Yes, this morning I took my Mazda and drove it to the Franchimont castle in Theux. My plan was to start on the Green, hop over on the Blue and then on the Red. On the Red I would then descent into the Ninglinspo valley, looping over the Blanches Pierres and the Tour Drouet, ascent along the Ninglinspo and then follow the Red again, hop over on the Blue and finish in Theux. At 10am I was ready to roll. It was fresh with only 14 degrees C but at least it promised to be dry. It took a little while to get back into Ardennes mode but once I found my rhythm I found my legs to be better than I expected. The tracks are rocky here, so I took care to add a couple of psi to my tyre pressure. Even with a full suspension bike, and especially on tough circuits like the Theux Adeps routes, a little bit more goes a long way. The tracks were surprisingly dry as I thundered into Polleur where I rejoined the Red route for a little while climbing into the outskirts of the Bois de Staneu. The Red then goes straight while the Green veers to the left for the first long climb of the day. I could do the climb on my middle chainring but after a while I decided it might be better to put it on the little ring in front. Better not tyre my legs unneccessary. Arriving on top I had to follow the tarmac road for a while before coming to the first long descent. A rocky number this one, and I had to change lines quite a few times in order to stay on the bike. But as usual, the Merlin did its magic and inspired me with the confidence needed when doing rides like this one on your own. Into the valley and hopping onto the Blue route for another long climb, back over 300 metres. Another descent and I was on the road to Spa. Crossing it and then disappearing into the forest again for the next - very rocky - climb. After a while you leave the forest and I noticed the sun was shining intermittently, just warming things up a little bit. The cool temperatures were great for my form because I was really feeling strong. Onto the Red route and slowly climbing up to the 400 metre mark.

Just before reaching that I came to the edge of the Ambleve valley. Here I left the Adeps route for a descent into the valley I call dreamland. Descending towards the Blanches Pierres rivulet and on a big forest track making good speed on the 18% slope before arriving at the Tour Drouet, which offers a great view over the Ninglinspo valley. The Ninglinspo is a little river that drops from the plateau down towards the Ambleve river, some 270 metres deeper. I took a break at the Tour Drouet, some  26K into the ride. Having a bite to eat and taking some pictures, I notice som white constructions on the horizon. Strange, they look like big blocks, but what is their purpose? Time will tell for sure.
Deeper down into the valley and I was ready for the long ascent, following the little Ninglinspo river on its trail. Some 3K long and offering a height gain of 250 metres, this is a nice climb and especially today, when it was very dry and offering good traction to my Nobby Nics. I met up with a runner who was a local and was doing a 16K run in and out of this valley. Strong guy! When I arrived at the top I had already decided I would abandon my plan to get back on the Blue and follow that into Theux. I felt good and so I decided to follow the much more difficult Red route. This offers quite a bit more climbs, and some tricky descents, especially the drop into the Forges Thiry is to be treated with respect. As is essentially every descent on the Red route, which has its toughest section near the end.

Near the end I was suffering on the last climb, a very steep number climbing from downtown Theux up towards the Franchimont castle. The slope is between 11 and 18% and even reaches 20% at one point. After 60K in this kind of terrain is a tough cookie. But i managed it and with some relief I saw my red Mazda standing still on the parking lot near the Franchimont castle. This combination of the 3 routes + the descent into the Ambleve valley is a nice ride, not for the meek I hasten to tell, the terrain is not to be underestimated and has surprises around every corner. A good bike and some experience in the Ardennes is a must on these kinds of rides. There are some sections that offer a bit of recuperation but - especially on the red route - most of the time you are either climbing or trying to ride one or the other technical downhill. I nearly lost it when my front wheel washed away over some stones in a corner whilst descending a 14% slope on a double trail field track. The tracks were narrow and extremely rockstrewn and only a quick reflex and possibly a combination of a good bike with good tyres saved me from a trip to the hospital. Things like that tend to happen near the end of the ride, when concentration is a bit less and fatigue is building up. But they might just as well happen in the beginning, when you underestimate the trail and/or overestimate yourself. So be warned, stay safe and keep the rubber side down.

Ride Stats : 63K and 1500/1550 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h00mins

GPS Track on Garmin Connect : CLICK

6560/64500

29-08-2009, 20:03 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another strange day weather-wise. It was clouded but warm most of the day and when I got home I was sure I would see some rain whilst going out biking. But apart from some moist asphalt at one time things stayed dry, and the sun even returned near the end of my ride. It looks like the summer is going into its last quarter. The days are getting shorter, the smells of ripe prunes is in the air and some trees are dropping their leaves. This might well have been caused by the very hot temperatures of last week but nevertheless one can sense a turning point has been passed. The summer is now turning into its last weeks before autumn will set in. For me this is the best period.
Today I started on the Haasrode tour and followed that until I reached La Bruyere, here I turned towards Beauvechain and then onwards to Tourinnes and Hamme Mille. I added another loop over Nethen, Sint Joris Weert and the Zoete Waters to finish with a nice distance and a good feeling in my legs.

Ride Stats : 61k and 425/495 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h46mins

6497/62950

27-08-2009, 20:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It didn't look like it would stay dry when I left, but it was warm enough and the sun did shine through the clouds from time to time. So I went for a road ride, following more or less the 30K road BLOSO starting in Heverlee. My tune sixpack axle is still wandering around but I already contacted ABC Fietsen in Merksem to order a new set of bearings. I just have to knock it back in place each time I get home.
The ride went well, very relaxing pace - 107bpm average - along Sint Joris Weert, Sint Agatha Rode and over to Loonbeek and further on to Everberg and Egenhoven. A little loop into the Arenberg castle park and I was in Heverlee and nearly home. And yes, it stayed dry and after a while the skies cleared out completely.

Ride Stats : 39K and 325/355 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h47mins

6436/62455

26-08-2009, 19:39 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Intrigued by a book I read , I rode towards the Chateau de Valduc today, on the east side of the Meerdael Forest, not far from Hamme Mille. The parc of this chateau , which stands on the grounds of an old abbey, is said to hold the oldest pine tree in Belgium, a taxus which is estimated at being 770 years old. Since the Cistercienzer abbey was founded in 1232, this might be a correct assumption. Obviously the grounds are private but I managed to penetrated through a hole in the wall and check out some parts of it. Unfortunately I could not find the taxus. I did spot some very big trees though, proving that there are indeed some very old vestiges of greenery here. I must return here and ask about the tree, but I only saw a farmer and some playing children on the castle grounds. Neither of them seemed to be bothered by my passing on what are after all private grounds. 

After this I set my course towards Archennes where I dabbled along in the Dyle valley. Looking for a possibility to cross over from Archennes to the Bois de Laurensart, but I didn't manage to find a way. The river was blocking me and there seemed to be no bridges between Gastuche and Florival.

I set towards Gastuche next to ride up to the Bois de Laurensart on its western border , with the steep climb near the Tomme. I had spotted some dark clouds gathering in the southwest, and decided to hurry home over Pecrot and Nethen and through the Meerdael Forest. In all I had a pleasant low-effort ride and with the cloud cover the temperature was manageable as well, around 26 degrees C.

Ride Stats : 39k and 365/435 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h19mins

6397/62100

24-08-2009, 20:26 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I had planned to go to Theux today to ride a combination of the Green and Blue Adeps route. But a splitting headache that started last evening and lasted until today made me decide otherwise.
I waited for the warmth to subside a bit to grab my Moots and do a ride towards Lubbeek. I let my GPS navigate to the start of the O2 Bikers route in front of the Lubbeek church and I must say, it navigated well. Unfortunately at one point the road I was supposed to follow was gone. It was in a big forest and I guess the local landlord let the roads slide into wilderness. You could still vaguely see the contours of what once was a path but the forest had taken possession of it, forcing me to walk several hundred metres before I emerged at the other side of the forest and could continue riding my bike. The Edge didn't freeze like it used to do in the beginning when it had to navigate more than an hour, so that is good news. It means I can follow GPX tracks instead of having to convert them into non-routed Course format tracks.
At the Lubbeek church I followed the first couple of K's of the Lubbeek route - also in GPX format - before deciding to call it a day and find my way back home. The Lubbeek route will hold, for now I was glad that I could navigate with the Edge and that my headache wasn't getting any worse. I arrived home just before dusk set in.

Ride Stats : 41K and 390/440 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h17mins

6358/61665

23-08-2009, 20:39 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf