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Tales from the Woods |
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04-08-2012 |
Witch |
Today the weather was fine, around 20 degrees C when I rode out and the wind was moderate. Some cloud cover but the sun burst through enough to make me apply some sunscreen before heading out for what would turn out to be a 5 hour ride. I set out on the Lf6a - Vlaanderen Fietsroute , following this all the way to Heks, deep in the province of Limburg. Riding east I could feel the wind blowing in my advantage and I also felt it getting stronger. This promised some difficulty on the return trip. Passing Velm and entering Kerkom, this marked the furthest point I ever ventured on the Lf6a. The landscape once past Velm was ondulating more and more . Lots of apple and pear trees, the roads were mostly smaller tarmac affairs which rolled well. From time to time I passed a little forest or collection of trees and shrubberies . I was depending on the Lf6a signage and - of course - I also had the GPS track as a backup. Passing through Aalst, Brustem and then passing little villages with cute names like Velshoven, Helschoven, Gutshoven I ventured further and further towards the east. Passing Broekhoven I saw that I was entering the village of Heks, my furthest point for today. Looking on my Edge 705 I noticed I was 65K from home. Stopping for a little snack and to take some pictures of the little Heks' church.
Riding back towards Brustem I had to climb up some hills which proved quite difficult with the wind now blowing strongly in my face. Good thing the track zigzagged from time to time but most of the time I was facing the wind. The sun provided me with warmth and the strong wind made me thirsty. Once back in Velm I was counting back the kilometers and the villages that passed brought me closer and closer to home. This was turning out to be my longest road bike ride - ever. With 134km and just under 5 hours it was quite a ride. I felt OK but I was glad to be home. Especially the wind was my strongest adversary today. Good thing the forecast rain showers never appeared. Good solid ride.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 134K and 905 heightmeters (Garmin) in 4h57mins
7028/64955
04-08-2012, 17:05 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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24-07-2012 |
Ottignies and Tienen |
Another bright and sunny day and I rode out for an easy recovery ride. Riding towards Bonlez over Sint Joris Weert, Nethen, Pecrot, Archennes and Grez-Doiceau. In Bonlez I took a stretch of the Ottinoise towards Ottignies but just before entering Mont-Saint-Guibert I took a 180 degree turn and rode back towards Chaumont Gistoux. The hilly terrain here pushed me into the lower gears and since I did not want to put too much pressure on my legs the average speed was a mild 25kph so far. Into and out of Longueville and I set towards Incourt and Dongelberg. Came upon Roger L. and Johan H. who were also doing a road ride and we stopped a while to catch up on the latest goings-on. Onwards past Dongelberg towards Jodoigne were I took the Ravel 2 towards Hoegaarden. I followed the Ravel on the other side of the Stationstraat until I reached Bost where I had to search a bit to find my way back to Hoegaarden. Riding up to the Marollenkapel in Sint Katharina Houtem I took a break overlooking the sun-drenched landscapes.
Riding onwards to Oorbeek, Kumtich and Willebringen , past Neervelp and towards Bremt where I climbed towards the Bierbeek water tower. Fast downhill into Bierbeek whence I rode towards the Haasrode Industrie Park where I did a couple of laps before finishing with a stretch along the Expressweg into Blanden, getting a nice 100K with an average heartrate of only 113bpm, well into recovery ranges.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 101K and 745 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h52mins
6361/60635
24-07-2012, 15:02 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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23-07-2012 |
Boom |
Even though I begin to feel the fatigue setting in from the past week, the good weather drew me out for a long ride. Since I did not want to stress my body too much I opted for a fairly flat ride, first riding towards the Leuvense Vaart and then following this body of water until past Mechelen, where a short intermediate stretch brought me to the Zennegat where I followed the river Zenne until I came to Boom. Here I took a little break, to photograph the US Sherman tank, which was obviously being prepared for a new coat of paint.
Turning around I managed to catch another cyclist and together we rode a couple of kilometers in the direction of Heffen, alternating the lead. He took the bridge so I was alone and I rode back along the same way whence I had come. Riding past Battel and Mechelen, the Leuvense Vaart led me straight towards Leuven. Around Kampenhout I was overtaken by another cyclist. I took his wheel and again I could alternate the lead . We made good speed until he took a left and I was alone again. Passing through Kessel Lo and taking the Tiensesteenweg until I took a right turn on the Expressweg . I rode a couple of laps in the Industrieterrain of Haasrode to make sure I would make the 100K mark today. The weather was splendid with temperatures around 25 degrees C and a mild wind from westerly directions.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 102K and 220 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h30mins
6259/59890
23-07-2012, 14:29 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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22-07-2012 |
Neerhespen |
Today saw the sun out again. I wanted to do a recovery ride so I set out towards Hoegaarden and then onwards to Goetsenhoven, Ezemaal and Neerwinden . The temperature was around 18 degrees when I started, but it looked like the sun would make it warmer very soon. I wanted to check out a couple of cars I saw in Neerwinden whilst I was riding the Kroeme Toer earlier this week. They were still there so I could take some pictures and move on.
When I reached the War memorial site at Neerhespen I turned the Vortex around an rode back towards Hoegaarden along the traces of the Kroeme Toer. From Hoegaarden I took another track towards Oorbeek, Hoksem and Kumtich. Willebringen, Opvelp and Neervelp were next. The wind was blowing faintly from the North-Northeast again and it did not bother me too much today. From Neervelp I took a left towards Bremt. Bierbeek, Haasrode Industrie and then Heverlee Park and returning following the Naamsesteenweg into Blanden completed this easy recovery ride with an average heartrate of 112bpm. The average temperature was a mild 23 degrees C, looks like the summer has arrived at last.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 82K and 565 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h56mins
6157/59670
22-07-2012, 14:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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