The sky was overcast but the sun was bound to break through. Started with long sleeves and the Assos Blitzfeder because it was only 16 degrees and the wind was blowing from the cold corner. The plan was to follow the Lf6a - Vlaanderen Stedenroute - until I reached the picturesque village of Heks. Heks - translated in English that means Witch - is a little village not far from Heers and Tongeren. Some 70K east of where I live. So I took it relatively easy on the way out, enjoying the landscape of the Haspengouw fruit region. Cherries and apples were hanging on the trees. The first looked ripe for the picking the latter were definately not ripe. The landscape started to ondulate a little more once I reached Brustem, with some 4-6% hills. In Heks I stopped for a snack and I took a couple of pictures of the church. I was 2h30 into the ride and some 68km from home.

On the way back I removed my armlings and the Blitzfeder, the sun was coming through the clouds now, and with the wind slightly in my back my pace was a little faster as well. Even though my legs were beginning to tire from the succession of small hills. When I rode past Goetsenhoven my Garmin 705 added 9K to my distance in a couple of seconds. No idea why it did that but on the map you can see I covered that distance and I reached a speed of no less than 774kph. I am no jet fighter so there definately was something wrong with the measurement there. When I reached home I had 149K , I looked at th eride with Mapsource and detracted the 9K that my garmin added. That still leaves me with  a very respectable 140K in a little less than 5 hours. A good solid ride.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 140K and 990 heightmeters (Garmin) in 04h58mins

8594/44630

13-07-2013, 16:12 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Sun was hiding behind the clouds and the northeasterly wind made it feel cold. Long sleeves then and I set out for a short recovery ride. Bierbeek to Meldert, Meldert to La Bruyere and then over Beauvechain and Tourinnes to Hamme Mille. On to Nethen and Sint Joris Weert and back home over the Zoete Waters and Vaalbeek. Feeling in the legs was Ok but I felt a bit tired overall.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 41.5K and 240 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h25mins

8454/43640

12-07-2013, 12:50 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Passed chez Filip Sport this morning to have my rear wheel straightened. Was a small bump but the Vortex is a very narrow frame and the tyre could be rubbing the frame during heavy loads. But all is straight now and I decided to ride as well today. Past noon the sun broke through the clouds and the temperatures went over 20 degrees. There was a stiff breeze blowing from the northeast that bothered me as I rode out towards Bierbeek, Hoegaarden, past Goetsenhoven to Ezemaal. Here I was 1 hour out and I decided to ride back whence I came. With the wind in the back this part of the ride was more of a recovery than the first part. Which suited me fine because that way I could up the speed without demanding too much from my legs.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 58K and 385 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h57mins

8413/43400

11-07-2013, 16:07 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today the plan was to ride to Villers la Ville. Starting out over Vaalbeek, Sint Joris Weert, Sint Agatha Rode, Eerken and Grez Doiceau I rode onwards to Chaumont Gistoux. Crossing the Chaussee de Huy the road climbed when I rode past Corroy Le Grand and Corbais. To the south, and even further to the south after Mont Saint Guibert. The wind was blowing in my back and the sun was being obsured by clouds from time to time. But temperatures were still pleasantly in the 20-25 degrees C range and I was enjoying the varying landscapes. When I left Mont Saint Guibert, the hills became more pronounced , the valleys deeper. Past Mellery and Strichon a first steep hill announced itself. I had to shift on the 34 in front . Entering Villers la Ville I took a little break and I was awed by the Abbey.

Out of Villers along another nice long climb. This one was manageable on the big ring, but only just. Into Genappe and then a long drop to reach Lasne. The wind had been bothering me for a while now, every time I headed straight north. It kept me cool but it also made the long faux-plats harder to ride. Lasne brought me another tough climb and another one when I reached La Hulpe and had to climb out past the lake to the road towards Overijse. On common ground now when I cycled past Maleizen and then set forth to Overijse itself. The long climb along the Chaussee de Bruxelles is a classic and I managed it on the big ring. Right towards Eizer and then on towards Duisburg and Vossem. Into Leefdaal and then climbing out of it, the wind more or less in my back. Following the small tarmac road over the crest put me back into the wind and I was glad to take a tight, dropping down towards the Sint Jansberg Steenweg. Pretty standard last 10K now, over Egenhoven and Arenberg towards Heverlee and along the Naamseseteenweg towards Blanden. A good solid ride with over a 1000 heightmeters.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 111K and 1010 heightmeters (Garmin) in 03h58mins

8355/43015

10-07-2013, 14:58 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time for a recovery ride. I started out towards Leuven and then followed the Platte Lo straat and the N2 past Sint Joris Winge. Taking a right turn towards Kiezegem and then to Meensel and Binkom. There are quite a few little hills here in the Hageland, a region certainly worth exploring more in the upcoming weeks.
I stopped at my sisters' but no-one was home. Further on to the N223 which I followed into Tienen. The breeze was refreshing from the northeast and the early morning air was still not too warm. Ideal for a relaxed ride. From Tienen I followed the N3 towards Leuven. At the Mol I took the Expressweg towards Blanden to close a fine loop.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 57.5K and 340 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h58mins

8244/42005

09-07-2013, 12:06 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Looking at another sunny and warm day, so a long ride was on the menu. I settled on the Biz' On the Bike 120. A slightly altered BOB 145, with the first bit  - going towards Huldenberg and Ottenburg - skipped . But the remainder was still quite a ride, with some nasty hills, some even steep and/or long enough to demand a passage on the inner ring. Most of the hills have gradients around 4, 5 or 6 degrees, with an occasional 7 degrees popping up. These can all be taken on the big ring. The ride takes a loop through Nethen, Pecrot, Bossut and Grez , then taking off towards Chaumont Gistoux were the first climb awaits. The ascent towards Longueville. I must have had good legs because even on the 10% section I still had a gear to spare . Onwards to Incourt, Opprebais and Maleves. Behind Maleves , some smaller tarmac tracks lead me though Thorembais towards the N91. Crossing that the trail takes me to Gerompont before turning towards the south towards Ramillies.
I'm at the southernmost part now and take a left along the Rue Romaine, which runs parallel with the Route de La Hesbaye. I've been here before and just north of Branchon I take a turn towards the North, and into the wind. Towards Jandrenouille and then a left to reach Folx-les-Caves.  I stop for a little bite to eat in the shade of a tree alongside the road. I'm some 65K into the ride and I will need my strength for the next part which takes me mainly to the north, and thus against the breeze. The sun is burning and in a sense the wind is very welcome, because it brings some much needed freshness. From Folx-les-caves a difficult bit brings me to Orp-Jauche where I take a 160 degree turn to the west and Autre-Eglise. After Hedenge and Bomal the road again turns straight to the north and another tough section. But the again I tun left and have the wind in my side when I speed towards Jauchelette. Crossing the Chaussee de Jodoigne and I am on small tarmac roads riding towards the north-northwest.
I've been here many times before and the climb before Dongelberg is a tough one, but I make it on the big ring. Lathuy is next and when I reach the N240 I decide to ride towards Jodoigne instead of braving the cobbles in Saint Remi Geest. From Jodoigne I take the Ravel and join the GPS track again in Zetrud-Lumay. Into Hoegaarden and a stiff climb out of it towards Hauthem. Hoksem and Kumtich are next and before long I am speeding towards Willebringen and Neervelp. A little loop along the E40 towards Bierbeek-Bremt and then I follow the E40 to reach the Galgenberg and Haasrode. A fine ride which took some calories out of me.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 123K and 970 heightmeters (Garmin) in 04h25mins

8187/41665

08-07-2013, 14:57 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Recovery ride in the planning this morning. Started out with 30-40K in my mind but as I felt my legs being less tired than I expected I expanded the range a bit. Over Bierbeek and Willebringen to Oorbeek and Hautem, where I paused to watch the Suikerrallye. But the best drivers just passed and I decided to ride on. Towards Meldert and L'Ecluse and then to La Bruyere and Beauvechain where I took a left turn to Tourinnes and Hamme Mille. Past Nethen where I saw a lot of mountainbikers, participating in the Meerdael Classic - a ride I once loved to ride myself - coming out or riding into lots of small offroad trails. Blinked back a tear and sped on towards Sint Joris Weert and the Zoete Waters, where I took a left towards Korbeek Dyle. Towards Egenhoven and the back over Heverlee and along the Naamsesteenweg into Blanden. Good ride, refreshing and recovering for the legs. The temperature was in the 26 degrees area but a breeze out of the North kept the oxygen levels high.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 63K and 390 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h12mins

8064/40695

07-07-2013, 12:56 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf