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| Tales from the Woods |
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| 20-02-2008 |
 Whirling |
Left work 15 minutes earlier because I had a plan for this evening. I wanted to ride the Meerdael Bloso's and be home before darkness set in. Well, I made it, and the ride was a blast. I started out on an easy pace to feel how the legs were and gradually upped the tempo. I was counting on a 2h30 ride and guess what, I was in a 2h31 and my forecast 50K turned out to be almost exactly on the spot as well. Am I good or what?
The front suspension on the Litespeed - a 2002 or thereabouts SID SL - felt harsh and my neck muscles were getting a good workout. There is also some scratching on the fork arms causing a slight loss of oil along the inner forklegs. I am considering to change it for a brandnew SID or something similarly light . have to look into that the next month or so, no hurry.
The trails were just amazing, dry and fast with only the occasional wet spot and I managed to skip most of the bad sectors, either by following a parallel road, or by cutting off a bit. Thats why I only have 51K - normally the 3 BLOSO's yield me around 55K - but as I said, I had a plan to be in before dusk. Yesterday saw a lot of fine dust in the air, but today there was a wind out of westerly corners and the air felt clean. It was certainly pleasantly warm - around 11 degrees when I left and just over 7 degrees C when I arrived at home. I wore my summer gloves, which tells it all. Had a fair amount of heightmeters as well and my legs felt good and strong on the climbs. I think I am ready for that first Ardennes trip now.
Ride Stats : 50.5K and 470 heightmeters in 2h31mins
1098/9610
20-02-2008, 18:56 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 18-02-2008 |
| Farm Archaeology |
Today a lot of fine dust was forecast - dust that was visible as a foggy band over the horizon. I felt tired from this weekends' rides so I settled for an easy recovery ride along Opvelp , Meldert and Beauvechain. Took some time to look around and made some pictures from an old farming machine that has been standing alongside the road in Bierbeek for quite some time now. With an average heartrate of 106bpm I am quite pleased with the intensity of the ride, and also by the fact that my recuperation works well. The weather was splendid - as you can see on the pics as well - but as I said before the lack of wind causes fine dust to remain in the lower atmosphere, making for an unhealthy situation.Ride Stats : 41K and 270 heightmeters in 1h58mins1047/9140
18-02-2008, 15:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 17-02-2008 |
| Accro Bike |
I was planning to go to Theux today, but due to the forecast low temperature, we decided not to go. Instead I opted for another of my regular rides, the Accro Bike. This is a track that once was a race starting in Grez Doiceau and spanning 43K for the short version (the actual race track) and 52K for the longer version. The track in this shape has been out of use for quite a while now. The organising Vélo Club Blancs Gilets - my club actually - chose 5 or 6 years ago for a version that would only run on the community of Grez-Doiceau instead of crossing over to nearby Chaumont Gistoux. I have known this trail for quite some time and I continue enjoying to ride it. Accro comes from "accrocher" , a French word that can be translated as 'persevere'. And you need a lot of perseverance on this trail. The 43K has some 700 heightmeters in it, and is a continuation of uphills and downhills, mostly steep and short with only a few areas where you can catch your breath. So in order to do well on this track you need to spread out your efforts , taking it easy in the beginning. Remember, it is a track that was designed for XC racing - one loop of 43K. The best guys could do it in well under 2 hours, depending on the state of the trail. This morning it was minus 5 degrees C, but the sun was out very quickly and the wind - which was an unpleasant foe yesterday - was completely gone today. When I rode out around 11.30am it was 5 degrees C but it felt a lot warmer than yesterday. I took the Moots out for the first time this year. I need to have the Fox F80 front suspension overhauled. It works a bit shoppy and generally feels too hard for my liking, even though it does use the full 80mm of travel. Other than that the Moots works as it should - smoothly.The trails were treacherous at places were the sun was melting the top layer, causing it to become quite slippery. My front wheel slipped sideways at one stage and only a cat-like reaction saved me from kissing the floor. From that moment on I was warned and took it easy on the sunny bits of the trail. In the shadows there was still ice on the scarce puddles and the trail was hard , sometimes with deep gullies. But I have been here before and I know about the traps of these trails. So I took it easy concentrating on the beauty of the vistas and generally enjoying myself. There was an organised walk on some of the trails, and I was glad I had the Moots because the Chris King real wheels' idle sound is better than a bell. It's bee-like sound alerted the walkers to my presence and I only had to grumble a few times at the loose dogs who took an interest in me whilst I was passing their owners. "Les chiens en laisse, merci"
I also crossed quite a few mountain bikers - it was a pleasant day to be out and about. After completing the Accro Bike, and on my way back home I took a break at the house in Bossut where my dads' cradle once stood. 
17-02-2008, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 10-02-2008 |
| Zoenk not |
No Zoenk for me. I didn't want to be engulfed by the mountainbike masses that would surely gather on this bright but cold morning. Instead I chose to wait until 1pm when temps had reached a pleasant 11 degrees C to head out into Meerdaelwoud. Following the last part of the Zoenk ride to start out - and still having to cope with some flocks of bikers who were almost home - I set out towards Egenhoven and Bertem. Making my way through the hollow roads and into the fields I reached Neerijse. Here I briefly followed the river Ijse and then climbed up to the Bertelsheide and into the Margijsbos.  Up and down the Smeysberg crest and then back towards Sint Joris Weert where I took the climb starting from the La Hetraie camping. Up and down a few times and then I was back on the Zoenk marked trails - passing the guys who where de-arrowing the last loop - and I followed this all the way back to Blanden. Ride Stats : 35K and 425 heightmeters in 2h10mins820/6620
10-02-2008, 16:25 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 08-02-2008 |
| 12+1 |
Wow, an average temperature of 13 degrees for a ride in the beginning of February.. feels weird but why not take advantage of it and get a ride in. So I did. I set out along the Haasrode tour, a road ride going over Haasrode, Bierbeek, Willebringen, Oirbeek and then back over l'Ecluse , La Bruyere and Pietrebais. I cut it short over HammeMille to stop at a little chapel in Nodebais where I go from time to time to say a little prayer.By the time I was back in Meerdaelwoud the temps were already dropping - it is only February after all and I was glad to have gotten a good ride in.Ride Stats : 55K and 395 heightmeters in 2h27mins785/6195
08-02-2008, 17:16 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 07-02-2008 |
| Enchanteur |
So, after a long day at work and some trouble with the Fox RP3 rear suspension unit that wouldn't hold air, I was ready to go out for a first ride with my Merlin Works 4.0 . The thing with the RP3 is that the inner valve easily loosens, preventing a good seal and thus allowing the pressure to escape when you remove the pressure pump. I had the same problem with Rogers' Sewanee when I tested it a few months back. With Rogers' bike I could twist the inner valve enough to fasten it without any tools but this time it wouldn't move . So I had to go to a tyre shop to get a little valve fastener with which to turn the inner valve tight. I promptly put his valve fastener into my toolkit, along with a spare inner valve. This might come handy along the road. I also have a HP pump in my backpack. Suspension forces different rules upon a biker. With the valve troubles over, I put in 100psi, which turned out to be fine for what I had in mind. I set out to the Tienne Vincent in Nethen to give the discbrakes a good bedding in. This climb is about 300 metres long and gives you the opportunity to grab the brakes and bring the bike to a controlled stop. You can do this 4 times per run. This heats up the disc pads, which in turn enables them to bed in with the discs. After 4 runs - and obviously also 4 climbs of the Tienne - I could feel that the 'bite' of the brakes had improved considerably, up to a point where you could lift the back wheel whilst applying the front brake.  
07-02-2008, 19:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 06-02-2008 |
| Ain't it fun when you just can't seem to find your tongue? |
"...Cause you stuck it too deep into something that really stung..." Guns 'n Roses singer Axl Rose is screaming away in my MP3 player when I mount my rollers for an hours' ride. I didn't feel like going out the last few days because of the rain and wind . Neither did I care for the rollers. Except today I had enough of doing nothing so I rolled away, listening to the Guns and checking out the lastest O2 Bikers magazine. Tomorrow they predict the return of calmer weather, and dry as well. So I am making plans to go out then. For now I make do with a good steady recovery ride which my legs seem to appreciate very well. I check out the latest prices of bikes and frames. Ouch, the Merlin Works 4.0 frame is priced at nearly 3800 . Unbelievable with the current recess of the dollar. Somebody is making a lot of profit on this. Good thing I got mine last year when it was 700 cheaper .
Come to think about it, it's about time to check out that bike now that the carbon handlebar has been fitted. Maybe tomorrow evening for a position check and also to work in the discbrakes. I know a perfect tarmac hill for this and I can combine it with a little climbing at the same time. Tempting.Ride Stats : 23K in 1h708/5535
06-02-2008, 18:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 02-02-2008 |
| Hoeilaart |
Dry but cold weather today, with a wind that was more than noticeable. I rode over to Filip Sport in Hoeilaart to check where he had put my 1999 Crossmax wheels. I have them in for service since last september. One has a torn nipple and the other needs new bearings. Tough luck, Filip wasn't in and Jean-Philippe couldn't tell whether the wheels were ready or not. I will send Filip a mail to remind him. I only need these wheels in the summer months but I'm thinking that if I don't remind him about them they won't be ready in time. The sun was out so I had a pleasant ride - except for the first part with the wind in my face - to Hoeilaart and back. Just a few scattered snowflakes to remind me of the fact that it had been snowing heavily in the Ardennes.. Just check out this webcam on the highest point of Belgium.Ride Stats : 52.5K and 315 heightmeters in 2h20mins653/5025
02-02-2008, 14:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 31-01-2008 |
| Whistle |
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There is a fierce stormwind blowing outside and my decision to bike on the rollers is quickly made. I got a mail from people who are actually contemplating to go and ride into the Sonian Forest this evening. I mean, dumb and dumber just lost out on some major candidates. I can only surmise these people have no contact with nature. A forest in a storm can be a scary thing. Before you know it, you get hit by falling wood. Best is to stay out of it alltogether when the wind is blowing with 100kph+ gusts.
Me, I just whistled my way to an easy hour and a half on the rollers, rolling out of january. January saw a difficult start for me, with my nose giving me some trouble, gradually healing when the weeks followed each other. I have made quite a bit of heightmeters, due to the fact that I have prioritized offroad biking instead of onroad riding. This has yielded me a lot of fun but also the return of my better form. I never pushed the issue but I was glad when I saw my morning pulse plunge again under 45bpm, reaching 42bpm last thursday and 43bpm this morning.
Ride Stats: 34K in 1h35mins
601/4710
31-01-2008, 19:38 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 29-01-2008 |
| Overijse |
I received my Race Face XC Next SL handlebar yesterday. It looks very good and with a weight of 136g it's very light for an oversized carbon bar. The combination is 30 grammes lighter than the Morati M-Bar.
Today I met up with my friend Roger and we went for the Overijse Bloso routes. Roger had never done them before and I think he was surprised that they offered some very good interval training capabilities. The track is always going up and down, with some field passages to relax a bit. Roger was riding his new Rocky Mountain full suspension bike - having sold the Sewanee - and I have to say it looks really good but obviously not as sexy as the Sewanee. The weather was calm and cloudy but no wind and a chilly 5 degrees C . The tracks were nearly dry and I had a very good workout. The pace was pleasant yet fast enough to feel it in my legs near the end of the ride.
When I got home I couldn't resist mounting the handlebar and stem combo. This is what it looks like on the bike. Never mind the Chiquita box in the background , it's for our resident monkey.
Ride Stats : 53K and 665 heightmeters in 3h00mins
543/4710
29-01-2008, 17:21 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 27-01-2008 |
| Out and about. |
Since the TV preferred Tennis to Cyclocross I decided to go out on my bike, and catch the Womens' race afterwards. Went into the forest again because of the fierce wind. I wanted to do something intense so I settled for a hilly ride, a good opportunity to test my legs. The trails were even better than yesterday , offering good grip even on the steepest climbs.
27-01-2008, 16:12 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 26-01-2008 |
| Red Reverse |
I had to manage my time today, because in the PM I must go to work. So I got up at 9am and set out for a ride along the red Meerdael BLOSO, but in the reverse direction. The trails were damp and wet, and the forest was alive with the sounds of chainsaws as the forestry is busy cleaning it out. The smaller tracks are all blocked at one point or another by timber. This will be going on for the next few months and it is an annoying but necessary task. At the end of spring the forest will be cleaned out of all fallen trees and then riding through it will be sheer joy.Still, it wasn't bad today either. I was tempted to stop and have a look around more than once. Got my phone camera out but still I am not happy enough with the results to post a picture. Ok, well here is one for you to check out..
The white balance seems off and with average shutter speeds of 1/30 to 1/60th making a sharp picture is not possible. I really have to make some time to figure out how to improve the camera's settings. I am possibly too critical about my pictures .
But that is the way I look at photography, using a professional Nikon (and being used to the quality that camera produces) it is not easy taking a step back. With my other little Sony - a 3.2 megapixel DSC-P9 - I also get reasonably good pictures so I was expecting at least the same quality with this one. My expectations were obviously too high, or I am not using it correctly. We'll see in the next few weeks when the weather improves (more light ! ) whether I can rely on the phone camera or if I will still have to bring my other Sony along during my rides for the occasional picture.Ride Stats : 26.5K and 280 heightmeters in 1h25mins465.5/3660
26-01-2008, 12:37 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 25-01-2008 |
| Murmurs |
I have been brooding over an Ebay item that I bought last week, and have not yet received .. Ebay.. yeah right. But the buyer has over a 100 positive comments (would anyone go to this much trouble to set up a fake account? ) so I will be patient for a while before taking action.
Have been enjoying my new GSM.. GPRS and 3G , Internet, RSS feeds, MMS, MP3, it's amazing what this beastie can do. Only thing I have to watch is the cost of all those little nice-to-have-options.
This weekend brings the Cyclocross World Championships so I probably won't be able to ride much. Sunday in the AM I want to see the Womens' race and in the PM its the 'Boys from Belgium' against the rest of the World. I wonder how many medals we will bring home.. Never saw such an open contest, with Lars Boom and Francis Mourey the obvious favorites, but I am also expecting Enrico Franzoi, who had a bit of an off-season due to a fall, but he has been living towards this WC - in his home country - for the last few months. So I am counting on him to stir up some dust. From the Belgium side I expect Bart Wellens, who can save his season with a good performance here, and also Sven Nys. Sven has had a little conditional dip - real or fake? - which puts him in an underdog position. I think he likes to be in that position. And Erwin Vervecken is always a force to be reckoned with in Championships.
As far as the Women are concerned, my money is on Hanka Kupfernagel, Marilyne Salvetat and Dutch girls Daphne Vanden Brandt and Marianne Vos. I also hope Belgians Sanne Cant - she is only 17 y/o - Veerle Ingels and Loes Sels can play some role. Outsider for the title is US girl Katie Compton, who has show great form in the beginning of the season. I'm sad to see that Christine [Vardaros] has not been selected. She will be in bad spirits about that. But she has been suffering from a concussion around the turn of the year, that must have broken her rhythm and her chances for a selection. The official full entry list is HERE
Today
saw a cold breeze but out of the wind it wasn't bad at all with around
8 degrees near the end of the day.. Yippee, I went for a long slow distance ride along the
Yse borders - part onroad, part offroad and I really enjoyed myself.
Ride Stats : 36.5K and 250 heightmeters in 1h35
439/3380
25-01-2008, 20:30 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 23-01-2008 |
| Going deep |
A fine day today, and even finer because I had taken the day off from work. It was dry, a bit cloudy and with temps of 7 degrees C and a chilly wind from the south nothing stood in the way of a good training session. I opted for a combination of the 3 Meerdael BLOSO routes, some 53km and 500 heightmeters and not something I would suffer to much on. At least, that was what I thought. The rains had stopped for 2 days now so it was reasonably dry, with the occasional muddy patches though. Caused by horses hooves , jeep tracks , mountainbike tyres and just plain wetness . I always make a little detour around the extremely soggy section next to the E40, I am not in the mood for deepsea diving when I'm on a bike and that particular section is always wet with deep gullies because of the quads and jeeps that keep on passing there in full illegality. May their wheels drop off .I set out on a reasonably easy pace, bearing in mind that the last weeks were not brilliant as far as training kilometers were concerned. The hills seemed steeper than I remembered them, but I made them all, even the very slippery end of the Savenel climb. When your condition is slowly coming back every climb you make is a little victory on its own. Near the end of the ride I began feeling soreness in my neck, shoulders and lower back. Obvious the muscles in those areas have been 'taking it easy' these last few weeks and the have to re-adapt to the higher workload of offroad riding. I tried out my new GSM's camera. I have to read the manual , a shutter time of 1/8 of a second is not really something you can get away with and expect sharp pictures. But I'll get there, don't you worry. Had a nice surprise when I got home, an Epica CD I had ordered last week had been delivered - obviously not by TNT - and I could put it on my phone immediately to enjoy Simone Simons' mezzo soprano voice in combination with goth-rock rhythms.. a divine combination, I can assure you.
Ride Stats : 57K and 535 heightmeters in 3h04mins402/3130
23-01-2008, 15:44 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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