After a days' rest my legs felt refreshed and upon arriving home from work I got on the Hilset on the Tacx Satori for another 40 minute ride. The pace was fine and my heartrate remained below 100bpm on average.

Ride Stats : 26K in 00h41mins

5184/23105

24-10-2014, 18:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A new ride with the Hilset on the Tacx Satori. Yesterdays' ride was digested well so I went for another 40 minutes of steady state on the rollers. Got my Polar working and with an average heartrate of 96bpm I was riding at a relaxed pace.

Ride Stats : 25.5K in 00h41mins

5158/23105

22-10-2014, 18:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It's been more than a week since I was on a bike. My throat hurt and it took a while to heal. Today I felt fine though and I went for a spin on the Tacx Satori. The legs felt good and I took the opportunity to read some more in F.Paul Wilsons' "Midnight Mass".

Ride Stats : 25.5K in 00h41mins

5133/23105

21-10-2014, 19:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was a sunny but fresh sunday morning so I rode out for a longer ride. Taking the Psychlo-X I set towards Hamme Mille and the offroad to Archennes. Being very careful on the cobbles . From Archennes I climbed the ridge to arrive in Dion. Onwards towards the Chaussee de Huy near Wavre and then straight through to Vieuxsart. The cobbles were very tricky and I managed to drop the bike because my front wheel got stuck in a gully between the cobbles and some tarmac. Some scratches on my Brooks leather bar tape and my right Campagnolo Chorus shifter unit. Straightening out the Campa I got back cycling. Corporal damage looked to be ok. Some offroad along La Place where I crossed a lot of mountainbikers going in the opposite direction. Cobbles and mud but soon I landed on tarmac again and continued towards the Chaussee de Huy again and Gistoux. I decided to follow the Chaussee de Huy until just out side Perwez where I took a left on small tarmac roads . Reaching the Avenue Lieutenant Bigourdan I rode north towards Sainte Marie. Through Wastinnes and then I took the direction of Opprebais. A right to Incourt and then left towards Longueville. Into Grez and following the N25 to Hamme Mille and Blanden, I completed my ride.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 65.5K and 665 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h45mins

5107/23105

12-10-2014, 13:05 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

With the turning of the season it is also time to change bikes. So the Moots YBB went for a deserved rest, and the Litespeed Obed will now be my main offroad bike. It had been a while since I last used it but it felt right immediately. I set out for a quick evening spin, chasing the sun on this pleasant and mild october day. The Ignatius Toer was the obvious choice and I rode over the mostly dry trails of Meerdael, and into Heverlee Bos and the Arboretum before heading back towards Vaalbeek and Meerdael Forest again. The second lap was already in the final stages of the day and here and there the trail was deep in shadows. But all went fine and I had a good hours' ride.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 27.5K and 235 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h07mins

5042/22440

10-10-2014, 19:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It's been a while since I rode on the Tacx Satori. But this evening it was quickly dark and the rains had made the offroad too wet for my liking. So I opted for the easy way out and rode half an hour on the Hilset. Accompanied by Spotify and reading F.Paul Wilsons' Midnight Mass on my Kindle. The 30 minutes passed quickly.

Ride Stats : 18.5K in 00h31mins

5015/22205

08-10-2014, 19:43 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Felt like doing some climbing today so I set out on the hilly section surrounding the Kluis and the Southwest side of Meerdael Forest. Created a lap that was some 10K long with just over 300 heightmeters. Some of the hills are steep and the descents are also not to be scoffed at. Some of the smaller singletrails are in pretty bad and washed out condition. Deep gullies and exposed roots make them very tricky. The long sandy uphill along the Savenel wall is extremely sandy. So much so that I had to walk a couple of meters. After the Wolf Trails I did some laps in the vicinity of the old Military compound , upping my average speed from 11kph on the Wolf Trails to almost 18kph over the complete ride. The weather was still nice and calm with an average of 14 degrees C and overcast skies. Arriving at home I decided to change the chain on my Moots YBB. It caused some chainsuck and it rotates badly.

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Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 35K and 490 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h56mins

4996/22205

06-10-2014, 20:09 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This was a grim and clouded morning. It had rained a little bit last night but it was dry now. The temperatures had dropped considerably and it was around 13 degrees C when I rode out. This did not bother me since I was wearing my Moots windcoat. I rode out through Meerdael Forest towards Nethen and then further on to Bossut and Archennes. Florival brought me to the long climb towards Ottenburg. The Wavre industrie terrain was next and before long I was descending towards Rosieres. Taking a right to Tombeek brought me back into Flandres. Over the Tombeek fields towards Tombeek and then I rode the Wolfshagen all the way towards Neerijse. Following the road to Egenhoven and then over Arenberg towards Oud-Heverlee. Time for some offroad again as I entered Meerdael Forest , making my way to Vaalbeek and then along the Grezstraat to the Langendaal where I took a left into Blanden.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 59K and 580 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h22mins30secs

4961/21715

05-10-2014, 13:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was great this late afternoon and I took the Moots YBB out for a spin into Meerdael Forest. I did a long lap of what I want to call the Ignatius Toer. Starting around the ex-military compound, then dropping into the Kouterbos and passing the Zoete Waters along the Kapelstraat and Pragenstraat , then along the Parnassusdreef to reach the Prosperdreef. Here I take a left towards the Arboretum where I pass the Ignatius statue, turning onto the Grezstraat and following that to Vaalbeek. Crossing the O-L-Vrouwstraat , still following the Grezstraat on the cobbles until I reach the Langendaalstraat where a new lap begins. I did this lap 2 times, some 11.7K each. Could make very good speed even though my legs felt painful after the roller treatment during the Core Stab workout last evening.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 27.5K and 235 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h07mins30secs

4902/21135

03-10-2014, 19:39 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Fall is slowly settling on the land and the amount of daylight is diminishing. When I started around 5.30PM I knew I only had a little more than an hour of daylight left. I started with the Moots YBB and first did a big lap riding all the way to the Heverleebos Arboretum to search Ignatius, the Ad Wouters sculpture that had eluded me so far. I found it this time and was glad I did. Now all the sculptures of the "Pad van Ad" are found. I rode back towards Vaalbeek and finished my ride with a long lap into Kouterbos and Meerdael Forest. Riding home along the Langedaal I was in time to watch the sun settle behind the forest horizon. The pace was good today, of course only riding for an hour allowed me to ride faster without fear for the legs to become saturated. My average heartrate was a cool 106bpm and the average speed was nearing 24kph. Not bad.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 24.5K and 200 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h02mins

4875/20900

01-10-2014, 19:36 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today the weather forecast called for dry weather in the AM, with some light rain starting around noon. I decided to go for a longer ride on the Moots Psychlo-X. Riding over Sint Joris Weert, Terlanen and Tombeek towards Maleizen, I cam to Hoeilaart where I entered the Sonian Forest along a cobbly climb. Following the NERO route for a while and then the western edge of the Forest I arrived in Sint-Genesius-Rode.
The trails where great and the Moots performed well. I stopped for a couple of pictures by the Forestry Monument, remembering fallen Foresters in the First World War.

29-09-2014, 13:40 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Going for a short but sweet ride today. The Path of Ad. Ad is Ad Wouters, a sculptor who has sculpted several figures out of living and dead trees, scattered throughout Meerdael Forest and Heverlee Forest. The complete path is around 26K and it comprises some very challenging trails. The path also goes by the Dikke Eik and Dikke Beuk, two of the largest trees in this forest.  I felt fine today and my legs were up to the task. Due to the fair amount of climbing I took it easy and enjoyed the early morning freshness of the forest. The sun came out during the ride but the temperature remained a chilly 13 degrees on average.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 26.5K and 300 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h21mins

4781/20085

28-09-2014, 11:17 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today was a day with a lot of clouds. The temperature was hovering around 16 degrees C when I rode out with the Moots Psychlo-X for a mixed ride. Starting over Sint Joris Weert, Nethen and Pecrot I came into Dion and then rode to Wavre. Up towards Overijse and then from Hoegaarden along the boards of the river Yse towards Korbeek Dyle. From here I took the Green Bloso in reverse until I reached the Heverleebos. I stopped by the Neanderthaler for a couple of pictures.

26-09-2014, 14:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Could not sit still today so I chose to do a mountainbike ride in the early afternoon. Following more or less the perimeter around Meerdael Forest and trying to relax my riding style in order to make the ride not too heavy on the muscles. There was a spot of mud here and there and I did take some smaller trails but overall the ride went very well. The legs felt surprisingly good and I could maintain a good tempo throughout the entire ride.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 38.5K and 380 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h54min30secs

4698/19340

25-09-2014, 16:06 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The forecast for today spoke of light rain and drizzle starting around noon so I rode out around 9.30 AM to be sure to keep it dry. I rode out with the Psychlo-X once again, keen on making some kilometers. The wind was blowing from the southwest and whilst I was riding through Hamme Mille towards Jodoigne I had it coming from my right. Took a detour over Lathuy to ride towards Dongelberg. Checking the castle gate I noticed it was open. This was a chance to slip into the castle grounds and make a quick snapshot of the castle before I was noticed.

Riding on towards Jodoigne and then taking the long cobble road towards Saint-Remy-Geest. Taking a right towards Saint-Jean-Geest where I injected myself onto the Ravel towards Hoegaarden. A little bit of off-road to reach Klein Overlaar - no problem with the Psychlo-X - and then I was riding upwards to the Goudberg geosite. To the north now towards Oorbeek and Kumtich. Here I took a left turn and had the wind against me as I made my way towards Willebringen. From Willebringen I drove to Neervelp and Bremt. Over Bierbeek into the Meerdael Forest for a stretch of forest road that took me to the Naamsesteenweg. Following that into Blanden I had a good solid ride under my belt. Average heartrate under 100bpm so no stress for my heart.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 58.5K and 490 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h27mins

4860/18960

24-09-2014, 13:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Two days without cycling, due to heavy rains on the sunday morning. But I did 2 forest walks, 12.6 and 13.9K respectively and I did feel those in my legs when I took the Psychlo-X out around 10AM today for a mixed ride. There was a strong NW wind and the temperature had dropped to 16 degrees - 10 degrees less compared to last week. That did not bother me much but the wind did play with me during the trip towards the north. When I rode back south I stll could feel it tugging from the side and occasionally blow straight in my face. But I took it easy and enjoyed the moments when the wind pushed me along. Coming back over Lovenjoel and Bierbeek I rode into Meerdael Forest for a last couple of kilometers on tarmac before following the Naamsesteenweg into Blanden.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 52K and 380 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h07mins

4602/18470

22-09-2014, 13:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

19-09-2014, 20:27 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

With 27 degrees it was way too hot to be comfortable but I rode out nevertheless, still clad in long shorts and sleeves. September is normally the end of the horsefly season but with the temperatures still so high I was not taking any chances, lest there still be some specimen on the prowl for my blood.
I did 4 long laps of nearly 9km with a nice amount of heightmeters. Rode at an easy pace I could maintain throughout the entire ride. My last lap was the fastest, not by much, but still it indicates that I spread my effort well.

Ride Stats : 41K and 305 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h52mins

4514/17745

17-09-2014, 20:28 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I wanted to do some fast laps on my Meerdael trails so I took out the Psychlo-X instead of the YBB. Warming up sufficiently and also reconnoitering the condition of the trails I did a fast lap of the medium distance, followed by a cooling down lap and then I did a fast lap of the shortest loop. My heartrate went up to 143 which is a lot considering my recent condition but all went well and I could complete the lap with a new personal record. I did the same on the medium distance. After that I did some cooling down laps but the speed was still high enough to make this a very fast offroad ride. Legs felt good .

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 29.5K and 185 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h25mins

4472/17440

15-09-2014, 19:57 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was misty and only 15 degrees C when I rode out with the Moots Psychlo-X around 10am. The plan was to ride over Korbeek Dyle and Duisburg into the Sonian Forest. There was a light drizzle and the fog was rolling over the rivers Dyle and Voer. Into the Kapucijnen forest and up the long easy climb towards Jezus Eik. From there I followed the highway towards the Rouge Cloitre area. Pausing at the ponds to take a couple of pictures before attacking the steep climb out of the valley.

Along the N3 I rode into Tervuren and its' park. Back up to Duisburg and from there I rode towards the river Voer. I followed that little river along its left border where a bikepath twists and turns for several kilometers from Vossem to Bertem. In Bertem I rode upwards onto the plateau and then down into the Dyle Valley. From Arenberg I connected to Heverlee forest and the last couple of kilometers of this mixed ride where again on forest roads. Had a good ride with a relaxed 103bpm average heartrate.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 53.5K and 415 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h16mins

4443/17255

14-09-2014, 13:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf