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| Tales from the Woods |
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| 21-02-2007 |
 Farmer Giles of Ham |
Rather unstable weather today. At one time I thought of getting on my bike, the sky was open and the wet streets were starting to dry out but I had to check something on my PC first and I'm glad I did. Because half an hour later it started to pour again. So on the rollers I went. Armed with some nice music of Ewa Sonnet and Anastacia and reading a couple of short fairy tales from Mr. JRR Tolkien.The idea was to ride at an easy pace to get rid of the heavy legs, left over from yesterdays' powertraining. Managed to put in an hour and a half and I finished two stories in that time.. Plans for the Houffa weekend April 20-22nd , begin to form. I have already booked last November in my usual hotel, the Ol' Fosse d'Outh. So I can concentrate on things I want to do while there. Checking out some marked trails in nearby La Roche is on my list , I have done some of them, either partly or as part of an LCMT long ago, and I wouldn't mind to go back there and check them out, they are short but steep and tough. The Houffa marked trails themselves are also an option of course , or even a road ride if the trails are muddy and dirty.
Another thing I certainly want to do is check out the entire Houffa World Cup circuit to find some new interesting spots to take photographs. I usually stay in the Ol' Fosse neighborhood ( lazy bones :) ) focussing on the singletrack climb leading up to the famous Ol Fosse downhill or positioning myself on the long climb into the forest after they cross the Bastogne road .
The circuit keeps getting shorter and shorter each year. I've known it to be almost 12K in 1996 and then you could take your time to walk to some other spots before the riders returned.Nowadays they barely need 15 minutes to complete a 3.5K lap.
I should normally have a Press Card so I could take a Press Shuttle to move quickly from spot to spot but I don't need all that hassle, I just want a few good spots and move between them on foot . A nice steep uphill were the tension is on the riders' faces never fails to produce nice pictures. I think I will practice a bit during saturdays races and compare spots , digital camera settings and lens options. Normally I take my action pics with an 180mm f2.8 small tele but I can now also use my 28-70 f2.8 zoom, which could provide some interesting wide angles as I can photograph the riders as they pass over me (or , to be more precise - next to me) I need that zoom anyway to make close-ups from the riders at the starting grid before the race.Normally I will also cover the Trophee Jeunes Vetetiste race at Grez-Doiceau (Hèze) - on saturday March 3rd. This should a good repetition for my new camera and flash (I had to get a new Nikon SB-800 because the flash I had (a Nikon SB-24 aged 10 years) isn't compatible with the newer Nikon D2X cameras' I-TTL mode , thanks Nikon for that ! Ride Stats : 35.5K in 1h30mins1603/10595
21-02-2007, 19:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 18-02-2007 |
| Maleizen 65K Tour |
Felt rather tired from yesterdays' ride so I decided not to risk another offroad adventure and instead opted for a long road ride. The Maleizen tour is just that. It starts in Maleizen and loops over Ottenburg, Grez Doiceau, Mont Saint Guibert, Corbais, Louvain la Neuve, Wavre and back to Maleizen. There are 3 distances ; 65K, 90K and 115K and they are marked by a yellow capital M with an arrow on top of it. I usually take the 65K version, since I got that memorized well which is a help because the arrowing on the streets begins to fade.
I managed to flatten again, this time I picked up a tiny pin which caused my rear tyre to slowly lose pressure. I couldn't find the hole this time, so I mounted a spare and moved on. Have to try and find the hole at home, otherwise the inner tyre is 'lost'.
Weather was not as warm as yesterday but I still averaged 9 degrees C so I'm not complaining.
Ride Stats : 76.5K and 695 heightmeters in 3h12mins
1537/10230
18-02-2007, 17:23 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 17-02-2007 |
| Foret de Soignes extraordinaire |
Wow, what a great ride I just had. The weather was awesome for this time of year; bordering around 12 degrees C or even more in the sun and out of the wind. It had been dry and warm-ish for a couple of days now and I had arranged to meet up with "Monster Blonde" (well , she IS a blonde but the Monster bit is not really true, on the contrary ! ) to do a ride in the Foret de Soignes.She hadn't been out with her bike this year - having done a lot of spinning classes and Gary Fisher powered Tacx Fortius roller rides - and for me it also was a while ago I had been in the FdS.
I really love to ride my bike over to this big forest just south of Brussels , do a loop or a combination of loops over there and then head back. This nets me at least a 3-hour ride and I love the forest no matter what time of year. At first, a few years back now, it was a bit of a maze to me, and because of its size, it is HUGE , I tended to get confused by all the trails , which all looked so alike. All the singletrails meandering from one place to the other all added to the confusion. But I have been out there with her many times before, and she DOES know this Forest inside out, having devized lots of loops for BigM , so I followed her , looked around and started to memorize the place, trying to form a picture (a map if you wish ) of it in my head and gradually feeling confident enough to venture out by myself, albeit with a real map in my back pocket, you never know when you DO get lost. There also is a great BLOSO trail out there, starting in Hoeilaart and always a good base track to fall back on.So, like I said, I rode to Tervuren and met up with her. She was eager to get out, and so was I. The trails were pretty much dry and the warm air and nice surroundings made the ride very enjoyable. The forest was pretty busy with walkers , bikers and horses. And of course a lot of loose dogs to watch out for. My companion was leading the way and at times I was surprised by her rushing off like a young fowl, leaving me to up a gear and trying to catch up with her. I also noticed she had gained a lot of strenght in the climbs, those indoor sessions are really paying off . I love to ride the trails with her, her pace is just right. She can go on for hours on end, and those long steady rides really suit me best. On top of that I think we both share the same respect and love of nature and a healthy curiosity to discover new stuff. Both just wanting to get 'out there' and follow the trails to wherever they may lead us. Some of these ventures have been almost magic.We took in quite a bit of hills, some swooping singletracks and also took the time to stop every now and then, having a sip of water/sportsdrink and enjoy the tranquility and the sheer beauty of the forest. Or watch a dog swimming playfully after a thrown stick in a pond near the Rouge Cloitre. Or look amazed as we notice there already are young canadian geese about at another pond. After 22K and just shy of 250 heightmeters we were back at our starting point. Lungs filled with the clean forest air and I'm sure both having enjoyed a very good ride. Thanks M.B. for this great ride !I still had to ride back towards Leuven, taking in a few trails on the way, even a little bit of the Green Meerdael loop before I got home.Ride Stats : 62K and 500 heightmeters in 3h06mins1460/9535
17-02-2007, 17:52 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 16-02-2007 |
| Power training |
Today needed me to do another power training on the rollers. With an outside temperature of nearly 15 degrees C it took a lot of inner pressure to keep me from getting on one of my bikes and ride outside. But I am giving my wrist one more day off, and training on the rollers lets you train and follow a set program with almost chirurgical precision. So I stayed in.
I got a Nikon SB800 flash delivered at home today (I ordered it yesterday at Digicamshop so these guys are lightning fast - my thanks to them)
I had been experimenting with an old SB24 I still have lying around from my F801S days but the results were not constant, the flash being unable to measure TTL with my much more recent Nikon D2X this left me with the only option to input all parameters manually. Lots of work and easy to make a mistake so why not unleash the full power of the D2X-SB800 combo ? So I got one and the first results were amazing. I feel much more confident now with regards to getting the pictures right at some upcoming mountainbike events.
The weather , wow, this almost feels like spring.. can't wait to do a long ride tomorrow where another warm day is forecast.
Ride Stats : 27k in 1h10mins
1398/9035
16-02-2007, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 14-02-2007 |
| Good news and bad news |
Today I planned to do 2 hours on the rollers, the rain had been falling incessantly since this morning, and after taking half a day off at work I started my ride around 5pm.
2 hours is a long time to spend on the rollers and even though I was listening to some music from Ewa Sonnet, Hayumi Hamasaki and Anastacia (who I am just discovering and really like a lot - 'How come the world won't stop' really gives me shivers) and reading the last of my Conan novels and beginning with Sven Nys' autobiography, I still have a lot of time just to close my eyes and let my thoughts wander over the day.
Quickly my thoughts are invaded by a very good friend, who stands before a great task in life and today received some good news which will help her to gain confidence and security towards completing that task.
But I also link to another girl, who died last night in Malmö where she was found dead in her home at the age of 32. Tragic if you know that she also leaves behind a 4-year old daughter. The exact circumstances of her death are still uncertain.
Most of you won't know who Johanna Sällström, born Johanna Maria Berglund, is just by hearing the name.
But I think a bell will start ringing when I tell you she plays the role of Linda, the daughter of Kurt Wallander in the Swedish detective series "Wallander". I think about her for a long time, and in my minds' eye I see fragments of the series where she plays a woman amongst other things struggling with her feelings for a fellow policeman. Her character is being really delved out very deeply through the different films and is portrayed beautifully by this young actress who now has left us so abruptly .
I was shocked when I heard the news and I feel sad, both for her and for those she leaves behind. I commemorate her by inserting a little picture of her next to this text, which is linked to a bigger one taken when she was in Belgium for the Film Festival in Ghent last autumn.
Life is full of all these little facts that mean so much to some and so little to others , some good news, some bad news. Sherish the good news and deal with the bad news, that is perhaps the first lesson to learn when growing up.
At least in our minds we can stay children, just enough to be able to face it all.
Ride Stats : 50k in 2h04mins
1371/9035
14-02-2007, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 09-02-2007 |
| Vicky Lynn Logan |
Yippee. Today the weather had turned, it stayed dry all day and temps rose to 8 degrees C. So I hasted home after work to get in a 2 hours ride before darkness fell. I made it and came home just in time before dusk. Had a great ride, my left wrist still hurts and I think I won't be going offroad just yet, moreover the conditions 'out there' are really bad, muddy and soggy.
I dedicate this ride to the memory of Anna Nicole Smith, born Vicky Lynn Logan , who died yesterday, found collapsed in an hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Lots of people saw her as a bitch who was lusting after money , and doing just about anything to get just that. But lets not forget that she also was a very beautiful woman, vibrant and living life to the full perhaps, but who is now death, in circumstances that vaguely remind me of Norma Jean Mortensen's (aka Marilyn Monroe) demise. Cursum Perficio, Anna Nicole.
Ride Stats : 46K and 330 heightmeters in 1h55mins
1226/8660
09-02-2007, 19:06 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 07-02-2007 |
| Power |
Foggy , snowy roads and cold, so motivation to go and ride outside was lacking. Someone brought THIS to my attention and I decided to try a training out of that scheme. Some Powertraining on the rollers - rollers are excellent for that purpose - and an ideal way to pass the time whilst riding.
I hope the weather clears because I really want to ride outside for a change. The forecast however calls for more snow and lots of rain in the weekend. We'll have to wait and see.
LINK to specific training for the Tour de Flandres
Ride Stats : 24K in 1h2mins
1180/8330
07-02-2007, 16:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 06-02-2007 |
| Snow? |
Was still feeling some little pains from last weeks's 350K week. My left wrist hurt (for the dirty minds - NO, I am right handed ) probably from a fall last sunday, on a slow muddy downhill where my front wheel washed out. I fell on my left side, all soft and cozy in the mud, but I must have strained something in my wrist. I also strained a muscle in my left leg which took a day to settle back into place and my behind is still a little sore from the mega-rides in the beginning of last week. Oh well, "no pain no gain" isn't it.
I decided to do an hour on the rollers, starting out very easy, reading this months O2 Bikers, and then accelerating during the last 15 minutes doing 2 intervals of 5 minutes at 33kph, finishing off the lot with a minute at 50kph. Legs warmed up well and I felt no pain except in my bum.
When I emerged from the cellar I noticed it had begun to snow.. the first one this winter, and as far as I'm concerned I wouldn't mind if it were the last one too.
I had hoped to do the Accro Bike tomorrow but if it keeps falling down, things will be considerably wetter than I would have preferred. DAMN !
Ride Stats : 26K in 1h03mins
1156/8330
06-02-2007, 19:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 04-02-2007 |
| The Litespeed boys |
Dense fog upon waking this morning, so any ideas I might have had to ride to Aywaille quickly made way for other plans. I decided to do the first half of my Secret Meerdael Loop, which would net me around 30K and 450 heightmeters . When I started out I quickly met up with my friend Roger, who was going to ride the Meerdael Bloso routes. Roger is slowly turning into a titanium adept as well, he already has a Seven Sola and just recently he acquired a Litespeed Sewanee. This was the first time I saw this bike and what a marvelous looking bike it is. Decked out with top-notch components and weighing in just a tad over 100k for a size M . We talked a little but and then we each went our own way.
It was around 3 degrees C and still foggy when I left around 11pm but the fog would quickly evaporate and around noon the temperature would reach 6 or 7 degrees. I averaged 5 degrees C.
The first part of my Meerdael Loop consists mainly of a lot of singletracks , and even though it was less muddy than a few weeks ago, there was one section that was really REALLY bad with mud . The Forestry is felling trees and getting them out with big machines. These machines really leave very deep tracks, destroying the trail, accumulating water and generally leaving me on foot quite a few times. Also, on the small trails there are still some trees that fell with the storm in January and which made me dismount at least 5 times, lifting my bike over them and riding along. I quickly noticed that my titanium Kocmo cassette has had it. I changed my chain and now it keeps slipping over the smaller cogs. That cassette has served me well the last 4 years, so it really was worth its money. Back home I will put on an XTR cassette from last year. I usually change cassettes once a year, except for the Kocmo that is. Most of the time the cassettes are not completely worn so I can use them a little longer on these wheels. Wheels that are used in muddy conditions only.Some 30K into the ride I decided that I had had enough, with just under 2 hours the average speed says it all. I connected with the Bloso route in Nethen and decided to follow it for a while to let my legs recover a bit from the tough conditions. And guess who I spot in the distance, yep there is Roger. We meet up again, him with 10K more and finishing the Red trail towards Bierbeek. We ride the last 10K of that Red route together, having ample time to chat . Roger is playing with the idea of originating a mountainbike tour around Leuven and he's asking if I'm not interested in helping him with the planning and reconnoitre the trails. Of course I am ! I know some people who are very familiar with the region North of Leuven and with our deep knowledge of the trails in the South of Leuven this great idea might just materialize over the next year. More to follow.Ride Stats : 44K and 555 heightmeters in 2h401130/8330
04-02-2007, 16:44 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 30-01-2007 |
| Long Slow Distance again |
Ok, sometimes I do crazy stuff. Like today when I noticed I still had 125K to ride this month to make it an even 1000K.. Normally I average a 1000K/month over the year so I like to start out the year by riding at least a 1000K in January.
After yesterday's 90K ride I didn't have much hope as to how my legs would feel today and indeed they protested when I left home around 4pm. I set out on an easy ride, hoping to do 50K and perhaps 60. But as the distance passed below my wheels a cunning plan began to develop. I had my heartrate way down so I figured I could easily try and do a bit more. My bum was protesting and so were my neck and shoulders from the beating of the road. But I persevered and even made it 80K. It is sometimes quite amazing what your body can do if you set your mind to it. I had to kick myself a few times, especially during the last 10K when I passed closed to home and the desire to call it a day was great. But I didn't, I rode on and made the distance which left me very tired but also happy that I was strong enough mentally to push myself into riding this.
This leaves me with around 45K to ride tomorrow , which should be no difficulty, I can even do those on the rollers should the weather turn. Today the weather was great. A few drops of scattered rain and an average temperature of 7 degrees. I rode around 3 hours with the lights on and they didn't show any signs of fading when I arrived at home. Great lights, thanks Lumicycle.
Ride Stats : 80K and 605 heightmeters in 3h39mins
955/6860
30-01-2007, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 27-01-2007 |
| Easy does it |
Quick ride between two races at the Cyclo Cross World Championships. Belgium already won gold with Joeri Adams in the Junior Class and the hope is high for the Minus 23 and Elite classes also. Pity the girls aren't up to par with the rest of the world but some might be able to get a top 10 finish..I'm thinking Veerle Ingels in the first place but we will have to wait and see.
Me I had an easy ride along Huldenberg and Ottenburg, taking in a few heightmeters but all very relaxed. My right calf has been giving me some troubles after rising this morning, I think I overstretched it yesterday. Still during the ride I didn't feel it except when I really had to put the hammer down. Weather was fine, averaging 6 degrees C with some sunshine at the start and just a few drops of rain near the end of the ride.
Ride Stats : 43.5K and 395 heightmeters in 1h50mins
745/5540
27-01-2007, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 26-01-2007 |
| Dylelandroute |
Ah, today I was out on the Moots, first time this year. Need to check the front suspension although putting it upside down for a few hours prior to the ride seems to have mellowed it a bit. Too much perhaps because I felt it was indeed very responsive - which is good - but perhaps too much sag to start with. I put in 10psi more air pressure when I was back home , and we'll see what gives next ride. Need to bring the Fox in for maintenance anyways , it has never been in and I do have the bike for 3 years now.
So, I took half a day off at work because the weather forecast called for snow/rain in the late afternoon and I wanted to be back by the time things got wet. Trails were still pretty frozen so I took the chance of leaving the Racing Ralphs on , and except for the occasional dew patch where they were sliding all over the place, they performed well. I followed the Dylelandroute, starting at Meerdael forest and looping towards Neerijse and Huldenberg, but I added a couple of nice climbs.. and selected more offroad tracks than the Dyleland itself takes. Some nice climbs made me enjoy the Moots' ability to dig in and climb like a real mountain goat. The temperature was rising during the ride - I started around noon and was back in around 1.50pm - from around freezing towards 2 degrees C. Near the end I couldn't resist the steep footpath I discovered in Sint Joris Weert and I made it, obviously, also with this bike. People sometimes ask me why I prefer an XTR transmission on my bikes and todays' ride once again put forward the exceptional quality of the XTR's shifting. Changing a gear only demands a gentle push or pull, almost a caress, and the gear has already been changed. No noises, not hesitation, just touch the lever and you immediately feel the action. Great stuff, wouldn't be the same without it. Only downsize is the price but the shifters I'm using on the Moots are still going strong and they date from 1999. So the longevity of this gear is also top-notch. New XTR cassette is said to be even stiffer, and a bit lighter, so I'm looking forward to that. Prize in Belgium is a whopping 225 but I've seen them at 120 on Chainreaction Cycles.
Ride Stats : 35K and 395 heighmeters in 1h45
701/5145
26-01-2007, 15:41 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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