The only challenge of the Blue loop comes towards the end, when you enter the Calvariebos. This means a very steep climb towards the statue of Jesus. Dropping down immediately and before long you have had the Blue Loop and are back on the Green and entering Lubbeek.

In Lubbeek I pass the start of the loops and make a picture of the route map whilst eating a little snack. Another biker is ready to start and says hello.

On the Green loop now which offers some nice tracks, connected by - again - narrow tarmac roads. But a least there is some challenge here as I slowly come closer to the N2. Crossing that means I am near Linden and I now ride on the Red Loop. This turns out to be the more challenging of the three routes as it enters the Steenveld , Bleekbos and Lindenbos for a couple of nice climbs and some backtracks and singletracks. Care has to be taken not to pass the sometimes small trails. They often start between two houses and on a couple of occasions I rode too fare before realizing I had passed the trailhead. But the combination of the trail markings - missing at the crossing of the Kasteeldreef and the Kortrijkstraat - and the GPS track quickly had me on the right track again.
Crossing the N2 for the second time I make my way up through the Gasthuisbos as I near Pellenberg. Nice descent here on a very steep and steppy singletrail. A little danger sign would not go amiss. This descent can take you by surprise . Riding around the hospital I am nearing my insertion point and before long I have completed the 48K loop. I remember that the Red is the more intersting loop, it looks interesting to combine this with the Green loop of the Holsbeek Blosos.
Making my way home I loop around St Camillus and have to take a detour when the Haanhofweg appears to be blocked for all traffic.
But the weather is superb and I don't mind the extra effort and kilometers as I ride through the Industriezone in Haasrode and make my way back to Blanden along the Langestraat and the Wijnbergstraat.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 75.5K and 690/775 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h55mins

12028/104800

Missing the Horst castle which is very close - one wonders why they did not pass here, it is a beautiful castle - and now the track arrives in the neighborhood of Nieuwrode. Here, it makes a lot of loops to connect some nice tracks, some uphill, some downhill. This is a very nice and intense section which ends when the track comes on the Sint-Jobs route and turns towards the west.

The sun is at its highest point now and I enjoy its rays whilst I ride to the south of a forest. There are a lot of appletrees here . The route now comes in the neighborhood of Holsbeek and I have long forgotten which color of arrow I am following now. The track I have on my GPS incorporates all the routes and I have seen Red and Blue arrows , then Red again and now I arrive at a section where the Red Rotselaar Bloso route shares the same road as the Blue Holsbeek one. A little further the tracks split up.

I follow my track and I can report that there are no arrows missing. They all seem well-placed and properly maintained. I leave Holsbeek and I am now on the Green track. Things get serious when I arrive in a big forest. The track meanders up and down and keeps on doing so for more than 10K. This is for sure one of the highlights of the Holsbeek BLOSO routes. The steep hills and tricky downhills keep you busy. Meanwhile I am nearing my starting point. The complete track is nearly 56K long and has close to 700 heightmeters. Not to be scoffed at for sure.
I feel my legs are well spent and I am more than satisfied with my ride on these tracks. There are some sections which incorporate long stretches of tarmac and field roads, but they are used to connect to more interesting tracks and hilly sections. Use the tarmac to recuperate, it is well-needed.
Riding back to Linden and following the GR track over the ridge towards Korbeek Lo. Another 10K to go and I am back in Blanden, with a solid ride under my belt.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 86K and 965/1075 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h41mins

11887/103315

Picking in on the 50K loop at camping La Hetraie in Nethen the track was still very much notice-able from the many bikers that passed here 2 days ago. This was an advantage, it made following the right trail easier and the trail itself was beaten to a pulp by the many wheels. The grass was wet with condensation but overall trail conditions were good. A little bit moist but not wet. The Ottenburg TT is known for its many hills and this version would indeed honor that tradition. Constantly going up and down, incorporating some fine singletrails and in general connecting the areas' finest climbs and descents, I passed the Bois the Beaumont , rode up into La Malaise and then dropped down towards Florival where they had devised a heavenly loop up and down in the Bois de la Hocaille and then along the singletrail overlooking the railroad. Down into Pecrot the trail followed the valley and then crossed the river Dyle before climbing up into the Langerode forest. Here I would encounter the first problem with the GPS track. Arriving at the top of the long climb I saw three possible trails to follow. My GPS remained stumm - or I did not see the track when it was displayed - so I had to choose. I chose wrong, I arrived in the lush green valley after a steep descent and then went up the steppy downhill on the Red Bloso route. No signal from my GPS that I was on the right track so I decided to try one of the purple lines and dropped down the Tomme. Following the track I chose to take a left towards Wavre. When I arrived at the round point I decided this was no use and rode towards the Start in the Bloemenstraat.

Here I re-started my GPS navigation and this this time I was on the right track immediately. Down into a field and then towards Terlanen. Up and down the Sint Agatha Rode bos ridge a couple of times and then taking another Bloso track in the reverse direction. The heightmeters were accumulating nicely and my energy reserves were being drained at the same time. Arriving at the Langeheidestraat for the second time today, after a mean and steep climb, I now followed the track in the good direction, down the steppy downhill and into the lush green valley again. And then up the very steep ascent towards the top of the Langerodebos. HAving a good look at the GPS I saw the little white arrow just in time to take the right one of the 3 purple lines. Down the Tomme again and then into Gastuche for a little trip into Brabant Walloon and the Dyle valley. Some nice backtracks lead me towards Archennes where another nasty climb was awaiting me. Climbing up to La Malaise the track now veered towards Bossut. Down the singletrack towards the Grand Royal and bedore long I was at the hollow road descent we call the Lianenklim. Stones and steps kept me concentrated until I was at the bottom and then looped back up along a parallel track to complete this very fine little loop. I can imagine some flat tyres and possibly people falling off during the descent of the Lianenklim. It is a nasty one but at least today it was dry and without mud.
Another big challenge awaited a couple of K further down the track. A very difficult climb in a hollow road littered with stones and ruts. One foot to the ground was all I had to sacrifice during this very intense and technical climb. Great stuff. Down into Nethen and I was back at the Savenel from where it was only a short stretch to where I had entered the Ottenburg loop.
Riding back home along the Denteneerspad I was very satisfied with my ride today. Pity I missed a little stretch around Wavre but looking at the overall distance and heightmeters I did not miss out on too much. Next time.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 65K and 945/1015 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h04mins

11801/102240