Today I wanted to do a recovery ride. 60-70K and an easy pace. It was sunny and already warming up considerably when I left around 8.45AM. Bierbeek, Meldert, La Bruyere and then the N240 in the direction of Jodoigne. From there I rode towards Dongelberg. Crossing the N91 in Incourt I noticed the road towards Longueville would be closed due to a local event so I took a left towards Opprebais . From Opprebais to Chaumont, then to Gistoux and the long way up to Longueville. From Longueville I dropped into Grez and rode onwards to Hamme Mille. I was feeling good so I decided to add another loop over Nodebais, then Tourinnes and Beauvechain , crossing Opvelp towards Neervelp and then up towards the globe in Boierbeek. From Bierbeek I rode to the Haasrode Industrie where I decided to do some loop to make it a 100K ride. The wind was blowing calmly from the east, letting the sun bake and burn. I had an average of 28 degrees C on my Polar when I finished my ride. Legs felt fine.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 101.5K and 715 heightmeters (Garmin) in 03h37mins

9181/48110

21-07-2013, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was overcast this morning. Still, the temperature was already up to 20 degrees C and there was a nice cooling breeze blowing from the northeast. I rode out towards Bierbeek, Meldert and Hoegaarden to inject myself on the Ravel 2. The northeaster blew me nicely past Jodoigne and Eghezee until I reached the highest point of the Ravel, just shy of 200 metres, in Cognelee. I decided to return along the Ravel and after Jodoigne I followed the N29 through Zetrud-Lumay and then took a left towards Hoegaarden. Little loop towards Overlaar on the R29 around Tienen, before returning to Oorbeek. Kumtich and Willebringen brought me towards Opvelp. Through Bierbeek again and I finished off my 4h ride with laps in the Haasrode Industrie terrain. Back towards Blanden along the Expressweg and a good solid ride once again. The sun played hide and seek throughout the ride and that kept the temperature relatively low, a fact that did not bother me because it meant less heat.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 121.5K and 595 heightmeters (Garmin) in 04h12mins

9079/47395

20-07-2013, 14:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today I was planning the last of a triplet of 100K rides. I chose an easier path by taking the Vaart towards Mechelen, then onwards to Heindonk and Boom along the Zennegat. The wind, however, was blowing strong today. This was good because it was also quite hot quite soon in the day, but it also gave me some work battling myself towards the Northeast. When I reached Boom, some 49K in the ride, I stopped for a snack and to take some pictures of the Sherman tank that stands watch over the river Rupel in Klein Willebroek.

After my snack I started on the way back. The wind was more or less in my favor now, more or less because on some occasion when my direction was veering towards the East, it bothered me. But I could maintain a good pace even though I was beginning to feel the effects of the 2 previous rides in my legs and the sun was also shining in my face. Lots of drinking and like I said before, the breeze was doing wonders. I arrived home with a good average and a satisfied feeling in my legs.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 101K and 210 heightmeters (Garmin) in 03h27mins

8958/46800

18-07-2013, 13:24 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A while back I started out on this ride, but I had to cut it short due to rain falling and making the roads wet and slippery and visibility bad. Today, the weather was warm and dry, with the first couple of hours seeing the sun hide behind high clouds. There was a little breeze from the north, not worth bothering about it.
I started on the track, and was taken over Willebringen to the Marollenkapel in Hauthem, where the official start is. From Hauthem I rode to La Bruyere and onwards to Pietrebais. Wanting to avoid the busy Chaussee de Jodoigne I rode through Pietrebais to go to Grez. From Grez, the long climb towards Longueville followed. From Longueville it went to Chaumont. Here the trail followed the busy Chaussee de Huy. The bikepath is a ruins and riding on the road is close to suicidal. I did do a bit of it on the road, the traffic being not too bad. The drop into Basse Wavre set me up for the climb out of it. The trail takes the 10% average Mur de Wavre but I decided to take the long way around the Bawette and join the trail back just before it turns into Ottenburg. From Ottenburg it went to Eerken and Pecrot and then the climb towards Nethen. Only 15% this one but this was the only time on this ride I had to drop the chain on the small ring in front. From Nethen to Sint Joris Weert and then towards the Wolfshagen and the Keiberg up the Smeys. The trail takes the Smeysberg upwards, I took it in the reverse direction, dropping down the Smeysberg and taking the climb back up along the Koxstraat. Down via the Kleinwaverstraat and then I was on the Sint Jasnberg steenweg riding towards Egenhoven. A couple of climbs along the way but nothing to bother me. Instead of riding all the way to the Leuvense Ring I took another track past the Imec building and Arenberg, coming back on the official track at the English Cemetery in Heverlee. Into Blanden and I was back home. A good track, with some dangerous roads and some steep hills, the latter can be avoided by taking alternatives if you don't feel up to riding a gradient of 17% or more .

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 104.5K and 865 heightmeters (Garmin) in 03h44mins

8857/46590

17-07-2013, 13:27 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After a days' rest I was curious how my legs would feel . I started out early to beat the heat. The northern wind was less pronounced so that cooling factor was gone. I decided on a 100K ride. The Rondom Blanden track fits that bill. Starting out over the Zoete Waters and Korbeek Dyle, then towards Leefdaal and up and over the crest to reach Duisburg . On to Eizer and Overijse where I zoomed down the Schavei. From Overijse to Huldenberg and up the Koxberg. Down the Holstheide and through Terlanen towards Ottenburg. The climbs went well. I could keep the chain on the big ring. From Ottenburg it went towards Eerken and then left to Sint Agatha Rode. Nethen and then pecrot were next. Some cobbles to reach Les Monts. Through Grez and the up the long climb towards Heze and Longueville. By now I was well over mid-ride and when I reached Happeau I decided to stop and have a snack.

Onwards to La Bruyere where I did and extra loop before entering Beauvechain. The long climb out of Beauvechain towards Opvelp and then into Neervelp made me realise there was some wind blowing from the north after all. Into Bremt and then towards Bierbeek and Haasrode Industrie where I completed half a lap before following the Expressweg into Blanden. Home just after noon.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 101K and 720 heightmeters (Garmin) in 03h31mins

8752/45725

16-07-2013, 13:55 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf