|
|
|
Tales from the Woods |
|
|
23-01-2012 |
Melin |
This morning saw brighter skies with the sun peeping through the clouds and no rain since last night. The wind was also a bit subdued but still noticeable. I had a day off from work so decided on a longer ride. Starting out over Bierbeek, Meldert and then onwards to Hoegaarden. Down the cobbles and then making my way onto the Ravel for a couple of kilometers before taking a sharp right turn towards Saint Remy Geest. Nice power interval training on the steep climb up to the church and the cobbles didn't make it any easier. More cobbles still on my way to Melin. The sun was shining now and the bright colors made the wind feel less annoying. On the plateau it was blowing in my face but before long I could hide into the valley of the Pietrebais. Had a little stop for a snack next to the Eglise Saint Laurent and took some pictures while I was there.
Onwards to Cocrou and Grez and then crossing over into Archennes and Florival. Avoiding the steep climb out of Pecrot I took a left towards Sint Agatha Rode instead. From here I rode to Neerijse and then followed the N253 all the way to Egenhoven. Turning right into the Gaston Geens laan and then past Arenberg for a right turn again that would take me into Oud-Heverlee. The Zoete Waters were next and before long I was into Vaalbeek and Blanden, completing a good solid LSD ride.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 75.5K and 610 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h28mins
756/6510
23-01-2012, 15:08 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
|
22-01-2012 |
Maleizen |
Yesterday it was wet and windy and I decided to do a long walk instead of taking a bike out. I did a fine and muddy loop in Meerdael Forest. I came upon a relatively new sculpture by the hands of Ad Wouters. This is a collection of 2 sets of giant mushrooms situated on top of the Hercules Salon, not far from Nethen and the Kluis.
I had a fine workout with 12.6km in 2h10 and was curious how my legs would feel today.
This morning saw me taking the Obed, with the road wheels of the Hilset, for an easy ride . Or at least, that was the plan. There was quite a bit of wind blowing from the west and this would bother me during the first half of the ride. I rode to Egenhoven and then followed the Sint Jansberg Steenweg all the way to Overijse . Even a little bit further as I climbed up towards Maleizen, taking a left and descending along the Bergstraat into Tombeek. Now the wind was blowing in my favor and it felt good to be pushed gently forward. From Tombeek to Terlanen and then up to Ottenburg. From Ottenburg it was mainly downhill again into Sint Agatha Rode and Sint Joris Weert. From Weert to the Zoete Waters and Vaalbeek and I was nearly home. The average temperature was 6 degrees C during this ride but it felt colder due to the wind and the occasional raindrops .
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 52.5K and 435 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h26mins
680/5900
22-01-2012, 13:01 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
|
14-01-2012 |
Ludo Dierckxsens |
Close to freezing this morning so I had to wear an extra layer of clothing to feel comfortable. The weather was dry and clear, with only a slight breeze blowing from the northwest. I took the Obed out for a ride that I have been done many times before. Riding into Bierbeek and picking up on the Ludo Dierckxsens trail. The markings are barely visible but I have memorized the track. From Bierbeek it leads me to Opvelp, turning right and through Beauvechain and La Bruyere I reach the outskirts of Pietrebais. Here I take a double left for a little loop before crossing the Chaussee de Namur and riding into Roux-Miroir. From Roux the road takes me to Sart-Risbart and ultimately to Chaumont-Gistoux and Gistoux. Some steep climbing here and there and riding out of Bonlez another long climb awaits me.
Crossing the Chaussee de Huy I drop into Dion Le Mont. Before long I cross the N243 again on my way to Dion-Le-Val and Doiceau. The Chaussee de Wavre is my next crossing and I am now close to Archennes. From here I quickly reach Florival and take a left towards Ottenburg. Into Sint Agatha Rode and here I decide to leave the LD trail and add another loop. Riding towards Neerijse and there taking the Sint Jansbergsteenweg through Korbeek Dyle towards Egenhoven. From Egenhoven I take a right into Arenberg and then make my way through Oud-Heverlee towards the Zoete Waters. By now my legs are beginning the kilometers but I'm nearly home. A good ride, in clement weather and at an easy pace. With an average temperature of 4 degrees C this is the first ride in sub-5 degrees temperatures. Maybe we will some winter at last?
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 81K and 660 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h43mins
508/4110
14-01-2012, 15:27 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
|
31-12-2011 |
Heverlee to Tervuren |
The world looked like a dirty, smelly wet rag this morning. It was drizzling and there was a mild wind blowing from the southeast. It was warm though with an average temperature of 9 degrees C throughout the ride. I rode off with the Hilset for this last ride of 2011. First I passed by the Caserne de Hemptinne in Heverlee, which saw the passing of the Fidea Classic cyclocross yesterday. The volunteers where still taking down the various paraphernalia of the event and the big tent was still there. Toi Toi toilets were being hoisted on a big truck. I checked out the vehicles on display at the Caserne entrance and obviously recognized them all, having done my military duties as a member of the 2nd Regiment Gidsen. The Leopard I was my workhorse. The Heverlee caserne is now home to the 1ste Jagers Te Paard.
From Heverlee I rode on passing Arenberg and Egenhoven on my way to Leefdaal, Vossem and Tervuren. Around the ponds of Tervuren with the drizzle being blown straight in my face by the wind. I paused for a watery picture of the Tervuren Museum.
From Tervuren I turned left and had the wind at my back for a - welcome - change. Through Eizer and into Huldenberg I rode. The middle ring on the Hilset has a dent in it , I need to have this looked at. The long climb out of Huldenberg was done on the small ring. To Sint Agatha Rode next and then passing Sint Joris Weert for a final loop through Nethen and Hamme Mille before arriving back in Blanden.
The past year has been a strange one. First there were medical troubles which kept me occupied in January and most of February. Cause was a kidney stone that took some time passing through and had to be removed chirurgically in the end and the subsequent recovery and loss of form. Then I had me setup a road bike - shock, horror - but his proved to be a great move because it not only allowed me to ride a bike through the summer but as it turned out I quite liked this bike and I got an amazing 8000K out of it between the months of May and September. Downside is that the Merlin has not been used that much this year. Once the horseflies are around I do no longer desire to go offroad. The risk of being bitten is too high and wearing longsleeved shorts and long trousers is no fun in the warmer months. Next year I intend to take the Merlin to the Ardennes more often in the late spring and the early autumn. Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 54K and 460 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h35mins
13246/116875
31-12-2011, 15:37 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
|
26-12-2011 |
Drizzle in the wind |
This second Christmas day wasn't really shaping up to be any brighter than Christmas itself. Warm, sure , but a soft drizzle was falling and would keep on falling throughout the entire ride. Not that I am complaining, after all, one can dress for the occasion, but I would prefer winter to really begin now. Colder, dry and if possible with a little snow - not too much - to spice up the riding. I decided on a road ride with the Hilset, which, with its fat 2.25 Big Jim tyres and XTR cassette was well equipped to get me through an easy long distance ride. My Gore-Tex Jacket and Pearl Izumi Amfib thights made me soon forget the drizzle. Only problem was with the glasses where a fine mist would manifest itself. No use cleaning it with the back of my glove. But other than that, great circumstances for a long ride in winter. I made a big loop, starting over Bierbeek, Neervelp and Willebringen with the wind nicely blowing in my back. From Willebringen I rode towards Kumtich and then down into Oorbeek. I was nearing Hoegaarden which would constitute my farthest eastern point today. Turning towards L'Ecluse and La Bruyere next, the wind was now my foe. It was not too violent but nevertheless quite noticeable. When I passed the entrance of the 1st Wing caserne I paused to take a picture of the F16 that has been suspended on display there.
The long climb up to the N240 and then left towards the N91 and Hamme Mille. But not before I rode through Nodebais and all the way to Mille for another little loop. Into Hamme Mille next and crossing the N25 I set towards Nethen and further on to SInt Joris Weert before taking a right and have the wind blow in my favor again. In Nethen I could not resist riding up the Bruyere du Wez and take a quick downhill down the Tienne Vincent. The legs felt good, even with yesterdays' long forest walk in them.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 66K and 500/545 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h02mins
13136/115765
26-12-2011, 17:31 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
|
|
|
|
24-12-2011 |
Mixed ride with mixed feelings |
The night saw a lot of rain and a strong northwesterly wind. When the morning came things cleared out and it looked good for a ride. I put some 2.25 inch Big Jims on Mavic Crossmax I (in the rear ) and II (at the front) wheels and also put an XTR 12-34 cassette in the back. My idea was to ride into Mollendaalbos and check out the state of the trails. Well, I knew pretty soon what the state was.
Except for the bigger forest roads the tracks were a mess. Mud and a lot of water on my favorite singletrails. So I decided to leave the forest and concentrate on riding the open fields. The wind was still blowing hard but for now I was safe. I set towards the east and things rolled well. Here and there I had to negociate big puddles and at one place a real mudhole. Arriving near Hoegaarden I decided this was as far east as I would go today so I turned towards Sint Katelijne Hautem for a passage of the 2 chapels. When I rode west it became obvious that the ride back would be a challenge. The wind was indeed still blowing hard and when I worked my way towards Kumtich and Willebringen I tried to take advantage of every nook and cranny in the terrain to recuperate from the icy hand that was pushing in my face. Mind you, the temperature wasn't that bad, with 7 degrees C on average but the windchill was a major factor on the ride back home. When I arrived in Bierbeek I only had 6K to go and things were looking brighter. But it wasn't until I was nearly home that I could turn left and escape the wind. Nevertheless I had a good ride, with a nice distance. I need to clean the Hilset because every creaks and crunches. The chain is as dry as sand and the gears are grinding. The battering of the mud followed by a long passage on dry roads dried out my drivetrain very effectively.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 50.5K and 650 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h30mins
13070/115220
24-12-2011, 16:34 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
|
|
|
|