It was still excellent weather for me to ride in the forest. No sun, light drizzle and overcast. I dressed up and took the Moots YBB out for a ride along the Wolf trail. An intense section of climbs and descents near the Herculessalon. The trails were wet and on the very steep ascents it was difficult to maintain traction. On  one of the trails I had to walk because the soil was still too soggy. But the steep climbs went well and with caution the downhills were very ride-able as well. Finished with the intense workout I rode some sort of cooling down section next, riding towards the Kouterbos where I stopped for a drink at the Minnebron before entering Heverlee forest for a last section of easy trails.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 25K and 390 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h31mins

3433/10595

12-07-2014, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today saw the return of dryer weather. Although it was still very moist and there was a fine drizzle falling down when I left with the Works 4.0 for a mixed ride. Actually, these are ideal circumstances for me. I can dress up with long-sleeved trousers and a raincoat and that way I am protected from any horsefly that might see me as a prey. The temperature was around 20 degrees, which was fine for me as well. I left through Meerdael Forest and rode to Sint Agatha Rode where I sampled the fake 27% of the Nieuweland. It is steep, but not much more than 17-18%. Moving on towards Neerijse over backroads over mixed trails and roads. Some more steep climbs allowed me to test my legs . I returned over Heverlee and Arenberg castle into Heverlee Forest and further on towards Blanden

11-07-2014, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Three days in a row of rain, and quite heavy at times, saw me on the Hilset on the Tacx Satori today. I wanted to move my legs and the Tacx is the ideal tool for that. Whilst reading another F.Paul Wilson short story, still from the "Aftershock & others" series.
The ride went very well , with the Tacx on resistance 2 it was not easy.

Ride Stats : 38.5K in 01h00mins

3374/9875

10-07-2014, 13:16 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another sunny day and since I wasn't feeling too bad after yesterdays' ride, and I was keen on reconnoitering the Meldert Forest, I got on the Merlin for a ride that would bring me through Meerdael Forest and the fields of Beauvechain towards Meldert. Circumvening the forest and then entering it through the iron gates I stumbled on a walking path, narrow and moist. Following this upwards towards the Sint Jan college I found a couple of very big sequoia trees. Time for a couple of pictures before riding onwards towards the main building. Following the path to the left through the gardens proved to be more tricky than I thought. The grass was high and the path wasn't very obvious. Some wooden boardwalks that were supper slippery made me dismount - remembering my fall on one of those in the Doode Beemde in october 2012, I didn't want to take any risk.

Looking around I followed the trail all the way back to where I entered the park. The trail was overgrown and riddled with fallen wood and other traps. Along with the wet underground this caused me to be very cautious. Making it back up to the main building I exited the park and set forth for l'Ecluse. I managed to run out of trail in the fields and had to descent through a mown field in order to stumble on another trail that would lead me into Aalst, just south of Hoegaarden. A nice climb out of Hoegaarden and I set forth to the north and Meldert again. Following the tarmac for a while until I reached Opvelp where I chose field trails again to lead me towards Meerdael Forest and on to Blanden. Had a good ride , building up the distance slowly.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 40.5K and 365 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h06min

3335/9875

07-07-2014, 12:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Everything was feeling OK this morning so when the sun remained out I decided to ride again. There was a strong southern wind blowing. I started out in Meerdael Forest, fully covered with long-sleeved Assos trousers and a Gore-tex raincoat. When I got to the south of the forest and into the fields, the warm wind made me decide to take off the raincoat and ride on with bare arms. Less chance for horseflies - they don't like the strong winds - but I still felt uncomfortable in the hollow roads . I rode towards Meldert because I was curious for the Sint Jans College gardens, which were open to the public. When I arrived I was impressed by the chateau-like main building but not matter how I searched, I could not find any path leading into the gardens or adjoining forest. Oh well, I will come back for those later.

Back on the trails soon after leaving Meldert for the north. Lots of cobbles in the field roads and even though I was on a fullsuspension bike I got a good beating. On the long cobble road into Bierbeek I could make good speed with the strong southern wind in my back and flew over the cobbles. Back into Meerdael Forest for a last stretch along the Weertse Dreef out of Mollendeel and then taking the Margrietendreef into Blanden.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 37.5K and 270 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h48mins

3295/9510

06-07-2014, 13:09 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf