Contrary to all the predictions we didn't get a drop of rain yesterday. So today saw a sunny and dry morning. I wanted to do an easy LSD ride and chose to follow the LF6 - Vlaanderen Stedenroute - towards Goetsenhoven and back again. Just before Hoegaarden I strayed a bit from that route to follow a narrow road over cobbles and even dirtroads to arrive at last near the Hoegaarden centre. Sprayed in Deet40 I was pretty confident that the insects would keep away from me but riding over those narrow trails in my short pants was an unforeseen and unnecessary risk. The sun was getting hidden behind clouds during the ride and when I arrived near Goetsenhoven I saw some rallye cars on the narrow roads. Looks like there is going to be a race here tomorrow - probably the Haspengouw rallye. Saw a beautiful Subaru WRX and also a red Porsche GT2 (or GT3) with a very appropriate license number - 4 S 911.
I looped back over Goetsenhoven centre to follow the LF6 in the reverse difection back towards Hoegaarden. Here I followed the trails of the Ludo Dierckxens (LD) arrows which took me back through the fields towards Meldert. From there I looped upon the Haasrode tour to return towards Bierbeek, Haasrode und ultimately Blanden.
My legs felt tired and I fear that tomorrows Meerdael Classic might come a week to early. Obviously I am still coping with the side effects of the antibiotics I has to take for my horsefly bite. Even though I suffered no real side-effects - no rash, no bowel troubles, no temperature swings - I did hold up some fluid and felt tired thoughout the cure. The warm weather doesn't help either of course. I will ultimately decide tomorrow morning if I will do the Meerdael Classic or not. Another factor will be the weather. There are again thunderstorms predicted for the next 24 hours.

Ride Stats : 64K and 480/488 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h53mins

4691/44725

04-07-2009, 14:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another hot day yesterday, with temperatures soaring into the 30 degrees C. And no breeze at all so I decided to stay in and have a break. Today however saw the return of a stiff breeze even though it was still sunny. But the heat was manageable. I took the Hilset out for a quick spin looping over Heverlee and Oud-Heverlee towards the Zoete Waters and on to Sint Joris Weert. From there I closed the loop riding through Nethen and Hamme Mille and then back into Meerdael Forest. Good legs and a good recovery ride.
On a sadder note yesterday saw my new desktop PC crashing, some registry issue. Good thing I got backups of everything that matters. I am not sure what caused it but Window won't start, even in Safe Mode. Big troubles but luckily I have a good backup PC so I can wait for the diagnosis on the other PC whilst I assume my online and offline business as usual.

Ride Stats : 26K and 185/214 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h07mins

4627/44245

03-07-2009, 17:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

01-07-2009, 20:39 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Last thursday when waiting for the other participants to arrive, I got bitten in the right calf. I am not sure what bit me but judging from the ensuing reaction it must have been a Horsefly (Taon in French) or quite possibly a grass spider . People who have been following this blog over the years know that I am allergic to the Horseflys' saliva. That is why I ride with 3/4 or full-length pants in the middle of the summer. Anyways, during the ride I did not experience more than a little red spot where the bit was, I couldn't even see where I had been bitten neither was there any blood running down my leg - which usually is a result of a horsefly bite. The next day however, my lower leg was swelling up and seeing red.

That same evening - friday - I visited my doctor who immediately prescribed me heavy antibiotics and had me start on Aerius antihistamines. The following days the swelling had spread towards my ankle and around my lower leg. But it also looks as if the medications are working, the swelling has subsided from Sunday on and as I am typing this only my ankle is filled with water

So, now you know why I haven't been biking during this sunny weekend. Looks like horsefly season has started and I will take all possible measures not to be stung again. This includes wearing long pants during offroad rides and liberally applying ant-insect spray containing DEET on my legs and arms.

29-06-2009, 12:58 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf