Today I was home at 3.30pm so I had about 3 hours time before darkness to do a ride. I decided to head out on the Meerdaal 2000 track and try to ride the 45K distance. The organised ride of Meerdaal 2000 is to be held this sunday, with the start being at the 'De Borre' cultural center in Bierbeek. I did the 65K distance a couple of weeks ago and sunday I help the organisation. My task will be to check the arrowing on the 65K. This means a very early start - first light - at 7am.
I was curious at the amount of heightmeters on the 45K distance so I followed the 65K until it veers off to the left just before Gottechain. I turned to the right and could enjoy a very steep climb next to a field to reach Gottechain. I met another member of Meerdaal 2000 who was also doing some recon for next sunday. After Gottechain the tracks meanders on to Archennes, Pecrot and Nethen. The trails were nice and dry. Care had to be taken on some of the downhills though. The fallen leaves and erosion make the trails very treacherous. But I was riding in exploration mode, heartrate way down and with an average speed around 18kph. When I reached Meerdael Forest again for a last long stretch in and next to this beautiful forest, the sun was setting and darkness was upon me. Reaching Bierbeek and quickly heading home over tarmac roads I was happy to be able to ride on bikepaths instead of on the road. It was borderline without lights. This weekend the clock is set to Winter Time, meaning that riding out after work will always involve taking lights on the bike or on my helmet.

Ride Stats : 58K and 560/670 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h4mins

Meerdaal 2000 45K TT profile :


Meerdaal 2000 45K TT map :


8342/85600

22-10-2009, 21:21 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I was home just before 4pm and I had figured out I had about 2h30 to ride before the sun would be down. So I set out on the Litespeed for an offroad ride. The plan was vaguely to ride to Grez-Doiceau because I had an errand to do there, and from there I would just follow the direction of my front wheel.
Arriving in Hamme Mille and then making my way to Bossut and further to Gottechain, preferring offroad connections to the faster tarmac roads. From Gottechain the connection to Grez was easily made. My errand done I rode on to Cocrou and then did the long ascent towards the Ferme de la Sarte. 60 heightmeters in one go. I then descended into Heze and further down to Bonlez. Another climb to make my way to the Golf de Bercuit and from there down to Dion and up again on the ridge that would bring me to Gastuche. Here I crossed the Chaussée de Wavre to start my last big ascent towards Ottenburg. The sun was gone by now and it was time to head home. Following the Overijse Red BLOSO route down into Florival and then into the Bois de Hocaille for anothe rclimb over another ridge to get to Nethen. Here I could disappear into the Meerdael Forest. It was getting pretty dark under the trees but I could still see where I was going. I didn't want to do any more tarmac because I didn't have lights so I stayed in the forest until I reached Vaalbeek where I briefly followed the road to Blanden. Back into the fields and into the forest for the last stretch home. Just in time before it really was dark and with a good ride under my belt.

Ride Stats : 47K and 545/595 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h33mins

8284/84930

20-10-2009, 20:06 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another night close to freezing left the forest cold in the morning. Even when I rode out around 11am it was still only 5 degrees C. I was able to make a nice picture of the sunlight filtering though the autumn leaves. Soon I was out of the forest. The plan was to ride through the fields to the south-east and conenct with l'Ecluse and if possible Sart-Melin. Only obstacle was the Beauvechain airfield I had to leave on my right. The fields felt a lot warmer than the forest, because here the sun shone freely and there was no wind to speak of. Using the sun for direction and the Edge 705 to find the trails I could conenct the dots and arrived at l'Ecluse. Here and there I was able to include some singletrack and before long I was on my way towards Melin. I wanted to get home before 2pm because I wanted to watch the cyclocross World Cup race in Plzen. In Mélin I turned my bike towards the northwest and conencted back through the fields towards La Bruyere, Beauvechain and Tourinnes . I spotted the Saint Corneille chapel from afar, its white wall shining in the sun. Then I entered the Meerdael Forest again and made my way home in time for the World Cup.

Tomorrow I have to go back to work after 4 weeks of holiday. I had a good holiday, the weather was great in the first couple of weeks and then a bit of rain in the last 2 weeks but nothing really bad enough to keep me inside. I was able to ride my bike for more than a 1000K and 11000 heightmeters during that time.

Ride Stats : 40.5K and 365/400 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h9mins

8238/84335

18-10-2009, 16:41 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf