Weather was still very warm so I started around 7.30AM to enjoy the coolness of the early morning. Around 17 degrees C and practically no wind to speak of. I rode out towards the Tiensesteenweg and followed that all the way to the Tienen ringway. Taking a right towards Hoegaarden and then taking a right again up to the Geosite Goudberg. Over Oorbeek and Kumtich to Willebringen and then through Neervelp and Bierbeek to reach the Meerdael Forest. The last couple of kilometers brought me the shade of the forest.

Ride Stats : 50K and 405 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h09mins

1131/8285

02-08-2018, 10:29 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Sun was already rising fast when I rode out at 8AM for a 50K ride that would loop me through Haasrode, Bierbeek, Neervelp, Opvelp, Meldert, La Bruyere,beauvechain and Tourinnes towards Nodebais and Hamme Mille. From here I took another loop over Nethen, Pecrot and Sint Agatha Rode to reach Sint Joris Weert and the Zoet Waters. From the Zoete Waters another stretch lead me through Vaalbeek back into Blanden. The temperature was feasable but the strong southerly winds gave me a spot of bother in the middle part of the ride. But I took it easy and relaxed and only pushed on the uphills. The rest was done on an easy long LSD pace.

Ride Stats : 50K and 430 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h09mins

1081/7880

30-07-2018, 10:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After a couple of tropical days - 35 degrees C in the shade - tonight saw the arrival of cooler weather with some rain and westrly winds. I first did a 9K hike and then went out for a cycling trip on the Moots Psychlo-X. I did one of my usual laps and was glad to be able to breathe some fresh air instead of the hairdryer air of the last few days. The legs felt fine and I maintained an easy pace throughout the ride. Hopefully tomorrow morning sees the same kind of weather so that I can re-cycle.

Ride Stats : 36K and 315 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h35mins

1031/7450

28-07-2018, 12:39 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Early start for a ride that would take me along the Tiensesteenweg from Leuven to the ring around Tienen. Weather was calm and still relatively cool when I rode out. Opted for a 2 hour ride with the Moots Psychlo-X . It hasn't rained for almost 2 months now - a few drops notwithstanding - and the grass berms are becoming pale and yellow. The forecast is for yet another week of beautiful sunny weather. People can adapt but nature is suffering from the drought. From Tienen I rode towards Hoegaarden and the over Hoksem and Willebringen back to Bierbeek and the Haasrode Industrie Park. From here a straight line back home into Blanden along the Expressweg. Legs felt fine and I could maintain a good pace and keep my average heartrate under 100bpm.

Ride Stats : 49K and 420 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h06mins

995/7135

22-07-2018, 10:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Started very early today to make th emost of the morning coolness. The sun was still a bit shaded by high clouds and the re was no wind to speak of. Good conditions for a ride. I did my usual lap and could shave one minute form my best time. I stayed on a lower gear during some of the climbs to train my legs for some strength. Strength that I am seriously lacking due to the build-off from my cycling these last 4 years.

Ride Stats : 50K and 395 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h10mins

946/6715

20-07-2018, 11:05 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Still warm and sunny this morning. Rode out with the Moots Psychlo-X for a spin along my current PoGo Gym route. There was a breeze from the west which bothered me during the middle part of the ride. I included a loop past the Starfighter in 1St Wing Base and then back through La Bruyere which brought the distance to a nice 50K. The last part of the ride finally had me cycling with the wind in my back and this was a welcome change. The legs felt a little tired near the end but I still managed to keep my heartrate on an average of 106bpm which is of course superb.

Ride Stats : 50K and 420 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h11mins

896/6320

17-07-2018, 11:14 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Summer is here. Weather is warm but not hot - yet. There was a light breeze blowing from the east and the sun was already well out when I started my ride around 8.40AM. I followed the same route as two days ago. My legs felt a bit better now and I nly had to deal with neck and buttock pain. Getting used to a saddle and getting used to stretching the head upwards to be able to look ahead when trying to sit as low as possible frontally. But the ride went well. I paced myself on the climbs and tried to develop soem strength on the flat sections.

Ride Stats : 47K and 385 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h01mins

846/5900

15-07-2018, 11:30 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

My legs seemed to have recovered from my last ride so I decided to go out again. neck and shoulders remembered though and I needed to be careful not to put any strain on them during this ride. I did the PoGo Gyms tour minus the gyms. From Blanden over Haasrode, Bierbeek, Neervel, Opvelp and the to Meldert. The weather was slightly overcast and not too warm. Mild wind blowing from the north or thereabouts. In Meldert I rode towards La Bruyere, Beauvechain and then Hamme Mille where I crossed the N25 to ride into Nethen where I took a left in the direction of Pecrot. Up and down and then a right towards Sint Agatha Rode. From Rode I looped to Sint Joris Weert and then the Zoete Waters , Vaalbeek and Blanden again. 47K which representents 2 hours of riding at my current fitness level. Legs felt tired but not as tired as the last time. Good recovery now and then looking forward to another ride soon.

Ride Stats : 47K and 400 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h03mins

799/5515

12-07-2018, 11:56 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time for some cycling! It has been more than a month now that my hiking has talen over and cycling has suffered as I was about to discover. The weather was cold and cloudy, ideally suited for a summer ride. I started out on a rout that would take me to various PoGo Gyms. Stopping there and taking control over them made this a kind of a interval ride . I took the Moots Psychlo-X to have a versatile bike that was also relatively puncture proof. I did not want any mishap to detract from my legs getting used to cycling again. After about one hour into the ride I began to feel the strength in my legs deteriorating. The wind was blowing in my face and the power I used to have has long gone. I gritted my teeth, dropped the chain on the inner chainring and did my best to keep my heartrate low. My original plan was to add another loop but I let that go and cut short the ride when I arrived in Hamme Mille. The climb out of Hamme Mille - I used to take that on the big ring 5 years ago - was a tough one but I hope to emerge stronger out of this ride. I need to devise a plan to do more cycling, and stick to that plan. I have the time now, I am on holiday. I can always go out for a hike later in the day.

Ride Stats : 37.5K and 320 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h40mins

752/5115

10-07-2018, 12:01 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A fresh morning but the sun would be out later. So I decided to leave soon and connect a few Pokemon Go gyms whilst enjoying the forest and the awakaning nature. The legs were tired from yesterdays 25K hike but I mamaged to pace myself and find a tempo that suited me.

20-05-2018, 12:29 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Warm this afternoon and seeing that I had a half day off from work I decided to do a quick ride along some Pokemon Gyms. I took the Merlin and it was a blast out there. Good trails and some cobbles and even tarmac.

15-05-2018, 16:17 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Cool morning but the sun was out so I took the Merlin for a spin. Had to ride out this evening to check some PoGo gyms. I tried to follow a route that would take me to Beuvechain, Tourinnes , Nodebais and Hamme Mille in that order. Afterwards I also passed at the Hercules Salon to check .

13-05-2018, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Cool morning but the sun was out so I took the Merlin for a spin. More or less a lap around Meerdael forest aligning some POI's where I stopped for a short while. Haasrode , Bierbeek, Tourinnes and Nodebais where on my list, afterwards I dove into the forest to reach the Coprinus Pillars high above the Kluis. From there I rode to the Zoete Waters and then back over the Keiberg and along the Chateau Meerdael fields to the Langestraat and Blanden. Legs felt strong and that had been a while.

11-05-2018, 12:04 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time for a first ride on the Litespeed Vortex this year. The bike is 17 years old and still looks like new. I have to prepare for a 125K ride next week so I better get some miles in on this bike. I took it out for a spin around Haasrode Industrie. 6 long laps and 2 hours later I headed back home. Satisfied with the ride and the bike.

Ride Stats : 56K and 490 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h11mins

595/3505

05-05-2018, 12:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I wanted to do a longer ride today. Did not want to ride on the road so that left finding a suitable mountainbike challenge. The 2 Valleien route in Overijse has always been one of my favorites. Ondulating in and out of the valleys of the river Ijse and Lane, short steep climbs followed by technical descents. A great job for the Merlin. Starting in Sint Agatha Rode I quickly emerged in the roller coaster ride. Taking it easy on the climbs, focussing on good form and trying to keep my heartrate in the safe zone. This meant a lot of little ring stuff but I managed to ride them all and even felt stronger when the ride developed. I had a bit of history today since I already hiked for almost 3 hours this morning. Had a great ride and was pleased to be able to enjoy the trails and the bike on this dry and not-too-warm day. The trails were fast and hard,not a drop has fallen this last week and this meant high speeds on the flat and in the descents.

28-04-2018, 17:18 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Taking out the Merlin today for a track I have had a while. It's a mixed ride through and around Meerdael Forest. Walloon based probably because it is called Bois de Merdael. It rides over mostly big forest roads, then plunges into Sint Joris Weert and rides along the river Dyle through the Doode Bemde to reach Egenhoven. It then doubles back towards the Zoete Waters to disappear into Meerdael Forest again. The weather was fresh but dry and the trails were hard and dusty. Which was a bonus in the Doode Bemde but because of the dry track I was also glad I was riding a full suspension bike. My legs felt good and I was strong in the climbs, which is a good sign.

26-04-2018, 13:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time for a 2 hour ride so I took the Moots Psychlo-X for a ride. Along the Tiensesteenweg towards Tienen, and then following the ring I took a left to reach Hoegaarden. From Hoegaarden I came back over Hoksem,Kumtich and Willebringen . Bierbeek was next next and then to Mollendaal for a last stretch through Meerdael Forest to reach the Naamse Steenweg back into Blanden. The weather was fresh but sunny, even though the sun was hiding behind a misty haze. No wind to speak of. The longer ride stretched some of my muscles and I also felt some saddle soreness towards the end.

Ride Stats : 50K and 415 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h05mins

446/1865

21-04-2018, 11:34 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was warm today, warmest 19th of April since they started monitoring the weather. In the late afternoon around 7pm I decided to ride ou with the Litespeed Obed for a couple of Meerdael laps. Starting with the bigger onces and working my way in to the smallest. I tried to ride relaxed, not pushing and concentrating on good form. Legs felt good and pace was good as well

Ride Stats : 29K and 350 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h22mins

396/1450

19-04-2018, 21:29 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time for another ride outside. I did a short-ish hike in misty weather this morning but in the early afternoon the sun broke through and I decided to ride out along the Green Bloso Meerdael route. The trails were excellent, no mud and no dust to speak of. Just smooth rolling with a good pace, enjoying the early spring warmth of the sun. Legs felt fine and heartrate was where it should be. Low and regular.

Ride Stats : 28K and 275 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h20mins

308/825

14-04-2018, 17:06 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

10-04-2018, 18:44 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf