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| Tales from the Woods |
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| 16-03-2013 |
 Psychlo-X baptism |
This morning saw me driving the Evo IX to Oudenaarde. It has to stay there for a couple of days to undergo a cleaning and detailing job, inside, outside and also the motor compartment will get the once-over. I'm curious to the result. This was my first long ride with this car and it went well. The Milltek exhaust and the shape of the car prevent passsing unnoticed but it all stays within the law. Which is the way it should be of course. The handling and power of this car makes it a toy for experienced drivers. To me the excellent braking and power , coupled with a rail-like handling gives a feeling of safety.
When I got home I decided to ride out. Despite a strong southern wind I opted for a road ride. The offroad being too muddy and wet with the ongoing melting of the snow. Time to get the Moots Psychlo-X out for its first ride. I drove off along the Naamse steenweg , then took the Weertse Dreef towards Sint Joris Weert and took a right turn towards the Zoete Waters. The bike ride sweetly. No surprise, it is brand new and well set-up by Filip Sport. I have to get used to the roadie position but it looks to be the same as my Litespeed Vortex. A little shorter perhaps and I also felt I sat a smidgen too low. But when I measured the pedal-top of saddle distance it was exactly the same as on my Vortex. I will keep it for the time being and get used to the different position as compared to my mountain bike. The 172.5 crank arms may be the cause - I usually prefer 175mm crank arms - or maybe its just that it has been a while since I rode a road bike.
The speed was there, and despite the wind which kept trying to push me over and was a real force to be reckoned with when you turned into it, I kept a good average. The Campagnolo Chorus works perfectly and I felt the CX brakes were pretty good. I heard some horror stories that CX brakes don't brake, they just slow you down. Well, my experience from this first ride is different. They DO brake.
       
Completing the ride with a passage through Egenhoven , then towards Arenberg and further on back to Blanden, where I made a little loop into Haasrode to make it an hours worth .
Endomondo
track
Ride Stats : 28K and 255 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h07mins
When I arrived home I cooled down on the Tacx Satori for 45 minutes. The legs felt good and I could keep the revolutions and speed high with the resistance on level 1.
Ride Stats : 33K in 00h45mins
3244/7625
16-03-2013, 16:55 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 11-03-2013 |
| Meerdael in snow flurries |
Last week saw temperatures as high as 19 degrees C but when I rode out this morning it was -2 degrees C and there were light snow flurries hurried along on an icy cold northeasterly wind. I decided to stay in the forest as much as possible and went for the 3 Meerdael BLOSO routes. Starting out on the Green, making my way on to the Blue, then tackling the Red , back on the Blue again and finishing my ride on the remainder of the Green. At first the ride was fast, the forest trails were not too wet and seemed a little frozen over. I opted for an alternative route along the E40 and avoided the small, muddy trails as much as possible. Along the Zoete Waters up to the Chapel of Steenbergen and then up the long climb to the Herculesdreef. Into Sint Joris Weert along the Speelbergstraat and straight up to the forest again following the Polderstraat. A couple of extra climbs in the Kluis area and then an alternative route down to the Savenel Wall. Long climb here and when I arrived on the Walendreef things had become a little muddier. Due to forestry works, passing tractors and jeep had left deep ruts and those ruts were filled with mud and water. On to the crossroads with the Red and then following that route past the edge of the forest and down to the Warande Ponds for an extra loop. Crossing the Naamsesteenweg I decided against the long passage in the fields of Valduc and stayed inside the forest perimeter instead. Picking up on the Red trail again at the eastern edge of the forest. Braving the wind that was blowing from the northeast straight into the forest I made my way to the Mollendaal forest, crossing the Sint Joris Weert straat and once again staying inside the forest instead of following the Red trail to Bierbeek. A loop down and up to the Mollendaal cabin and then I decided to follow the Sint Joris Weert straat to the Naamsesteenweg. Crossing over the bridge and following the Naamsesteenweg until I reached the Walendreef. Following past the Prosperdreef that I came to the crossing with the Grez road where I left the Red trail and continued on the Blue once more. My left hand began to lose its feeling in my middle and ringfinger by now and I hurried along into Vaalbeek and on the Green route for a last loop through Heverleebos until I reached the Sapellenbos where I took a right into Blanden. Despite the cold and the wind I had a good, solid ride. The snow flurries became intenser near the end of the ride, making me more cautious on the tarmac and cobble sections . But all went well and I managed to keep the rubber side down.
Endomondo
track
Ride Stats : 55.5K and 615 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h57mins
Arriving home I changed into less warm gear for a cooldown/Warmup ride on the Tacx Satori. Cooldown for the leg muscles, but warmup for most of the rest of my body. Especially the aforementioned 2 fingers on my left hand were giving me some pain while they recovered from being numbed by the cold. I managed 40 minutes during which time I was able to keep a good pace on low resistance.
Ride Stats : 29.5K in 00h41mins
3006/7370
11-03-2013, 15:23 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 09-03-2013 |
| Tacx Satori |
This morning had me fix the licence plates on my Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Should be riding that car very soon. Its very first long trip will take it to Wax-It in Oudenaarde for a thorough detailing job, inside and outside. The car is 6 years old and while it has been maintained rather well it still could do with a good cleaning. Wax-It are professionals and I'm confident that they will restore it to its original shine and luster. Until then it hides in an undergound parking lot.
In the early afternoon I did a long forest , with light drizzly rain as my companion. Nearly 13K and 2h25 brought me around a good part of Meerdael Forest. The forest was damp and wet from last nights' rain. I came by the Herculesdreef where I took a couple of pictures of the Bosprotter.
When I got home I had just enough energy left for a stint on the TacX Satori. Reading some great short stories by F.Paul Wilson - Faces among them - whilst listening to my favorite songs through Spotify on my Samsung S2. My legs felt fine and the pace was high with the resistance kept low.
Ride Stats : 45K in 01h01mins
2870/6755
09-03-2013, 16:20 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 05-03-2013 |
| Spring is in the air |
Today saw the return of the sun and positive temperatures. Temps were up as high as 18 degrees C when I rode out with the Litespeed Obed. On the hard Hutchinson Python Airs which offer a very fast ride but little in terms of comfort, especially pumped up to 2 bars. Good thing the titanium frames and the front suspension take the edge off the nastiest bumps. I decided on a Perimeter ride around Meerdael Forest. Starting clockwise in Blanden, then making my way to the Bremberg and the outskirts of Bierbeek and Mollendaal. I sticked mostly to the bigger tracks but couldn't resist the occasional singletrail. The forest was smelling fresh and the air was full of scents of nature awakening after a long winter sleep. I rode into Mille for a loop outside the forest. The trails were mostly dry and the cobbles didn't bother me a single bit. Returning to Meerdael Forest near Valduc, crossing the Naamsesteenweg and then entering the western forest for an intenser and hillier intermezzo. My legs were strong but not strong enough to stay on the middle ring. I had to shift to the granny often to keep the tension on the muscles from raising too high. The downhills were taken confidently, the grip of the Pythons was amply sufficient on the forest floor. Steep hills and steep descents kept on following each other while I made my way to Nethen and the Kluis area.
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From there I rode to the Kouterbos and the Zoete Waters to enter Heverleebos. The sun was starting to settle and I had to make haste to finish my loop. Into Oud-Heverlee and the to La Chasse where I crossed the Naamsesteenweg again and rode past the Commonwealth Cemetery and the Military compound. Taking a right following a field track back into Heverleebos. A last section, fast and in the dusk, took me across the Naamsesteenweg again to the Prosperdreef. I followed that forest track to Vaalbeek and Blanden and then out of the Forest along the Naamsesteenweg I completed my ride. Was a great experience due to the balmy temperatures and the smells of the forest filled my lungs.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 41.5K and 470 heighmeters (Garmin) in 02h05mins
2693/6200
05-03-2013, 19:56 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 24-02-2013 |
| Meerdael in the snow |
Tonight saw the arrival of some light snow and coupled with the freezing temperatures this provided a little white coat in the morning. I decided to ride out for my first snow ride of the winter. The temperature was just below zero and the wind seemed to have loosened up a fair bit. Some light snowfall still accompanied me when I ventured into Mollendaalbos. Keeping to the bigger forest roads I did not want to take any risks. The snow was fresh and it was easy to see the gullies and holes in the road but still I was caught off guard a couple of times. Nothing except a scare because I managed to keep the rubber side down. Passing along the fields of Valduc - where the snow caused whiteout conditions - and then plummeting to the Naamsesteenweg. Crossing that the roads became more difficult due to recent forestry works that left deep scars. Scars that were frozen solid now and covered by 1cm of snow. Care had to be taken. At the Hercules Salon I paused to take a picture of the Litespeed Obed with Ad Wouters' sculptures as a backdrop.
Moving on I crossed the Weertse Dreef after a tricky descent led me past the Kluis. Coming in along the Langendaal and happy to have made it without a single scratch.
Endomondo
track
Ride Stats : 20.5K and 210 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h11mins. -1 degree C
When I got home I straddled the Tacx Satori for a relaxed half an hour. Was quite a chore as it turned out because my stomach seemed to be upset. Too much chocolate late last night? I managed half an hour though and I was happy with that.
Ride Stats : 22.5K in 00h32mins
2452/4565
24-02-2013, 12:30 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 23-02-2013 |
| Meerdael Blosos in the freezer |
This morning saw temperatures of minus 5 degrees C and there were some light snow flurries. The sun was making an effort to pierce through the clouds but it was a losing battle. I rode out and immediately noticed the stiff and icy cold northern wind. I decided to make this an offroad ride - my first one since last october when I fell and hurt my left hand. Following the Blue and Red Bloso routes in the reverse direction would prove a nice ride and I could judge the amount of traffic on these routes whilst I came accross them. It turned out to be 6 bikers, 2 on cyclocross steeds, all very well dressed to brave the cold. The forest floor was frozen solid and that meant that in the muddy areas all tracks had become concrete cliffs and ledges, trying to topple me over. I managed well though and braved the wind on the plains in the north riding into Bierbeek. Moving back to the forest along the edge of Valduc I had the wind blowing to my advantage, a small mercy. Completing the red bloso I joined the blue for a more hilly intermezzo along the forest edge near Nethen and Sint Joris Weert. Stopping briefly to make a picture of myself with the Savenel wall as a backdrop before making my way up the cliff towards the Hercules Salon.
Completing the ride along the blue and passing the Zoete Waters where the ponds were covered in a thin icy layer. Snow was being blown over the ice. Looked nice but I felt the cold in my hands and feed and decided against stopping to take some pictures. Up the Keiberg and then down into Vaalbeek where I made my way towards the Langendaal . I decided to continue and follow the Weertse Dreef for a while , making another loop following the Prosperdreef to the north and then riding upwards back to the jucntion of the Naamsesteenweg and the Weertse Dreef. In all a very good ride, a little cold at times but still I was pleased that my hand held up against the beating coming from the frozen paths.
Endomondo
track
Ride Stats : 43K and 520 heightmeters in 02h08mins . -3 degrees C
Arriving home I settled myself on the Hilset on the Tacx Satori for 40 minutes of cooling down. Not that I needed cooling down, my fingertips and toes were tingling when the warmth returned to them. But this ride helped me to settle into a state of recuperation. I only noticed near the end that I had left the resistance on 2 since the last ride. So I quickly adjusted it to 1 and did another 10 minutes on that level.
Ride Stats : 28K in 00h42mins
2409/4355
23-02-2013, 14:42 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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