. There was a strong wind blowing from the southwest but that did not bother me because I was following the forest edges from inside the forest.

29-09-2016, 12:01 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another week with a lot of hiking and Pokemon catching. But when the weather was warm and I had a little time after work I rode out on the Litespeed Obed for a spin around the Green Bloso route in Meerdael. The trails were superdry and I could maintain a good speed throughout the ride. My cycling legs were feeling great. Nice ride.

Ride Stats : 30K and 270 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h23mins

4288/28870

19-09-2016, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This week again the focus was on hiking, with two trips daily - one at work aroud noon and one when I rode home - stopping at Arenberg to go for a Pokemon hunt. I'm at level 22 now and progressing from one level to another gets harder and harder and demands more kilometers and Pokemon catches. This weekend saw me taking a rest on saturday and going for a mountainbike ride today. I started out through Heverlee forest, towards Egenhoven and then onwards into the Sonian forest. Following one of the Tervuren Bloso trails dropped me into Eizer where I had to take the steep Horenberg to ride towards Huldenberg. Here I started following the river Ijse along its borders on the gravel roads. All the way up to Leefdaal where I took a loop through the Doode Beemde to reach Sint Joris Weert. Into the Meerdael forest for a stretch following the arrowing of the Zoenk organised ride. Into Vaalbeek and then back to Blanden along the Langendaal. I had a great ride, the weather was overcast but warm and with the occasional light rain. Excellent for biking. The legs felt OK.

Ride Stats : 48K and 425 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h20mins

4259/28600

11-09-2016, 12:11 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Lots of walking this week with the Pokemon hunt that is getting more serious since I made level 20. Today the weather forecast called for intermittent showers but when I spotted a sunny window of around one hour I got on the Obed and rode into Meerdael forest. To Mollendaal and then the cobbles up to Beauvechain. Turning towards Nodebais following field roads I could already see dark clouds gathering on the horizon and speeding their way towards me. In and out of Valduc and just when I passed the forest border the drops started to fall. the trees sheltered me when I made my way to the north, with a little loop over the Naamsesteenweg and then along the Prosperdreef into Vaalbeek. When I arrived home it started to rain more seriously, just in time.

Ride Stats : 25K and 275 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h17mins

4211/28175

04-09-2016, 10:56 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

28-08-2016, 11:46 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The week was a tropical one, high temperatures and that meant I did not ride out. This saturday saw me leaving early to beat the heat. I took the Obed out for a spin into Meerdael forest and then into Valduc, Mille and Nodebais. My Garmin 705 got dropped from the bike on a cobbly descent and I had to return and look for it. Luckily it was lying in the middle of the road an seemed to be unharmed. I stashed it away in the back of my cycle shirt and moved on. The weather was still great for cycling with temperatures cool in the forest and going towards 20 degrees C in the morning sun. When I reached the Godensalon I made a little loop back to the Milse Baan and then followed the Walendreef back to the southeast corner of the forest. back to Mille, Tourinnes and Nodebais. The temperatures were getting higher but I was making good speed now and there was a breeze blowing from the north to keep things cool enough to reach the forest once again after passing Valduc and the forestry house "The Warande" . The last couple of K's back to Blanden were a breeze.

Ride Stats : 37K and 520 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h53mins

4144/27500

27-08-2016, 12:03 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Wanted to ride with the Obed this evening but it had developed a flat and I was forced to take another bike. Oh well, out comes the Merlin Works 4.0 for a short but sweet ride taking me through Meerdael Forest south to Valduc and then into Nodebais. Looping around the Agbiermont castle to find Tourinnes-la-Grosse and then back along the Chapelle Ste Corneille into Mille and a little further into Meerdael Forest. The Merlin is a fast bike and my legs felt great so I was home within the hour on this ride

18-08-2016, 21:07 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Good cycling weather today. Sunny and a cooling breeze from the northeast. I started early around 8.30Am. Taking out the Litespeed Vortex for a 100K spin on my own. It had been a while - not the distance but riding it on my own - and I started out at a moderate pace whilst I made my way over Bierbeek and Meldert to Hoegaarden. The Ravel brought me swiftly to Jodoigne and Eghezee, the wind giving me a gentle push. In Eghezee I rode towards Longchamps and then I made a loop over St Germain to reach Liernu. Have a gaze at the amazingly big old oak I rode towards Perwez and then took a right turn into the wind towards Grand-Rosieres-Hottomont. Following the N91 for a short distance until I could inject myself on the Ravel coming from Perwez. A little bit further I found the Ravel 2 again and followed that back over Jodoigne to Hoegaarden. Looping over Tienen and then along the Tiensesteenweg towards Leuven I could make it a little more than a 100K. The legs felt great but I began to feel them getting tired towards the end. Still managed a good average speed considering the wind which gave me no quarter during the middle part of my ride. It felt great to feel its push when I followed the Expressweg into Blanden.

Ride Stats : 103K and 650 heightmeters (Garmin) in 03h48mins

4086/26750

15-08-2016, 13:25 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Weekend and the weather was relatively good. At least for me. Overcast and temperatures of around 14 degrees C made me take out the Litespeed Obed for a forest ride. Into Meerdael and then looping over Hamme Mille, Mille and Tourinnes into Nodebais. Obligatory stop ate the Pokestop in Nodebais for a quick reload and then back into gear for a return into Meerdael Forest over Valduc. A 360 when I was at the Weertse dreef and riding the complete loop back in the opposite direction. When I arrived in Blanden I decide to do an extra loop in Heverlee forest , picking in in Vaalbeek on the Vijf Eikenwandeling for a quick recon of that route. Back to Blanden through Vaalbeek again and feeling quite satisfied with my ride.

Ride Stats : 47K and 575 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h27mins

3983/26100

13-08-2016, 12:33 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Weather was reasonably well this late afternoon, with the sun shining and temperatures around 18 degrees C. I could wear long sleeves and ride into the forest without any worries about nasty bugs. I did a loop over Mille and Tourinnes into Nodebais and then looped back along the same path. Spped was high and legs were feeling great.

Ride Stats : 27K and 315 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h17mins

3936/25525

09-08-2016, 20:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A busy week at work and frequent cold and wet weather kept me off the bikes this week but today I took the Litespeed Obed out for a spin. Riding a loop over Hamme Mille, Valduc and Nodebais, then into Tourinnes-la-grosse and finally into Mille and the Meerdael forest again. I took a turn and rode the complete loop back in the opposite direction, yielding me a fine ride which took me over gravel, cobbles, some tarmac and lots of field and forest roads.Legs felt great.

Ride Stats : 33.5K and 415 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h42mins

3909/25210

07-08-2016, 11:21 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was overcast and now and then a shower fell during the first half of this sunday. In the afternoon things brightened up and around 4PM I rode out with the Litespeed Vortex for a spin. There was a nasty wind blowing from the west but during most of the ride I was able to hide from it. Starting out over Heverlee and Egenhoven I rode towards Leefdaal and Duisburg. Here I connected to Jezus-Eik and then Overijse. Climbing out of Overijse I came upon a cycle race - Ronde van Vlaams Brabant - but the police let me pass and I rode towards Terlanen and then up into Ottenburg. Down towards Pecrot and then the steep climb out of it towards Nethen. In Nethen I took a right towards Hamme Mille, now following my middle lap which led me over Tourinnes, Beauvechain and Opvelp into Bierbeek and Haasrode. Down into Blanden and against the wind but i was nearly home now so it didn't bother me much. The legs felt great and I was able to maintain a good speed throughout the hilly ride.

Ride Stats : 63.5K and 585 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h19mins

3876/24795

31-07-2016, 19:24 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf