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| Tales from the Woods |
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| 19-01-2008 |
 Vosges on my mind |
I have been thinking about going back to the Vosges. I had a great vacation there last year with my friend MB. Sadly she will not be able to join me again so it's up to me to make all the arrangments. I am looking at different scenarios but I would prefer renting a gite and making day trips from that base, like we did last year. At the worst I will live on pasta and broccoli for a week, ride the exact same programme like last year and still enjoy it thoroughly, I know myself ! This is plan B.
But whenever possible I would prefer to explore new routes, and for that you either need a guide or a GPS. There is a Belgium group that offers Shortbike arrangements, but I have been told they take the whole day to cover 35 to 60K.. So lots of rest and lunch breaks, which is NOT exactly my thing. I prefer biking without too much interruptions. Still, they offer local guides, 3 levels of difficulty with the toughest group hovering around 1500hm a day , possible transportation to and from La Bresse and a place to sleep for 320. Two dates , both over May weekends. There is an option to provide your own transportation (I love to drive my car) and even your own housing (I am a very private person ) . I will possibley meet up with them next month since they will be with a little stand at the Zoenk organised ride.
I am also looking at French-speaking forums to see if there is something to be arranged through French holiday groups. Early days perhaps but it keeps me occupied. I lack the organisational skills of MB, and I will probably end up with the aforementioned plan B.
On the biking front I settled for a roller ride, one hour with 2 5-minute intervals at a higher speed. I had a good sweat while it is raining and very windy outside.Ride Stats : 23K in 1h02mins282/229019-01-2008, 20:01 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 17-01-2008 |
| Heverleebos |
Took advantage of the dry spell today to do a little ride into Heverleebos. Although it started to drizzle about 30 minutes into the ride, conditions were a bit muddy from time to time and near the end of the ride I needed my helmet light to see where I was going. My GSM is on its way, got a mail from Smartphoneshop that it has left the building.Ride Stats : 24K and 175 heightmeters in 1h22mins259/2290
17-01-2008, 18:13 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 16-01-2008 |
| Hi-Light |
A few days ago I received a Van Nicholas titanium stem. Well, I ordered it chez Van Nicholas but the stem I received had Hi-Light painted on it. Now I know that Hi-light has been making Van Nicholas frames (and also the Airborne frames before that) since years, but I found it a little funny that they sent me a stem with the original logo on it. Not that I mind. Hi-Light do a terrific job. The quality of the pen is good to very good (as compared to the excellent craftmanship of the 3 times as expensive Seven stem). The welds are clean and even and the build looks strong, even though the pen (a 120mm / 5 degree / 31.8mm job) only weighs an astonishing 146grams. Check out the pictures, on one I have placed it above the Seven pen so you can compare them.
  
Why did I buy this pen? Well, I might have mentioned - or I might not - that the Morati M-bar that is mounted on my newest bike is 110mm in lenght. That is one cm shorter than on my other bikes. So from the beginning I was thinking about taking the M-bar off and replace it with a proper-length stem. One cm may not be much to an outsider but to an avid biker that is a lot.
Especially when you have several bikes, the key is to have all the riding positions exactly the same. Ok, a few mm's off will not hurt but one cm is too much. I would sit too short on my handlebar, causing all kinds of muscular problems and worse. Putting the saddle further back is not an option either, since that would put me too far back behind the bracket. The Morati was doomed from the beginning. Thats why I was on the lookout for another stem/handlebar combination since I got the bike home. The Morati will go back into its box and await another bike, or I can perhaps mount it on the Hilset, which is better suited to its length.
Another advantage is that the Hi-Light stems' brushed titanium finish better matches the Merlins'. Now I only need a handlebar to fit the 31.8mm oversize handlebar mount the stem has. I have been looking at some ( shock !! horror !! ) carbon bars that would fit the bill. Since I am scared stiff of breaking carbon, only the best quality carbon handlebar will do. So far I've singled out the Race Face titanium-reinforced Next XC SL flat bar and the Easton EC90 XC bar which both weigh around 130grams and cost about that much in Euros. The alternative is a Seven titanium handlebar which will set me back around 200 euros . But quite frankly, I think the black carbon bar will look better on the bike. Lets see what develops.
On the biking front, I was limited to a one-hour roller ride today. Even though the weather was dry and calm, I didn't go out. I started reading Filip Meirhaeghes latest book - Comeback - and it reads as well as his first offer . This one describes his comeback after the doping episode that left him off the bike for almost 2 years. The hour went by very fast.
Ride Stats : 23K in 1h03mins
234/2115
16-01-2008, 19:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 13-01-2008 |
| Lovenjoel meets Meerdaelwoud |
Didn't feel like getting up too early today, so I slept pas the entry times of the Lovenjoel organized ride. Not a problem though because I had spotted the arrows some 200 metres from my home. So around noon I set out to follow the ride as it went into the Meerdaelwoud. I was surprised the arrows were still there and I could follow them almost for 25K before the trail left the Meerdaelwoud and I spotted a jeep from the organisation . They were removing the arrows but by now I had no more use of them, since the rest of the ride went into the Bierbeek fields and so meandered back to the start in Lovenjoel. The tracks were not that bad - not exactly dry but drier than they had been the past week. The temperature was an average 9 degrees C which almost felt like springtime was upon us, especially with the sun making overtime in a cloudless sky.Ride Stats : 30K and 320 heightmeters in 1h49mins211/2115
13-01-2008, 15:18 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 12-01-2008 |
| Clark |
This morning it was still raining but in the course of the day things dried out and just when I was contemplating to ride out I saw my friend Roger riding up the alley. Did I want to take a ride on the road ? Sure , let's go ! We set out on a moderate pace, Roger preferring the big ring to build strength, me just tinkering along on the middle ring , only putting it on the big ring when things went down or flat with the wind in our backs.Temps were around 7 degrees and the sun was out, so as wlong as we had the wind in our backs it felt quite good to be out there. But during the last quarter of the ride we faced more headwind and at that time I felt it was quite cold. But one of the advantages of riding with a partner is that you can hide out of the wind from time to time. I was glad to be out for almost 2 hours without having to put excessive strain on my body. So big thanks to Roger for coming along, we must do this more often.
Saw a bit of a weird bike on the Velo Vert forum when I got back, a titanium Clark Kent which seems to be fitted with an aluminum rear triangle and a suspension making it some kind of a softtail. Also notice the ondulating main tubes. A real collectors item I'm sure.Ride Stats : 45K and 275 heightmeters in 1h55mins
181/1795
12-01-2008, 16:45 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 10-01-2008 |
| Windy intermezzo |
I went out with the Hilset today. The Tune Sixpack bracket bearings have been changed, as well as the crank puller bolts (titanium instead of alu now) and all seems to be running very smoothly . A lot of wind so I kept it short and only got in a hours' ride. The weather was clement with an average temp of 10 degrees C and dry but windy conditions.
I'm close to getting myself a new GSM. I'm thinking about the Sony Ericsson K850i which incorporates a 5 megapixel Sony camera, up to 4GB of memory, an MP3 and radio as well as a cellular phone. 3 in 1 so to speak. I am still hesitant because of the rather steep pricing but if you see the specs it doesn't look too expensive.
The girl? Angela Gossow, someone with a tremendous voice.
Ride Stats : 24K and 175 heightmeters in 1h01min137/1520
10-01-2008, 17:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 06-01-2008 |
| Taking it easy |
The sun was out today after a rainy intermezzo yesterday and tonight. No way I was going to go offroad, the fields looked like flooded wastelands and I knew what the forest was going to be like from last fridays' ride. So I settled for a nice and easy ride along the roads of Heverlee, Sint Joris Weert and Hamme Mille, enjoying the sun and just being out there. I was still using the Litespeed because my Hilset is in at ABC Fietsen for a bracket bearing change. I plan to go and get it next week.Ride Stats : 26K and 205 heightmeters in 1h17mins88/965
06-01-2008, 13:45 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 04-01-2008 |
| Around Meerdael Forest |
After yesterdays' icy rain and todays milder temperatures I was expecting the forest trails to be a mixture from muddy topsoil and some drier patches under the trees. I decided to put on some fenders on my bike which makes it look ugly - at least to some - but is quite effective in keeping mud and grime from my face and most of my clothes. Obviously when I rode out this evening I put on my helmet light because the night was falling rapidly.
My ride took me around Meerdael Forest, staying as close to the forest rim as possible. I started out in the direction of Blanden , then moved on towards Bierbeek , Hamme Mille and Nethen, where the terrain became more hilly and this also made the up- and downhills a lot trickier because of the slippery topsoil. I stopped at the Dikke Eik - the forests' biggest tree - to make a little picture and noticed when I walked around it how wet this section of the forest was.
The uphill leading out of the valley where the Dikke Eik stands was particularly slippery and demanded my utmost concentration and technical prowess to make it. I saw some horses had been skating here as well, their hooves leaving long stripy imprints in the mud. After Hamme Mille I came in the Nethen area where some more technical stuff made for a very good technical workout. The light was already fading rapidly when I reached the little well next to the Hetraie camping site. I had a little drink and time to take another snapshot.
Another picture was taken and I moved on towards Sint Joris Weert where things became a little easier. After almost 28K I was back in Blanden, having completely circled the Meerdaelbos section of Meerdael Forest. I left out the Kouterbos and Heverleebos sections - it was getting late and I didn't want to overdo my ride either. It was only when I got home that I saw the extent of mud on my bike.
I can only hope it starts freezing again as soon as possible but the forecast calls for rain tomorrow. With 4 degrees C the temperature was very cozy today, the workout on the bike and the shelter the forest provides from the wind made it a pleasant ride.
Ride Stats : 27.5K and 350 heightmeters in 1h49mins
61.5/760
04-01-2008, 18:42 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 01-01-2008 |
| New Years Ride |
Allrighty then, it's 2008 and we are all still alive and kicking. A new year - some new hopes, some new dreams - I hope all your dreams come true and your wishes become reality. But most important, let's wish each other the best of health for the new year. There is nothing more important than that. Today had me ride over to Sint Agatha Rode to interconnect with the '2 Valleien' BLOSO routes of Overijse. I chose to do the red route, which is the most technical of the three. The mud was less prominent than yesterday, probably due to the low temps and the fact that it hasn't rained for 2 days. Had quite a good ride - still high heartrates though - with some challenging uphills and tricky downhills due to the slippery clay, roots and dropoffs. The weather was a dry and misty affair with an average temperature of 5 degrees C throughout the ride.Ride Stats : 34K and 410 heightmeters in 2h02mins
34/410
01-01-2008, 14:31 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 26-12-2007 |
| Peaceful ride |
Yesterday saw me at the dinner table with my family to enjoy a good meal. Strangely enough during the night my nose, which was almost free of mucus these last few days, tended to fill up again. I am at a loss as to what is causing this. Have I contracted yet another infection or is this the last upsurge of the cold I had last week? Looks like almost everyone is down with some respiratory disease these days. I think most people at work are sniffing and coughing and also at the dinner table yesterday I think most people had a cold. Small wonder if one can escape all those viruses then. It seems like an impossible task short of living in a plastic bag .
Yet, I had planned a short ride today so I set out for a quick dash on the rollers. I am building down on the antibiotics, switched from 3 tablets a day to 2 a couple of days ago . They seem to have done their job but are of not much use anymore. From today on I will only take one a day for the remainder of the package.
Christmas has come and gone, like it does every year. A time of peace it seems. I hope all the good intentions last a bit longer than the digestion of the Christmas turkey.
Ride Stats : 11.7K in 30mins
10122/88505
26-12-2007, 12:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 16-12-2007 |
| Antibiotics |
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For those of you who are wondering why I am not accumulating lots of K's in this splendid weather, I must explain that I went to the doctor last Friday and she prescribed me some heavy antibiotics. My nose cold kept me even off of the rollers the last couple of days. I'm feeling more tired than anything, not really sick, and I don't even have a fever. But still the word is to take the drugs and kill the little buggers in my nose before I even think about riding out.
So a lot more grinning and bearing going on, especially with the marvelous weather outside. It's most certainly not as bad as in the cartoon above, but it surely feels that way.
16-12-2007, 12:13 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 09-12-2007 |
| Boring stuff |
Another
safety ride today, nice and easy on the rollers waiting for my cold to
subside. Heartrate is way too high, possibly due to the codeine I have
to take to battle my cough. Not easy to find the motivation in such
circumstances but I always manage to squeeze out another hour. Hope the
weather gets to freezing temps real quick so that the outside air
becomes dryer and less filled with germs.
Ride Stats : 23K in 1h01mins
10063/88505
09-12-2007, 18:39 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 07-12-2007 |
| Hey Stoopid |
No, I'm not addressing you dear reader, but I'm quoting the title of the Alice Cooper Album that has been in my MP3 player for a while now. As a hardrock and especially guitar man I can appreciate the cast Alice gathered around him to record this little gem: Stevie Vai, Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore, Stef Burns and Slash. Nikki Sixx and Micky Mars were contacted to play the bass on a few tracks. It even features Ozzy Osbourne on one of the tracks. This is really a great album. Check it out here. Nuff said, this morning I went to the doctor to assure myself that my dry cough was not some pneumonia slmbering as I experienced a few years ago. But she could find nothing more disturbing than a mild infection of the upper airways. Enough to keep me inside but surely not enough to keep me from the rollers and another 30K in the warm vault of the cellar.Ride Stats : 30K in 1h19mins100040/88505
07-12-2007, 18:45 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 04-12-2007 |
| titanium bikes are made of aluminum |
Had a good laugh today when I read an article that appeared in Mountainbike Plus, a Dutch MTB rag that I am subscribed too. They were testing a couple of hardtail bikes made from different materials, one of them a was titanium Cube.In the foreword of the article, the venerable Jurgen Groenwals writes (I translated obviously ) "Titanium (an aluminum alloy with some titanium and vanadium added) is a.. blablabla"Good thing I sat down because I would certainly have tilted backwards in amazement. I quickly turned to the main article to find out that Mr.Groenwals was indeed convinced that titanium is actually an aluminum alloy.. he states :"Cube uses the socalled 3,5/2 (sic) alloy, which means 94.5% aluminum, 3% titanium and 2.5% vanadium.., blahblahblah"Well, he got the vanadium right. Obviously I wrote a mail to the redaction telling them about this mishap and demanded a correction in the next issue. I couldn't resist posting my mail on a few forums as well. Mountainbike Plus, which has some very good articles and is made by some very competent people, has earned a big Minus here. I mean, I almost take this as a personal insult! How can anyone that is supposed to be 'in the know' as pertains to bikes and stuff, make such an error. Furthermore I am quite sure Mr. Groenwals has read some of my stuff on titanium. I can only assume he was in some kind of stupor when he was writing the article. Errors are human, but this is not an error, he really is convinced that what he was writing is correct.Perhaps I should inform him that the Cube frames are made by Rewel, an Italian firm and from the pictures I saw from pre-producton bikes it must be said, Rewel has made a bit of a shambles from the welds. Let's hope the production frames are up to their usual standard, which is good to very good as far as welds are concerned.
Oh well, for the rest not much going on, another day, another ride on the rollers. I was still a bit frothing from the mouth when I got on them but managed to calm down considerably during the ride. No doubt helped by the soothing voice of Anastasia. Another big chunk in my book as well so I am happy considering the fact that I would rather be riding out. The weather is bad and from the forecast it is going to get worse , lots of rain and high temperatures, no frost or calmer weather in sight.
Ride Stats : 23K in 1h01mins
9986/88505
04-12-2007, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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