Had a day off from work and it looked like a sunny day was in the making when I rode out around 9.20am. I wanted to do a long ride, and score some heightmeters, so I chose the O2 Bikers Grez Doiceau roadbook. Obviously not the original track but my version of it. To be exact, I have been honing and tuning this track throughout the years and this was the 5th version of it, aptly named "Julie 5".
Getting to the start in Grez already had me riding through Meerdael Forest and the fields of Bossut. Then dropping into Grez where I set off for this 56K loop that would net me close to a 1000 heightmeters. I looked up the track on my Garmin Edge 705, pressed navigate and I was underway.
The tracks were perfect and the succession of climbs and descents were slowly wearing me out, like they are supposed to do. At some places there had been a lot of forestry activity and I had to clamber over fallen trees on many occasions. The trail sometimes went straight through a field but don't worry, its there and it will stay there. It struck me how open everything still was; no nettles, no ferns, no high grasses, no leaves on the trees. Perfect for riding on the trails.

Stopping for a first snack high above Chaumont Gistoux, some 2 hours on the lap. From here, things were getting pretty hectic. Difficult climbs, technical and steep, followed by tricky descents, and then another climb having my grind my teeth and looking for the smallest gears. Welcome in Accro Bike country !
At the Chapelle du Cheneau, after a long climb, I decided to stop and have another little snack. I would need it for the remainder of the trail. I was getting tired and I know the track stays relentless until the very end.

I had a lot of time to think about a lot of things while I was riding. Near the end I began to feel the bumps more and more and I figured I might have taken the Moots YBB which has suspension in the rear as well. But its time will come during the summer months. The Litespeed Obed is light and agile and is a strong weapon in the hands of an able rider

Arriving back in Grez after a little more then 4 hours I was still not home. I needed to ride back to Meerdael Forest, this time I chose to ride to Archennes and climb out of that towards Bossut and Nethen. Arriving into Meerdael Forest near Les Claines and then making my way past the Warande pond towards the Prosperdreef which I would follow past the Dovo army barracks. I noticed a lot of beautiful little white flowers and couldn't resist taking a picture of them.

Arriving home with more than 80K and close to 1300 heightmeters I was feeling very satisfied with my ride. With an average temperature of 16 degrees C I could dream away whilst humming the Ramones tune 'California Sun' . I include a link to the GPS track. If you decide to ride it, remember it is a succession of climbs and really takes a lot out of you. I would also appreciate any feedback you might want to give.

Ride Stats : 83K and 1205/1285 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 5h10mins

753/8515

25-03-2011, 17:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another tuesday, another loop incorporating the Base Loop of the Haasrode TT for 2011. This time I decided to ride it in the other direction, or counterclockwise as it turned out. I have been riding this loop for 3 tuesdays in a row now and I like it very much. It is 38K and incorporates a good mixture of forest, field and single tracks. The weather was great today, with and average temperature of 15 degrees throughout the ride. This made the trails very fast .

But I also feel I'm getting in better shape, slowly but surely. The first time I did this lap, 2 weeks ago , it nearly took me 2h30. Today, as it would turn out, I was back home almost within 2 hours. And I probably would have made it in 2 hours if I didn't take a wrong turn in the fields of Gottechain. Stopping, riding back and turning in the right trail took me just about the minute I lacked to make it 2 hours flat. But obviously the time is secondary to the fun I had doing these trails. In and out of Meerdael Forest, looping to Gottechain and then back over Nodebais and Valduc into the Meerdael Forest again.

There were lots of small white flowers already in bloom and the trees also seemed ready to sprout what will become leaves. The bike performed flawlessly and like I said before, there was not a puddle in sight throughout the entire ride. I felt very satisfied and relaxed when I arrived home, even though the pace had been pretty high, especially near the end of the ride from Haasrode back to Blanden through Meerdael Forest again. 

Ride Stats : 38K and 425/450 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h1min

670/7230

22-03-2011, 19:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After yesterdays' long ride I had some doubts if I should do this ride today but around 11am I decided to go for it and see how it went along the way.
The track I did today is the hilly section of the 100K Meerdael Classic, roughly starting at the train station in Pecrot and finishing near Pecrot again some 37K and 650 heightmeters later. My legs felt tired thoughout the ride but I just relaxed on the hills and tried to stay focussed on the many downhills. The trails were fine, just a little moist from fridays' rain but my bike was clean when I arrived home, so no mud at all on these trails.
From time to time I came across the arrows - and the bikers - of the Oud-Heverlee SVK ride which was also taking place today. I hesitated for a  long time if I shouldn't do the 70K but the way I see it, I did nicer trails today, have more heightmeters and didn't have to pay 6€ for the pleasure. Obviously I had no rest stops but I didn't mind feeling hungry near the end of the ride . I can stock up on calories afterwards just as well.

Nearing Pecrot again and crossing both Marbaises my trail came to an end and I had to wing it from here onwards. So I chose a little loop into Beaumont forest where I sat down to take a rest after a steep climb that led me towards the little pink chapel.

When I descended into Nethen and took a small road called the "Rue de la Houlotte" , I was stopped by one of the people living there. She told me I was on private property and I should walk instead of riding my bike. I was confused and told her that as far as I know, I was on a public road and could ride my bike. I will have to find out the truth about this because I pass here very frequently. Obviously, if she is right I will have to find another connection from Meerdael to the Beaumont area.


Grotere kaart weergeven
I drove home incorporating another climb up to the Hercules gallery and then down towards the Kluis and along the Dentergem path back towards the Weertse Dreef and beyond. Just below a 1000 heightmeters, if I had known I would have done another climb to make it an even 1000.

Ride Stats : 57.5K and 865/960 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h39mins

632/6780

20-03-2011, 15:37 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf