 |
|
 |
Tales from the Woods |
|
 |
20-08-2011 |
Blanden - Boom - Blanden |
The weather was sunny and calm today, so a good opportunity to have another long ride. I set out for Kessel Lo to reach the Vaart. I followed that canal towards Mechelen and Battel where I switched to the Zenne and followed that along the Zennegat to reach Klein-Willebroek and Boom. There were lots of bikers on the tarmac road next to the water and I quite enjoyed the ride. At a relaxing yet steady pace I was at my furthest point in 1h50mins. I paused for a snack and took some pictures of the World War 2 Sherman Firefly tank that stands next to the water in Klein Willebroek.

Turning back towards Heppen, Battel and Mechelen I had a slight breeze in my back which helped me along nicely. Reaching the Vaartkom in Leuven I followed the Ridderstraat and the Goudbloemstraat and in doing so rode straight through the city to reach the Tervuursepoort. Left on the Celestijnenlaan and I was near Arenberg. A little loop through Oud-Heverlee and to the Zoete Waters brought the total distance nicely towards a 100K.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 100.5K and 205/260 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h46mins
8364/72070
20-08-2011, 15:34 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
 |
19-08-2011 |
Post storm ride |
Yesterday evening saw the passing of an enormously active thunderstorm in our regions. It turned pitch black around 6pm and then it rained with an intensity like I have never seen before. It was impossible to see further than 50 yards due to the heavy rain, which was swept along by fierce bursts of wind. At a pop festival in Kiewit, near Hasselt, 5 people died because one of the big tents collapsed due to this storm. Today I rode out and it immediately became clear that the damage was enormous. Broken branches, fallen trees, lots of 'stuff' on the bikepaths and on the roads. In the lower areas the roads had been flooded by sand and mud. In Leefdaal I had to turn around because the fire brigade was still cleaning the road. I rode out at a leisurely pace, not expecting to do more than 40 or 50K. But it turned out to be one of those rides where I just added more loops as I rode along. Starting over Heverlee, Egenhoven and then making my way into Leefdaal, where I had to turn around and follow another road to arrive in Neerijse. Here I followed the Sint Jan Bergsteenweg until I reached Huldenberg. Taking a little loop over Eizer I made my way into Hoeilaart. From Hoeilaart I rode towards Maleizen and Rosieres, and then through Tombeek towards Wavre. From the Ottenburg plains into Basse Wavre and then to Dion Le Mont and Gistoux. From Gistoux I climbed up towards Longueville and then down through Heze and Grez. From Grez I rode to Bossut and Hamme Mille. Another loop to finish off the ride took me to Nethen, Sint Joris Weert and Sint Agatha Rode. The river Dyle was almost filled to the point of overflowing. Some big trees had fallen into the river. Back to Sint Joris Weert and then to the Zoete Waters. Here also the ponds were filled to the brim and some big trees had toppled into the water by the force of the water and wind. After 4 hours of riding I was pleased to see 3 digits on my kilometer counter.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 101K and 765/805 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h01mins
8264/71810
19-08-2011, 20:28 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
 |
15-08-2011 |
Blanden - Namur Gare - Blanden |
Dry and sunny weather at last. It looked like it would remain so for the entire day so I was smiling when I rode out for a long ride. Riding through Bierbeek and Willebringen towards Kumtich, Oorbeek and Hoegaarden. Here, I joined the Ravel which took me nicely towards Jodoigne, Eghezee and ultimately Namur. I ventered into Namur on a double bike-path until I reached the railway station and the bikepath seemed to stop. At that point I had exactly 60K on my counter. So I turned around and started the 7K long climb out of Namur Saint Servais towards Daussoulx. The wind was blowing in my back and I could make good speed on the Ravel which more or less goes downhill until it reaches Eghezee. After Eghezee there is a slight bump in the landscape, with the Hottomont tomb on my left, and after that it is more or less downhill until you reach Hoegaarden again. The wind did shift until it seemed to be blowing from my right during the descent. From Hoegaarden, I had to face the wind up front, but since it was sunny and the breeze was warm I did not mind. What I did not like was the fool that sprayed me when I was wading through a big puddle on my bike. He rode through it at speed which resulted in me and my bike getting wet. I did consider for a short while riding after him and pushing him in the scenery but I could convince myself he wasn't worth getting upset about. My clothes would dry and my bike would be clean after passing a rag over it. When I was on my last descent, into Blanden , I got stung by - I think - a wasp. It collided at 40kph against my left ear and remained there for a few seconds. Long enough to sting, the pain was sharp and acute. Ouch. Since I don't recall being allergic to wasp venom I will have to wait until the pain goes away and hope there is no excessive swelling.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 121.5K and 635/675 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h33mins
8014/70250
15-08-2011, 16:09 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
 |
09-08-2011 |
Double layers |
Yesterday was windy, wet and cold so it represented a good opportunity to rest and recuperate from last weeks' training sessions. Today started wet, windy and cold but in the late afternoon it dried out. That only left the wind and the cold temperatures for the time of the year. 15 degrees C and I was wearing two long sleeved jerseys and long trousers over my short Assos Mille . Also a wind breaker was needed and even then it felt cold with the wind in my face. The ride was pretty basic. Starting over Bierbeek and Neervelp, then towards Meldert and back into La Bruyere and Beauvechain. Then I faced the wind riding to Hamme Mille and onwards into Nethen. From Nethen I climbed out towards Pecrot and then Archennes and Ottenburg. On the high plateau the wind was trying to dislodge my wheels, now blowing from the side. Down into Terlanen and then up and over the Smeysberg towards the Sint Jansbergse steenweg which I followed all to way into Egenhoven. The last bit back to Oud-Heverlee and Sint Joris Weert the wind was blowing in my back. Great. I risked riding through Meerdael Forest and along the Naamse Steenwg back into Blanden where I cooled down doing some local laps.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 76K and 630/665 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h48mins
7594/67670
09-08-2011, 21:08 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
 |
06-08-2011 |
Christmas in August ? |
Weather promised to be reasonably dry and warm, so I rode out today around 10.15AM for a logn ride. I wore a short sleeved jersey but also a windbreaker, just to be protected should it rain. Riding through Sint Joris Weert, Nethen and Pecrot and then from Archennes to Grez. Climbing towards the Circuit de Bercuit Golf Course to reach Dion at the other side of the hill. Crossing the Chaussee de Huy I set forth towards Corroy Le Grand. I had to ask for the best way because this is a region that is not so very well known to me. But when I reached Gistoux I was fine. From Corroy I decided to make my way towards Perwez and I had memorized a couple of villages I should pass in order to get there. Nil-Saint-Martin, Tourinnes-Saint-Lambert and Orbais passed under my wheels. Reaching the Chaussee de Charleroi I was not far from Perwez. In Perwez I injected myself on the Ravel and followed that until I reached Hoegaarden. From Hoegaarden I followed the Haasrode Tour in reverse direction. Through Oorbeek, Hoksem, Kumtich and Willebringen. Passing the Water Tower hig above Bierbeek I was greeted by a strange sight. Someone had planted a whole lot of Father Christmas figurines in the field. I could not resist taking a picture of this strange sight.

It had started to rain, some big drops, as I descended towards Bremt and then rode to Bierbeek and the Haasrode Industrieterrain. Into Heverlee Park next and then back home following the Naamsesteenweg towards Blanden. Good solid ride in good conditions ; a temperature around 24 degrees C, a little breeze from the south and overcast weather with the sun peeping through for short periods of time. Some rain as well but nothing much. Cleaning my bike with a rag when I got home was all that was needed.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 106K and 765 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h58mins
7417/66350
06-08-2011, 15:40 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
 |
05-08-2011 |
Grinta? |
Rode out for a short ride this evening. Starting out over Heverlee and Egenhoven and the taking the tarmac road high above Leefdaal towards the bigger road from Leefdaal to Neerijse. From Neerijse I made my way to Sint Joris Weert and then Nethen. The weather was not too bad, 24 degrees C and every now and then some light drizzle. So I opted for another loop, taking me towards Hamme Mille, Beauvechain and Opvelp. From Opvelp I took the road to Bierbeek, then moved on to the Haasrode Industriepark for a lap of the grounds. From Nethen I had been following some yellow/red arrows marked 'Grinta!'. I think these belong to an organised ride starting in Duffel. Pity they don't go any deeper in Brabant-Walloon , which did not make it worthwhile to follow them any longer than necessary. The sun came through near the end of my ride and I was a bit overdressed all of a sudden with my long sleeved jersey and windbreaker. On another note, I have been weighing my new set of climbing wheels, Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra Two carbons with tubular Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp Pro tyres and a Campagnolo Record 13-29 cassette. They weigh 355g less than my Neutron/Continental Attack&Force combo, which sports a 12-25 cassette. I hope I will feel the difference on the Ardennes climbs. I only need to change my brake pads and I can go and test them.

Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 52K and 275/305 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h51mins
7311/65585
05-08-2011, 20:23 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Gastenboek./.Guestbook |
Druk op onderstaande knop om een berichtje achter te laten in mijn Gastenboek. /
Press the button below to write in my Guestbook.
|
Email Me |
Press the button to send me a mail
|
|
|
 |