After some rain during the early hours of the day, it dried out and the sun and wind were further ameliorating the trails and by the time I was home the trails were perfect again. I took the Merlin Works 4.0 and decided to ride the Green Meerdael Bloso in the reverse direction. Only two diversions from the trail, one the bikepath going from the west to the east, just south of the E40, instead of the bumpy trail on the other side of the highway. And another diversion because there was work in progress on the Parnassusdreef from the Sapellenbos to the Vinkenbosstraat and I had to take the Damendreef instead. There was also work in progress on another section of the Parnassusdreef and I was quite shaken when I arrived at the Oud-heverlee straat, full suspension or not. But I felt strong throughout the ride and could maintain a high pace. Just over an hour to reach my starting point on crossroads of the Monarkendreef and the Sint Joris Weert straat.  

Ride Stats : 27K and 255 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h07mins

2030/14000

18-06-2015, 20:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was dry and sunny but rather fresh with a northern breeze blowing. I decided to ride out with the Merlin for an hours' ride in Mollendaal Forest. Following my BBW Mollendaal trails, meandering up and down and squirming through the forest like a snake. I had very good legs today, feeling strong and my heart was following along almost effortlessly as I tackled the succession of turns and twisty trails. When I checked afterwards I completed the lap at an average speed of nearly 21.5kph, which is not bad considering the many turns and uphills. Of course the full suspension bike is also credit to that. But still, it left me with a satisfied feeling.  

Ride Stats : 24K and 315 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h05mins

2003/13745

16-06-2015, 19:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another sunny day and in the afternoon I decided to ride out with the Litespeed Vortex. I was aiming for a recovey ride, enoying the sun and the breeze. And that is exactly what it turned out to be. I could maintain a good speed when riding along the Tiensesteenweg to Tienen. Took the ring and then arrived in Oorbeek where I took a loop towards the Goudberg and the little Chapel on top of the Goudberg. Back over Oorbeek and Willebringen towards Bierbeek and Blanden. Some creaking noises coming from my bracket which could be a sign of needing a new one. I will have to contact Filip SPort about this soon. 

Ride Stats : 51K and 430 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h48mins

1979/13430

14-06-2015, 14:57 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This morning it was raining a little bit so I set out for a walk into Mollendaal and Meerdael Forest. 15.4K later I was back home. In the afternoon things cleared out and the sun was shining brightly when I took the Merlin for a stroll into the forest again. There was a strong wind blowing from the west as I made my way towards Bierbeek, Beauvechain, L'Ecluse and Sclimpre. From Sclimpre I rode to the west so I had to brave the wind for a while. Arriving in the fields south of Gottechain I rode towards Bossut and then into the Nethen valley. Into Meerdael Forest for a last stretch of offroad before arriving in Vaalbeek and Blanden. Had a good ride at a fast pace and with a low average heartrate of 114bpm. The Merlin performed as usual, flawlessly and dependable. 

Ride Stats : 44.5K and 430 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h56mins

1928/13015

13-06-2015, 17:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Fine weather today, sunny and warm with a steady eastern wind. Coming home from work I took the Merlin out for a spin along the Ignatius trail. I felt good and set a new speed record on this trail. The trails were excellent and I decided to ride into Nethen and take the trail south towards Bossut. From Bossut I took a left into Les Claines where I entered the Meerdael Forest again for a last stretch along the Prosperdreef into Blanden. Great legs. Superb ride. 

Ride Stats : 32K and 335 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h23mins

1884/12585

10-06-2015, 18:38 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time for a ride on the Merlin today. The weather was fine, sunny, dry and with a fresh wind blowing from the north. I started out for a ride that took me to the south of Meerdael along some technical descents and spicy uphill work. Into Beaumont and then back into Meerdael Forest for a succession of climbs and descents. I really enjoyed this ride with the Merlin providing me with fun and the technical ability only a full suspsension bike ahs on the gnarlier trails.  

Ride Stats : 26K and 380 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h15mins

1851/12250

08-06-2015, 21:03 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another sunny day so I set out for the Haasrode Industrie park again for a session of laps. First did 2 big laps, riding out of the industrie park to the Lindenboom and then back along the Geldenaaksebaan towards the entrance. After those I did a couple of smallers laps on the terrain itself. Legs felt good and I noticed some sunburn on my arms when I arrived home.  

Ride Stats : 32K and 220 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h06mins

1825/11870

07-06-2015, 12:28 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After doing a 17K forest walk this morning I still felt like I had some energy left for a ride. So I took the Litespeed Vortex out for a spin. Wearing the Kask helmet for the first time since last years ride where I experienced heart irregularities gave me a weird feeling. Part scared, part convinced that the helmet had nothing to do with it. I rode towards the Haasrode Industrie park where I did some laps around the grounds. The wind was playing with me and I had to settle for counter-clockwise laps. This left me with wind in the back during the climb and wind in the face on the flat part working my way around the lap. After some 35 minutes I decided to call it a day and rode back towards Blanden along the Expressweg. No irregularities of any kind. 

Ride Stats : 29K and 195 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h00mins

1794/11650

06-06-2015, 16:08 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was fine today so I decided to ride out for an hours' ride into the forest. Starting out over Blanden and Bierbeek and the making my way into Heverlee forest I rode from west to east. Staying close to the perimeter but just following my front wheel without a real plan I enjoyed to brisk ride with the Merlin Works 4.0. The legs felt fine and the trails were perfect.

03-06-2015, 20:13 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was fine this evening and I decided to take the Merlin out for another ride into Meerdael Forest. Following my Ignatius route all the way up north into Heverlee Forest and the Arboretum and then returning into Meerdael Forest. Completing a smaller lap afterwards and then heading back into Vaalbeek and towards Blanden where I finished my ride with a quick and short passage into the forest again before riding into Blanden and home. Legs felt great and the average speed turned out to be quite high, possibly due to the bike, my legs and the excellent trail conditions.

Ride Stats : 24K and 180 heightmeters (Garmin) in 00h58mins

1698/10655

27-05-2015, 20:36 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The day started overcast and my planned Vortex ride was put into hold because a light drizzle made the streets wet . I opted for a Meerdael Forest walk instead , taking me some 17K into Mollendaal forest.
In the afternoon things were brightening up however and I decided to take the Merlin Works 4.0 out of its winter recess. This bike always beckons me to ride fast and today was no exception. I ventured on the Green Meerdael Bloso route and established a KOM on Strava over this track. Afterwards I cooled down with a loop over the highest mountain in Blanden, back into Meerdael Forest and into Blanden over the Margrietendreef. My heartrate was in the safe zone with an 111bpm average. Not bad for an offroad ride with nearly 23.5kph on average. Merlin magic at work.

Ride Stats : 33K an 325 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h24mins

1674/10475

25-05-2015, 17:24 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This morning saw me riding out to the Novotel in Leuven where I wanted to wave out a group of cyclists that are undertaking a 7 day journey , cycling from Leuven to Copenhagen. I was supposed to join them but had some difficulty with matching my agenda to the proposed dates of this trip. But I did the next best thing, supporting them and joining them for an hour on their way from Leuven to Venlo. I didn't cycle quite that far but left them with goodbyes and best wishes in Houwaart where I turned towards Binkom. Looping back to Blanden over Lubbeek, Lovenjoel and Bierbeek I had quite a nice ride, just over 2 hours in calm and balmy weather. Legs felt fine and I really enjoyed my time on the Vortex.

Ride Stats : 51K and 455 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h58mins

1641/10150

23-05-2015, 11:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Dry and sunny weather today so when I arrived home from work I felt the urge to do a ride in the forest. Got on the Obed and went for a spin around Kouterbos before venturing into Meerdael Forest for a big loop towards Hamme Mille and Mollendaal before returning along the Schoonzichtdreef onto the Margrietendreef and Blanden. Legs felt super and my average speed was high, also due to the perfect trail conditions.

Ride Stats : 30K and 265 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h16mins

1591/9695

21-05-2015, 20:24 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Felt like doing a ride this morning so out came the Litespeed Obed again for a spin in Meerdael Forest. I followed my perimeter track which took me along interesting trails. Some steep climbs along the Nethen area and some twisting singletracks as well. In Heverlee forest the trails changed to fast lanes with the occasional twist and turn keepng things interesting. I had to change the track in the area of the Kerspelstraat because most of the trails there are now only allowed for walkers with dogs. So I rode straight on past the Cemetery and then in the opposite direction of the green BLOSO towards the Damendreef. The legs felt good and the skies were menacing from time to time with alternating sunny spells. Except for a couple of drops it stayed dry throughout the entire ride.

Ride Stats : 39.5K and 555 heightmeters (garmin) in 02h06mins

1561/9430

20-05-2015, 11:48 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

There was a lot of wind this morning, and the skies were menacing with a promise of rain. I rode out on the Litespeed Obed for a recovery spin along the Meerdael trails. I ventured into Heverlee forest first, passing in the Arboretum and then riding back to the Zoete Waters along the Parnassus dreef. Finishing with a couple of laps around the old military domain and then crossing the Naamsesteenweg for a last stretch into Blanden. The legs felt fine and recovered from sundays' ride.

Ride Stats : 26K and 250 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h10mins

1521/8875

19-05-2015, 10:19 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today was the day. I got up around 5.30am and just before 7am I was in Mechelen, signing the inscription table and sticking my number on my bike. I was to do 125K - half of the distance because a team mate was doing the second leg in the afternoon - of the 250K starting in Mechelen and going to Vorselaar. I felt OK and the weather promised to be sunny and dry. We passed near my home around  9am and I saw my dad in the crowd, waving the group of 121 cyclists onwards. I was part of the 27kph average group, there were also 24kph and 30kph groups. The ride went without any hiccups, no flats and with an average heartrate of 91bpm I cannot say I had to strain myself. Very pleased with myself for today.

Ride Stats : 129K and 725 heightmeters (Garmin) in 04h43mins

1495/8625

17-05-2015, 15:36 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The forecast rain was nowhere to be seen this morning. Instead the sun was shining and there was a stiff breeze blowing from the east. I decided to do a last tryout ride on the Vortex before tackling the Kom Op Tegen Kanker challenge next sunday. Starting out along the N25 and then looping towards La Bruyere to regain the road to Jodoigne. The wind was my foe during this part of the ride and with my body still struggling to find a good pace the wind wasn't helping. Brocante in Jodoigne and I had to find my way through the small inner town roads towards the road to Tienen. Luckily I could follow a big party of cyclists who seemed to know their way and indeed, before long I was heading towards Hoegaarden along the Ravel 2. I Hoegaarden I made further to the east towards the Ring around Tienen. Turning to the left at last the wind wasn't blowing against me anymore. When I joined the road towards Leuven the wind became my ally. My legs and back were properly warmed up by now and I enjoyed a good pace, pushed along by the cool breeze. The ring around Leuven brought me towards the Naamse poort where I took the Naamsesteenweg towards Heverlee and Blanden.

Ride Stats : 59K and 420 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h46mins

1367/7900

14-05-2015, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

There was a lot of wind blowing this evening so my original plan to have a short ride on the Vortex was put away. Instead I took out  the Obed for a fun ride along the BBW trail leading into and out of Heverlee Forest.Upon completion on this loop I rode back towards Heverlee Forest for a couple of parallel north-south trails.Slowly making my way from west to east, staying on the west side of the N25. My legs felt good and I could maintain a high average without having the feeling that I needed to push my body. An average heartrate of 104bpm can testify to that. After an hour and 20 minutes I decided to head back along the Prosperdreef into Blanden.

Ride Stats : 33.5K and 310 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h27mins

1308/7480

12-05-2015, 20:09 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather looked good this morning with the sun shining and temperatures around 14 degrees C. I rode out with the Obed on a mission. I was going to ride all BBW trails in succession, starting with the longest and working my way down to the shortest. 2 hours and nearly 50K later that mission was accomplished. My legs felt good and I could maintain a very good speed throughout the ride. The trails were perfect, dry and fast. An average heartrate of 105bpm coupled to an average speed of 23kph told me the form is slowly getting there.
After the BBW trails I rode to the Blanden cemetery to pay my respect to my mother. It is Mothers' Day today and I would not want to miss out on the occassion to have a few words with her.

Ride Stats : 61K and 550 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h39mins

1274/7170

10-05-2015, 13:02 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf