Today saw me on the Litespeed Vortex for the first road-bike ride of this year. The Vortex got new chain, cassette and chainrings and I also tested out the Campagnolo Hyperon Two Ultra wheels with the Vredestein Fortezza tubular tyres. It took some getting used to the speed and agility of this bike, and I also needed to take into account being quicker than the surrounding cars in some circumstances.
The tubular wheels roll very slick and the ceramic bearings of the Hyperon make this bike zoom along. There was quite a bit of wind which bothered me in the beginning and the end of this short ride. But in the middle part I made up for that by being carried along by the easterly breeze. Without much effort this netted me a near 30kph average ride.  My Cateye Strada did not work, but I will replace that with a mounting unit for my Garmin Edge 705. This gives me all the data I need and does not need a transmitter and magnet in the wheel.
For the ride I settled on a quick dash around Bierbeek, Opvelp, Beauvechain and Hamme Mille, closing the loop over Nethen, Sint Joris Weert and the Zoete Waters

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 30.5K and 195 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h03mins

3807/39900

26-05-2012, 20:39 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A nice sunny day with a stiff breeze from the east.Around 27 degrees C when I rode out in the late afternoon. I had the Moots YBB back with a new nipple in the back wheel and the front wheel where the play had been adjusted. I felt good and maintained a good pace throughout the ride. I rode the Meerdael Bloso routes, in the opposite direction. Starting out with the Red , then hopping on the more intense Blue and finishing off with the Green. The pace was high. Too high for another nipple in my back wheel. I noticed it was out of tru whilst riding and when I arrived home I was abhorred to find out that another nipple had been broken off. I was not the same as last week but it is disturbing that this happens so fast after the other one. Maybe I need to have them all replaced, to be on the safe side.

Despite this I had a great ride. The trails were great, dried out after yesterdays' mild rainfall at the end of the day. With an average temperature of 23 degrees C it wasn't too warm to ride in long trousers and sleeves either.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 56.5K and 575 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h36mins

3776/39705

25-05-2012, 22:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was pretty warm this evening so I set out for a short ride in the forest. I noticed the horseflies are around so I wore long pants and shirt, and applied my custom horsefly repellent. It worked, I had no problems. The ride was fast and dry even though there were puddles to be surrounded - fun ! - next to the E40. I finished the ride riding up to the Weertse Dreef for a look at the work that is going on where it comes to the Naamsesteenweg. There is a threat of thunderstorms but it looks like we will might get lucky and miss out.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 32K and 245 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h28mins

3720/39130

23-05-2012, 21:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

21-05-2012, 19:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf