25-11-2015, 18:14 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

23-11-2015, 19:07 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After a couple of weeks off of the bike, I decided it was time for a ride again. I have been keeping myself busy with long forest walks so my fitness was certainly not gone, only biking fitness is not the same as walking fitness. So I started out with the Moots YBB on relatively easy forest trails. The trails were fine, dry with some moist pathces here and there. There had been a lot of wind last night so the leaves were blown away but the tracks were littered with fallen branches of all sizes. Everyting went fine, I had a good time riding outside again and enjoyed the relatively mild november temperatures we have seen for the last couple of weeks.

18-11-2015, 12:16 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

22-10-2015, 19:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

20-10-2015, 20:48 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After a cold and wet week, I was happy to be able to get on my YBB for a ride. I decided to follow my front wheel and it first took me to Heverlee forest and along the Green BLOSO towards Korbeek Dyle. Here I followed narrow tracks through the fields to reach the Sint Jansberg steenweg. I was taking a right and up the hill and then down again into Leefdaal. Some pretty muddy tracks here but after crossing the Steenweg again and ridign towards the borders of the river Ijse I entered Margijsbos and here I had to climb. No mud here, instead good traction. Down towards the Wolfshagen, up again on the Smeysberg plateau and the down into Sint Agatha Rode. Entering Meerdael Forest not much later for a last couple of kilometers in the majestic autumn forest.

18-10-2015, 13:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Having done the Dikke Beuk Wandeling on foot yesterday I wanted to ride it on a bike today. I noticed yesterday that the trails were still wet but not overly so. There was only one part of the ride that could - and would - cause me to walk for a couple of meters. Just before the steep climb along the Grezstraat towards the Kromme Dreef. The rest of the track was moist with soem puddles, but they were all countourable and adding to the fun of biking these relatively narrow trails. I quite enjoyed myself and did a second lap at a highre pace than the first. Obvioulsy because I knew where the traps were and where I could let the bike roll after the first lap provided me with a good insight on the trails.

10-10-2015, 17:56 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today saw a grey start but with a temperature of around 11 degrees it was quite mild. The forest roads were moist but not overly wet when I set out for a first 12k lap from Meerdael over Kouter into Heverlee forest. All the way to the Arboretum and then back over Vaalbeek into the Meerdael forest. When I was halfway through the second lap it started to drizzle. Trails got wetter and the fun quickly vanished out of the ride. I completed the 12k lap, added another little one and then rode home.

08-10-2015, 12:29 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It had been quite a while sinceI was in Grez Doiceau for a mountain bike ride. Riding out through Meerdael Forest towards Nethen and then over Archennes into Grez I started along some of the Accro Bike trails. Avoiding the really steep and/or tricky ones, I was able to get in quite a workout along some of the longer climbs and descents. Into and out of Chaumont Gistoux forests I made my way to Dion Valmont and the outskirts of Wavre. The weather was great, sunshine and a light breeze and superb trail conditions made this a ride to remember. I was moved because a year ago I thought I would never ride these trails again. Never Say Never, Never Say Die !

04-10-2015, 14:54 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A fine day with the sun full out. When I arrived home I set out for a ride with the Moots YBB. The temperature was around 17 degrees C but was dropping rapidly as I rode along the forest edge towards Bierbeek and then into the fields of Beauvechain in the direction of Meldert. Passing near the Ferme de Wahenge and then back to La Bruyere. IThe sun was starting to set and I hasted along the petite chapelle de Nodebais. Into the forest was no longer an option so I took the Naamsesteenweg to arrive in darkness in Blanden. Had a good ride and the constant race against the setting sun prompted me to maintain a high pace.

02-10-2015, 20:24 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather has been dry, sunny and windy for the last 4 days so I decided to take the Merlin out for a forest ride. The trails were perfect and I set out through Heverlee Forest towards Oud-Heverlee before looping back into Meerdael forest over Heverlee and Haasrode, taking a couple of small trails whenever possible. The pace was high and the bike performed flawlessly, as ever.

Ride Stats : 29K and 300 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h15mins

4102/31505

30-09-2015, 19:17 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

My plan was to ride to Grez today, but when I rode out it was cold and rainy and when I arrived in Bossut I decided to take another direction. Starting around 10AM when the clouds were dissipating and left a wet and cold morning. I passed by the Falcon statue in Blanden where artist Ad Wouters was working on the statue. I had a little chat with him before riding on towards the Prosperdreef. Through Meerdael forest I arrived in Nethen and then took the direction of Bossut. The cobbles were wet and slippery and there were big puddles on the flat field roads. I veered towards Nodebais and Tourinnes and then over the plateau towards Meldert. Into Bierbeek where I rejoined Meerdael Forest for a last stretch until I reached Blanden again. When I arrived home the sun was coming through the clouds and temperatures started to rise.

26-09-2015, 13:03 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Good weather today, no rain and a mild temperature and some sun. Coming home from work I took the Moots YBB out for a spin. Into Meerdael Forest for a loop that led me to Sint Joris Weert. I then rode to La Hetraie and Nethen where I took the long offroad climb towards the plateau above Pecrot. It had been a while since I did the railway singletrack so I did that, followed by a long and steep uphill. Had to stop due to a branch that got stuck in my XTR derailler. Onwards to La Malaise and then over the plateau to Bossut and down into Nethen again. Steep climb towards Meerdael Forest followed by a last loop through the forest that led me back into Blanden. The legs were surprisingly good and I felt strong throughout the ride, that comprised some nifty climbs.

21-09-2015, 19:55 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

20-09-2015, 12:19 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Grey weather when I started around 9Am with the Moots YBB. Into Meerdael Forest along moist but not wet trails. Riding towards the Zoete Waters and then into Heverlee Forest along big forest roads. Towards Egenhoven and then onwards on the plateau above Leefdaal to reach Duisburg and Tervuren. Into the Sonian forest for a small section before reaching Eizer. Up the dreaded Horenberg and then down towards Huldenberg. Following the river Ijse for a while until I reached Neerijse. Here I left the Ijse and turned towards the Dyle, and Korbeek-Dyle. Into Meerdael forest again for a last stretch before reaching Blanden again. Good ride, I did not feel too well when I started but gradually my legs showed more strength and the pace was moderate throughout the ride.

19-09-2015, 12:51 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather forecast called for rain but it was dry when I rode out around 9AM with the Moots YBB. I had a plan to ride along the green bloso until I reached the Zavelstraat. Then I rode along the Ijsbaan down to the Geldenaaksebaan into Heverlee and Leuven. Along the Philipssite and then past the DINDIN decorated buurthuis "De Pit". Taking a couple of pictures of the mural and then I rode along the Leuvense ring and into Leuven. Past the Sint Geertrui church and the Klein Begijnhof, up the Boelenberg and then following some Green Bloso route towards and up the Mollekensberg. Making my way along the E314 towards Bertem where I rediscovered some narrow trails that led me into Egenhoven. From there I made my way into Heverlee forest and then towards Vaalbeek and ultimately Blanden. Had a good ride, legs felt fine and the weather stayed clement and perfect for this kind of ride.

12-09-2015, 11:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another ride with the Moots YBB. The weather was fine today with a temperature around 19 degrees C when I rode out into Mollendaal forest for a spin around my trails there. The trails were moist here and there and I even had to dismount once to circumvene a big puddle. But on the whole the trails were also fast . The singletrails were narrow due to the lush vegetation of the late summer season. I had a good ride and my legs felt strong and enduring.

09-09-2015, 20:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today I rode out with the Moots YBB. It had been in for servicing of the Chris King ISO disc hub in the rear wheel and I was curious how it would behave. At first it still felt a little hesitant, but after a while it seemed to loosen up and it also started to produce the characteristic Chris King sound. It surprised me to find out after the ride that this was my first ride with this bike in 2015.
My legs felt good and the trail conditions were excellent so I could maintain a fast speed thoughout the ride, resulting in a good average speed. The rear brake needs to be looked at as well since it has a tendency to run against the caliper, resulting in a little bit of resistance whilst riding. Nothing to worry about and therefore it is not high on my list of things to do.

07-09-2015, 20:49 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

05-09-2015, 12:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

30-08-2015, 12:45 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf