4 weeks after my fall on that woorden bridge in the Doode Beemde it is time to evaluate how the healing process is coming along. The first week was spent in a cast. After the cast came off my hand was swollen and red but most of the swelling and coloring was rapidly disappearing and after 3 weeks all that was left was painful joints and some minor swelling. All the fingers are functioning well and making a fist is easy. But I am far from healed. The pain when I move my fingers to the side is still numbing. The swelling is still there and will be there for some time to come. Getting on a bike and cycling outside is a far dream.

Lucky that the weather is deteriorating towards winter but the will to cycle is great. So far I have been doing forest walks in the weekends, netting around 20-25K and that keeps me busy and with a feeling that I am at least doing something. 
Since cycling outside would cause too much pain - and the risk of falling again before everything is healed - I have decided to get on the rollers. My old rollerbank is worn and does not fit modern bikes. So I just ordered a TACX Satori from Chain Reaction Cycles .
That way I can cycle without putting any unnecessary strain on my wrist and hand. Looking forward to receiving it and start to cycle !!

23-11-2012, 18:09 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This evenings' ride turned out to be quite short. It had rained a bit an the forest trails were wet. I decided to ride to the Doode Beemde, a marsh near Sint Joris Weert but when I was riding through it on an elevated corduroy road, my front wheel slipped in a light turn and there I went. Bike fell into the water, me I fell on my left side, luxating tree fingers of my hand. After pulling the fingers back into place, I rode home, cleaned up and went to the Hospital. There they put me in a cast to help my hand recover. The good news being that nothing was broken.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 17K and 80 heightmeter (Garmin 705) in 00h43mins

9820/84190

25-10-2012, 23:46 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Got a flu shot this morning and I left work around 2pm. Arriving home the weather was very inviting so I took the Big Bad Wolf out for a mixed ride. Starting out over Bierbeek and then riding towards Opvelp where I tried to ride straight through the fields towards Meldert . All went well until I came to a dead stop past the Remmelenbos. There was no way through, fields all around , only one option to the right. Following that I came back where I had been a while ago, so I effectively rode a loop around the Remmelenbos. Taking the tarmac towards Meldert and then riding into L'Ecluse . Past L'Ecluse and La Bruyere I came on the N240 where I took a right towards the N91 which I followed until just before Hamme Mille where I took a field road again down to Valduc. Up and down along the Naamsesteenweg and I was on my way to Blanden. The weather was fine with an average temperature of 21 degrees C.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 42K and 270 heightmeters (Garmin 705) in 1h42mins

9803/84110

23-10-2012, 17:50 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

25 degrees C when I was riding home from work. Hard to believe it is the 22nd of October and that we are in Belgium. When I got home I got a nice surprise package from the Assos Campionissimo team. A white Worksmannschaft jersey and matching socks. Had to try it out immediately and enjoy the fantastic fit those Assos garments offer.
I decided to go out for a real mountainbike ride so I straddled the Litespeed Obed. I inflated the tyres to 2 bars and set out on the Green Meerdael Bloso route. The trails were moist but not wet. The warm temperatures felt good and I made good progress. I noticed the pressure in my Fox RLT80 could use a couple of psi more but decided to leave it that way to counter the pressure in the tyres. When I came to the Zoete Waters I took the Blue Bloso into the Kouterbos and finished my loop back to Blanden through the military compound. I went for an extra loop over Vaalbeek to cool down along the O.L.Vrouwstraat. The bike performed flawlessly with its new bottom bracket and I enjoyed the smooth shifting of the XTR equipment. When I arrived home the 25 degrees had already dropped to a more mundane 15 degrees C but still with no wind to speak the dropping temperatures did not bother me much.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 30K and 195 heightmeters (Garmin 705) in 1h14mins30secs

9761/83840

22-10-2012, 19:46 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This morning saw dry weather but there was a fog spread over the land. With temperatures of 13 degrees C it looked like a good opportunity for a ride so I took the BBW out for a mixed ride. Starting out along the new bikepath parallel to the Naamsesteenweg and then following the Weertse Dreef into Sint Joris Weert. Onwards to the Wolfshagen and then up to the Margijsbos. Following the ridge towards Huldenberg where I rode on the BLOSO track past the Kausdelle towards the fields of Terlanen. There was an organised ride also taking these roads and whilst nearing the Bilande I came upon a lot of bikers . Near the Ferme de Bilande there was a rest stop but obviously I rode on towards the Petite Bilande and the Noire Sapin Industrial grounds near Wavre. Tarmac followed by a narrow trail into the forest and emerging at the outskirts of the Noire Bilande. Turning towards Ottenburg next where I followed the Bloso trails once more along the downhill into Florival. The Hilset had its tyres inflated to 2 bars and the downhill had me bounce all over the place. Not easy to keep the bike in the right direction but I managed by keeping the speed low. Past Pecrot and up the hill towards Nethen. On the road to Sint Joris Weert again I took a right past the camping La Hetraie and the Kluis and took the Denteneerpad towards the Weertse Dreef. Following that back to the Naamsesteenweg and I was almost home. The ride was a little longer than yesterday and also a bit more challenging.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 41K and 385 heightmeters (Garmin 705) in 1h46mins30secs

9731/83645

21-10-2012, 13:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It had been a while but today saw me back on a bike. Having done a lot of forest walking - including some attempts at geotracking - I expected my fitness would not have deteriorated too much. But when I got on the Hilset BBW I noticed right away my heartrate went up and it would stay up throughout the entire ride. My biggest concern was how my pelvis and lower back area would feel but that went well. The legs felt strong and I decided to make it a mixed ride. Following the new cyclepath along the Naamsesteenweg to the Weertse Dreef and then taking a left over thr bridge towards Mollendaal. Some cobbles and field roads followed and they took me to the tarmac road towards Beauvechain. Here I took a small trail with more cobbles to emerge next to the St-Sulpicius church. Before long I disappeared onto field roads again and those took me past the small chapel in Nodebais towards Hamme Mille. Into Valduc and then up to the Naamsesteenweg again. Crossing the Naamsesteenweg I came to the Warande ponds where I paused to take some pictures.

20-10-2012, 13:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The last week I have been doing a lot of walking. Last week saw me wake up with pain in the pelvic area and I decided to taper back on the cycling. So I did a couple of easy  rides on the road and waited for the muscles around the spine to recover. Last monday saw me do the last of those rides and with the weather deteriorating - with rain and/or showers almost every day - I decided to switch to walking . With an easy start of around 6.5K last tuesday, and leaving a days' rest between the successive walks on thursday - 13.7K - and saturday - 12.7K - I was able to focus on something else and keep feet at the same time. Today saw me do a shorter distance - only 4.5K - to wrap up the week. Obviously the fitness is there. The long walks in my native Meerdael Forest also gave me a chance to see this exciting place from another perspective, as a walker instead of a mountainbiker. This morning I was able to capture the awakening forest in a couple of pictures, with the sun steaming the trees.

07-10-2012, 12:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another fine sunny day and again I settled for an easy recovery ride. Riding up to the Haasrode Industrie parc and doing 10 laps there, with an easy pace and taking care not to put too much force on the pedals. Returning to Blanden via the Expressweg and cooling down along the newly asphalted Naamsesteenweg up to the Weertse Dreef. The legs felt good and except for a nasty wind blowing from the south the weather was great for a relaxed ride. The traffic  on the lap around the Industrie parc was not too bad. There is a bikepath there, that consist of tiles and as such is not really suited for skinny road tyres. But the road is wide and usually the cars and vans give you a wide berth.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 34K and 215 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h17mins

9659/82960

01-10-2012, 12:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Still taking it easy because of a sore muscle in my pelvis, I did another Vortex ride, along the Expressway to the Haasrode Industrieterrain. Doing some laps there, focussing on the leg movement and trying to keep my back straight and the power off the legs. The legs feel good but I need to take it easy in order to let the muscle in my pelvis recover. Active recovery, better than staying home but care needs to be taken . Keep the tension on the muscles low . Thats why I chose the Haasrode Industrie. The tarmac is super over there and the loop is not too difficult to complete. The wind did bother me a bit but I alternated the direction in which I took the loop to try and keep the strain to a minimum. Returning to Blanden over the Expressway I followed the Naamsesteenweg up to the Weertse Dreef again to finish off my ride with an easy cool down.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 25K and 145 heightmeters (Garmin) in 56mins

9625/82745

30-09-2012, 12:32 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Woke up with a pulled muscle in my lower back/upper buttock area last wednesday. Pulled muscles in that area take some time to heal and I took it easy for 2 days. Still stiff in the back this morning but I decided to take the Vortex out for an easy ride. Obviously putting any kind of force on the pedals was impossible so I cruised along the Expressway to the Haasrode Industrie and did one half lap there. Riding back along the same Expressway I decided to follow the new tarmac on the Naamsesteenweg up to the Weerste Dreef, and then easing back along the same road for a last local lap before calling it a day.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 15K and 95 heightmeters (Garmin) in 35mins

9600/82600

29-09-2012, 12:45 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Apart from a strong south-southwesterly wind and the occasional light shower, weather did not look too bad so I took the Vortex out for a ride. Riding through Bierbeek and Opvelp and then up towards Beauvechain and La Bruyere I had to bit down against the wind and the raindrops stung in my face. Fortunately the rain ceased and when I rode to L'Ecluse and Hoegaarden the wind was more or less in my back. Passing along
From Oorbeek I rode on to the Tiense ring and then followed the N3 into Leuven. Taking the ring around Leuven I arrived in the Ridderstraat and couldn't resist tackling the Wijnpersstraat. Damn, that thing is steep. I started out on the big ring, but soon had to sit down and shift to the inner ring. I felt my legs were going to explode. Following the ring to the Naamsepoort I then took the Kardinaal Mercierlaan and made my way to the Naamsesteenweg and into Blanden. Turned out to be a good ride , with temperatures around 16 degrees C.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 61K and 325 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h11mins

9586/82505

26-09-2012, 15:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After seeing the weather take a turn for the worse the last couple of days, with lots of wind yesterday and quite a bit of rain as well, I was surprised to see the sun and thought I might as well ride out. So I took the Vortex and started out over Bierbeek and Opvelp. There was quite a bit of wind blowing from the southwest and I could not avoid a couple of light showers. But it felt good to be riding a bike and with a raincoat and long trousers it wasn't all that bad out there. There were menacing clouds and the temperature was not too bad with an average of 16 degrees. I turned towards Beauvechain and Hamme Mille because it looked a lot clearer in that direction. Entering Nethen I got a second light shower. The streets dried out quickly, one advantage of the strong wind that was blowing. From Nethen I rode to Sint Joris Weert and then decided to do an extra loop over Neerijse and Egenhoven. Through Heverlee and Paken and then up to the Haasrode Industrieterrain. Following the Expressweg into Blanden I was nicely sheltered from the wind.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 46K and 325 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h41mins

9525/82120

25-09-2012, 14:30 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was unstable and it looked as if it could start to rain any minute. So instead of taking the Vortex out for a spin on the road, I settled on the Moots YBB instead and decided to do a Meerdael Forest loop. I started out on one of my winter loops, riding through the eastern section of Meerdael Forest in a north-south parallel pattern. A lot of climbing involved but I was glad to check out the trails, some of which I had not seen since last winter. Some were overgrown but at least the path was still there. When I finished the section near the Bremberg I made a long loop which brought me back on the same trails and I did the whole lot again, in the opposite direction. Again 350 heightmeters and around 22K. When I crossed the Weertse Dreef I decided to do an extra loop so I followed the Red Bloso for a while and then rode on to the Herculesdreef . Past the Kluis and into Vaalbeek. Crossing over to Heverlee forest for a short stint which brought me nicely to the Sappellenbos and into Blanden. With nearly 60K I was very pleased of my ride. Oh, and it did not rain throughout the entire ride. With 10 degrees C it was rather fresh but in the forest I was well sheltered from the wind.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 58.5K and 755 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h45mins

9479/81795

23-09-2012, 13:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Weather looked to be fine today so I set out on a long offroad ride. Riding up to Duisburg to pick up on the Red Bloso route. Along the way I passed through the Doode Beemde and then through Neerijse. A fine little climb here brought me to the edge of some big sand pit. Riding around it and then up the Raffelberg I came to the Red track. Following that for an interesting section with a fine singletrail downhill . Entering Duisburg I followed the Red to the big crossroads in Tervuren forest. Since I saw that the Green passed there as well I figured I would follow it from there on . This meant returning on my tracks and then I was on the Green and on the way to Vossem. Past Vossem I spotted a big dark cloud. Hmm, looked like it would rain. The trail followed some nice sections along the Hogenbos and then the rain came. Not much, but the trails were wet when I entered Moorsel for a confusing section through the town. I lost the arrows but found them again a little later and soon I was waiting to cross the busy N3. Even though I was standing on a marked overpass and it was raining, none of the blase Brussels crowd in their cars found it necessary to let me cross. So I had to wait for a long time, thank you assh0leS. When at last there was a gap in traffic I crossed an rode along the wall of the Tervuren park. Missing another arrow due to a parked car covering it, I had to retraced my steps once more to enter the park. Soon I was back at the Zevensprong and followed the Red Bloso again until I came to the Blue Bloso track. This ventured into Tervuren. Stopping at the Diependal sports centre to take a picture of the trail map.

22-09-2012, 15:33 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The YBB is back. Filip fixed my rear wheel, put in new nipples and respoked the lot. Yesterday I went over to collect the wheel, and today I was curious to try the bike out. Rode exactly the same trails I rode last monday. But the Moots got me over them a lot faster. The added rear suspension - even though it is only an inch - makes the ride more comfortable and allows to remain seated - and pedal ! - where I would otherwise have to lift my behind from the saddle. The trails were still perfect, the only thing missing was a little sunshine to light up the trails. Now it was already darkening in the forest, making it more difficult to read the trail in heavy undergrowth situations. I did NOT want to break my wheel again. But fortunately all went well and I could maintain a very high speed throughout the ride. The legs feel good.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 28K and 210 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h07mins

9347/80220

21-09-2012, 19:11 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today saw the return of my old and trusty Litespeed Obed. After a long while of trying to spec the correct size of bottom bracket,  Filip Sport finally found one and I got the bike back today. I decided to check it out on the trails of the Meerdael Bloso's. Doing the same ride as last tuesday, but in the opposite direction, would also be a good way to find out if a front suspension bike is faster than a non-suspended bike on those trails. While it is difficult to compare bikes in exact the same conditions from the first meters the Obed feels more comfortable. The front suspension and the slightly fatter tyres are credit to that. The tyres were inflated to 3 bars and the bike was fast. Too fast because I hit a queer stone that protruded from the soil. I hit it hard and even though at first I thought I got away with it, after a couple of 100 metres I felt the air leak out of my rear tyre. Damn, snakebite. Stopped and started replacing the inner tyre, pumping it up and got under way in a little under 10 minutes. Of course, my rhythm was broken and I needed to find the good pace again during the first couple of kilometers.

But then I got rolling again, stopping one more time to add a little more pressure to the tyre at the Mollendaal cabin. The trails were fast and even the wind in my face on the Valduc fields did not bother me. The big ring only came off during the 3 long climbs in Nethen, at the Kluis and in Sint Joris Weert. Before long I was back at the new parallel road  to the Weertse Dreef, straight through the Military compound . With 15 degrees C and a little bit of sun from time to time the conditions were excellent. My average heartrate was higher than last tuesday but so was my average. The bike gets the thumbs up, and so does Filip for delivering a well-prepared bike. I need to have the rear wheel straightened though because the hit caused a little deflection.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 33.5K and 370 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h25mins

9319/80010

20-09-2012, 19:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This late afternoon saw me doing the remainder of the Meerdael Bloso routes. Picking in where I left them yesterday I set out on the Blue, followed by the red and finishing with the remainder of the blue. The pace was again fast. The non-suspended Hilset BBW helped me to maintain a good pace, and most of the shorter climbs where taken on the big ring. The long climbs near the Kluis and along the Nethen Savenel wall were taken on the middle ring, but at a high pace. My legs felt strong and the temperature of 16 degrees C was ideally suited for a long-sleeved intense ride. I have to pass chez Filip Sport one of these days to pick up the Litespeed Obed and the rear wheel of the Moots YBB. Some suspension will be a welcome relief from the harsh rides the BBW offers. The steering won't be as chirurgical and there will be some softness in the suspended front end during the turns but once I get used to that I should be able to move fast with both bikes.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 33K and 355 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h27mins

9286/79640

18-09-2012, 19:25 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I rode out with the Hilset BBW for a fast and short intense ride offroad. Riding to the Green Bloso and then trying to stay on the big ring. Not so difficult for most of the track but on one place I had to shift to the middle ring - the connoisseurs will know where. I felt good and the speed remained relatively high. The tracks were dry and fast. With an average temperature of around 18 degree C and a shy sun peeping through the clouds my long sleeves made me sweat near the end of the ride. But I succeeded in putting down a fast ride . The Litespeed Obed is at last ready to roll so I might use that later this week on the same track to see what difference a bike with front suspension makes.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 28K and 205 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h10mins

9253/79285

17-09-2012, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Sunny day and I rode out with the Vortex for what I figured would be around 60-70K. Starting out on my usual loop through Bierbeek and then in Opvelp taking a left turn towards Beauvechain and La Bruyere. On the climb out of Opvelp I overtook 2 bikers. Asking if they would ride together with me for a while I spotted that one of them was riding a beautiful Litespeed Archon. So we got chatting and talking about the bike it turned out to be a 2011 model he got as a replacement for a broken Vortex. I had heard of the late Vortex being a little too light in the headset area and indeed that was also the spot where his had developed a crack. But the Archon - the heir of the Vortex - has been inforced around this area. Not the most beautiful headset tube ever with its fat welds but they seem to be doing the trick of keeping the frame together. The heritage is obvious, the many faceted upper tube and the swaying seatstays are typical of the high-end Litespeed frames. He was accompanied by an Italian who was training for a triathlon. They were good companions until I took a left towards Jodoigne and they veered to the right towards Pietrebais on the N240. Passing Jodoigne I picked up on the Ravel 2 towards Eghezee. Entering Eghezee I took a right towards Mehaigne and Aische-en-Refail . The western wind was blowing hard on the plains and I was glad to turn towards the north and  reach Perwez. Riding on towards Thorembais and Maleves-Sainte-Marie-Wastines I reached Opprebais. Little venture to the west again before turning right and entering Incourt. Crossing the N91 I came to Dongelberg where I took a left towards Lathuy . Straight on towards Melin and the back into the wind to reach the N240 again. I decided to add a loop over La Bruyere, Meldert and Hoksem. From Hoksem the successive climbs towards Kumtich and then from Kumtich to Willebringen took a lot out of me. The wind was adding an extra difficulty but I pressed on and reached Neervelp and then tackled to long climb towards the Bierbeek Watertower. The last kilometers were ridden on automatic pilot. Haasrode and ultimately Blanden passed under my wheels. A solid ride as it turned out. The weather was great, sunny, not too warm but I could have done with a little less wind.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 105K and 665 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h38mins30secs

9225/79080

16-09-2012, 15:07 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today saw me back on the Litespeed Vortex for a ride on the road. It was rather cold and there was a fresh wind blowing from the west. I rode out over Bierbeek, Opvelp and Beauvechain towards La Bruyere. There I turned left to reach L'Ecluse and Meldert. Straight on to Hoegaarden where I had to be careful in the downhill along the narrow tarmac road. There were plenty of wet patches and with the skinny race tyres every little bit of mud becomes a slippery trap.
Made it though and I turned back to start the ascent towards the Marollenkapel. Down again and then into Oorbeek. From Oorbeek I rode to Hoksem and then up Hoksemberg towards Kumtich. From Kumtich I turned into the wind towards Willebringen and onwards to Honsem. Taking a right turn here I rode into Opvelp and then took another right towards Neervelp. From here I took a left taking me into Bremt. Onwards along the E40 to reach the Haasrode Industrie terrain where I did a couple of laps before following the Expressweg into Blanden.

15-09-2012, 13:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf