Every now and then I do something crazy. One of those things is riding long distances offroad on a mountainbike. Today was the perfect day for an extravagant ride. The plan was simple. Connect the Meerdael Forest to the Sonian Forest, move on towards the Hallerbos and there I would do a 35K/670hm ride I have on GPS. I've done this ride last year on the first of June. Today it was a bit earlier in the year but the weather looked promising and I was eager to find out whether the blue hyacynths would be in bloom. There was someone who would accompany me from the Sonian Forest onwards but at the last moment she cancelled her attendance. So it was a solo ride. And a long one.
I started out over a new track I discovered only last week. First riding to Sint Joris Weert through the Meerdael Forest, then climb up the ridge of the Smeysberg but stay close to Neerijse. From there I could ride towards the Ganspoel and past the Duisburg water towers. I then disappeared into the Sonian Forest to connect in a straight line to Jezus-Eik. From there it's still about a 10K ride to St Genesius Rode and the to Dworp and the 7 Fontaines. After 35K and 1h46 or thereabouts I was at the start of my loop.

The loop first goes around the lakes at the 7 Fontaines and then follows the GR track along the edge of a field. A steep climb up towards the edge of the forest and then back down again to ride up to the forest again. This time I would spend a long time into Hallerbos. I noticed immediately that the bluebells weren't out in full force. I am not sure whether they already bloomed or if I just was a week too early. At any rate there don't seem to be as many of them as in previous years. The white flowers where already in full bloom.

After a couple of trails in the forest I set towards crossing the highway and make my way towards Braine l'Alleud. There were a lot of small singletrails here, sometimes I had to look for them but whomever built the track was surely at home in this area. The track ondulates up and down, sometimes very steep but always fun and surprising. My legs began to feel the kilometers and I paused for a bit to eat. Before long I was at the Leembeek bos where the trailbuilder had incorporated a nice section into the lembeek area.

Crossing the E25 again and I was back in Hallerbos. There were a lot of people around, some walking, some on horseback and others on bikes. Obviously they all were looking for the bluebells. Again they were there, but not as plenty as one would expect. Crossing the last ridge and I am back at the 7 Fontaines. Phew, 73K on the counter, only 35 left to go. Another bit to eat whilst I make some pictures of ducks and tortoises (!) basking in the sun on a tree that has fallen into the water.

The ride back only varies a couple of times from the trails I took getting here. My neck starts to make me feel I'm not 25 anymore but I am more concerned with my GPS. I noticed the battery was nearly dead. Luckily I would make it home but it was a close call. I should have fully loaded it before I left, never trust it to be full. When I drop down the Smeysberg I have to wait for a local road race to pass. After the green flag car I can continue my way towards home. The ride was long and took a lot out of me. But the sun was out the whole day and even though I felt the northeasterly wind from time to time on my way back home, most of the ride I was in forests so it didn't bother me that much. As far as the bluebells are concerned. I could be wrong but I hope they still need a couple of warm days to reach full bloom. I spoke to a guide in the forest and he told me the next week would be prime time for the bluebells. Although he also had to concede the harsh winter took its toll. Like he said it : 'we can't command nature'. So true.



Ride Stats : 110K and 1350/1440 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 6h2mins

2697/26465

17-04-2010, 18:46 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was the first time the weather was perfect on a thursday evening so I decided to join the KBC mountainbike club on their weekly outing. They start at the Heverlee Caserne at 6.30pm and then go for a 2-hour drive in Heverleebos and Meerdael Forest. We started easy in Heverleebos but one of the guides quickly had a problem with his bike. Turned out the axle of the wheel was touching the disc of the rear brake. Probably an error in the bike shop since the bike just came back from an overhaul. One guide gone so that left me to guide the rest of the group through the Forest.

No problem of course , I only had to take into account the fitness level of the weakest of the group and make sure that we would be back around 8.15 or thereabouts. The group was pretty strong and I incorporated a couple of technical tracks to ease them towards more confidence in up-and downhills. There were obviously also a couple of "testosteron toms" who would escape on each of the climbs, incorporating a bit of interval training. Of course they had to wait at the next turn for the rest of the group and the guide. I developed an easy pace and tried to keep the group together. The trails were perfect, dry and mostly clear of debris. Near the end, after a couple of steep climbs in the Nethen area, the fatigue was starting to set in and I turned the group back towards Blanden and towards Heverleebos where we split up. Me heading for home, the rest heading for the starting place where they left their cars. Dusk was setting in and the warm sun was long gone so I was glad to not have inderdressed. In the forest the wind wasn't noticeable but once you came out into the open the chilly northeaster grabbed you in the face like a cold hand. Good thing I wore a windbreaker and long sleeved shirt and 3/4th lenght Assos Roubaix pants.

Ride Stats : 34.5K and 305/350 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h55mins

2587/25025

15-04-2010, 21:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

No biking today, but I did go out during my midday break to have a look at the start of the Brabantse Pijl in Leuven. The weather was great and there was a huge crowd on the Grote Markt as the riders passed one by one to sign the entrance sheet. Michel Wuyts of the VRt was doing the interviews and around 12.30 am the riders got started. Some pictures - GSM quality I'm afraid - of the event.

Nice backdrop of the old City hall in the centre of Leuven.

14-04-2010, 18:03 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Ok, the title is a bit misleading. I'm not talking about the English word , but the French word 'pain' which means bread. But I found it a good subject for a picture and a topic concerning biking. Pain for sale.
The weather was sunny and quite warm but there was a nasty wind blowing from the northeast. This kept me from being overjoyous when I followed the LF6 - Vlaanderen Stedenroute - towards Hoegaarden and a bit further until I reached Outgaarden. Here I turned my Hilset around and could make use of the wind for a change. It was mostly blowing from behind me now, sometimes from the right, and this helped me spare my legs on the return ride. To make the most of the wind I didn't return all the way along the LF6 over Meldert and Bierbeek, but I stayed on the left and rode towards Beauvechain and Hamme Mille instead. From there on I had to turn more into the wind to loop back home but I had cunningly figured out that Meerdael Forest would protect me from the northeastern blast. And so it turned out to be the case. Which was fine because I didn't want to strain my legs too much today.

Ride Stats : 57.5K and 400/455 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h43mins

2553/24675

13-04-2010, 20:09 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Weather was fine in the afternoon so I decided on another mixed ride. I wasn't feeling too bad either so might as well make it a longer one. I rode towards the Sonian Forest over Duisburg and the edge of Tervuren. In the forest I made a small loop enjoying the warmth of the sun when the wind was blocked by the trees. The wind was blowing from the north and getting here it had been favorable. So I was expecting a tougher ride back home.
I let my GPS plan the ride home. It led me through the Kapucijnen kelder and then onwards to Duisburg and the Ganspoel. I noticed a dark cloud and even got a couple of drops whilst I was speeding in the direction of Neerijse. I noticed that the GPS sometimes made the weirdest choices of roads. At one point it made me make a loop while I could have gone straight instead. And when I reached Meerdael Forest it even sent me straight through the military compound. Obviously it does not know that the compound is forbidden entry. Before reaching home it made me make another strange loop. I wasn't too bothered because it was again clearing out and I even made and extra loop to the borders of Heverleebos and then into Blanden. 

Ride Stats : 51.5K and 455/490 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h33mins

2495/24220 

12-04-2010, 19:36 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today my legs were feeling recovered from last fridays ride so after watching Fabian Cancellara beat Tom Boonen and all the other so-called favorites in Paris-Roubaix I decided to go out for another mixed ride. I rode towards Rosieres to pick up the GR trail there and follow that for nearly 25K towards Tourinnes. I was with the Litespeed, again on Nokian NBX Lites 2.0 and with a race cassette in the back. But this time there were a lot more steep climbs to be conquered which did not go well with the race cassette. Anyways, I only had to walk once and made all the rest of the hills, not without straining my legs a little more than I had anticipated. The route follows a northeasterly direction and has to conquer a couple of hills and valleys. It went straight through the city of Wavre but fortunately my GPS track was correct and I was also more attentive to the GR signs this time. I made the 24K to Tourinnes just in time before dusk started to settle and from Tourinnes it was only 10 more K's to get back home. A nice trail this one, with the ride towards Rosieres offering a good warmup of about 18K. I didn't forget to start my GPS this time so I do have the track available but I also offer a map printout of the GR trail I rode today.


Ride Stats : 51K and 495/550 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h42mins

2444/23730

11-04-2010, 21:42 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Having a day off from work I wanted to take advantage of the nice and quiet spring weather to do a long ride. I chose for the eastern part of a trail that is called the SGR BW 217. This is a 217K long looping trail though Brabant Walloon that follows mostly GR paths. You can ride it as a whole but given the sheer lenght this might take you an entire day. I decided to pick in on the trail as it passes Nodebais. My plan was to follow it to the east and then back until it crosses the Ravel 2 just before Perwez. It started along familiar tracks, lots of cobbles and zigzagging through Nodebais and Tourinnes la Grosse before moving towards Beauvechain. The trails were mostly dry - this is mainly an offroad track so that does matter - but here and there in some hollow road I would still have to be careful not to ride through some puddle. I was riding with the Nokian NBX Lites 2.0 and with a road cassette so I wasn't looking for steep hills. In the beginning the trail ondulates up and down, but nothing drastic. I was enjoying the fine weather and breathing in the spring air. Making my way towards St Jean Geest and then towards St Remy Geest this was about the furthest I had already ventured before on my offroad expeditions in that direction. From now it was all 'new' so I was exited. More cobbles and by now I began to feel them. Passing through the Parc in Helecine and then making my way towards Linsmeau I was now close to the eastern border of Brabant Walloon. To the southeast I could see the chimneys of the nuclear powerplant in Huy, breathing out hot steam. In the region of Orp Jauche follows what I consider a highlight of this track; a nice singletrail following the river Gete. I stopped to take a picture of the Roman church in Orp-Le-Grand before venturing along another backtrack further to the southwest.

A bit further I was pleased to be on small tarmac roads for once. The kilometers were adding up nicely and I felt my neck and legs ache from the continuing bashing of the sometimes very narrow and rough offroad tracks. Paris-Roubaix came to mind from time to time. Remember these are GR trails, some are easy on the bike, but some are pretty tough. And that, of course, is what makes them so exiting. Passing Folx-les-Caves and spotting the windmills of Perwez at the western horizon I understood that I had to start to look out for the Ravel crossing. After Ramillies-les-Offus it was suddenly there. The tarmac trail connecting Hoegaarden to Namur. I wanted to check how much heightmeters I had at this point on my GPS but screamed out my frustration when I noticed I had forgotten to press the START button. This doesn't bother you following a track, but it doesn't record the actual ride. Bit of a let-down and I was suddenly feeling very tired. But I still had to bike quite a distance. First following the Ravel towards the north and passing Jodoigne and Hoegaarden. Then from Hoegaarden riding towards Meldert. The climb out of Hoegaarden hurt my legs; I rode towards Meldert and then onwards to Beauvechain. From here it was only 12K to reach my home. 
I had a fine but very demanding ride. I did 50K of the SGR BW217 trail and about the same distance 'getting there' and 'getting back home'.  


Ride Stats : 101K and 760 heightmeters (Polar) in 5h11mins

2393/23180

09-04-2010, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was still pretty warm today and it even felt hot, as if the would be a thunderstorm later in the day. I rode out with the Litespeed because I wanted to do an easy mixed ride. Mixed rides - for the uninitiated - are rides where I mix on- and offroad trails. In general, I can go anywhere I want. For that I want a bike with at least front suspension. I had mounted the old XTR wheels I have been using in the winter on the Hilset and left the race cassette on them as well. The Nokian NBX Lites are on the skinny side in their 2.0 format but I didn't plan on doing any serious offroad sections so I left them on. With a 26 tooth small ring in front the race cassette still allows me to climb almost anything at an easy pace. I started out over Ottenburg and Wavre towards Rosieres and then went offroad towards Terlanen. Here I followed the renovated Bergstraat for a while before turning towards Overijse. Downhill in the Hertstraat and a little later I was easing along the bikepath next to the big road to Huldenberg. Following the Ijse for a while I felt a couple of raindrops falling , but nothing to woory about. I climbed over the crest of the Smeysberg and then dropped towards Sint Joris Weert. A small loop bringing me close to the Doode Beemde - which I didn't enter because I suspected it would stll be wet-ish - and then towards the Kouterbos and onwards towards Vaalbeek and Blanden. In all I had a very relaxing ride along some trails I don't frequent too often. And that is exactly the purpose of these mixed rides. Go where I usually don't dare to go when on the Hilset.

Ride Stats : 47K and 445/455 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h13mins

2292/22420

07-04-2010, 20:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today saw the return of the sun with a pleasant temperature but still a nasty wind from the east. I decided to do a ride since it had been a while. My Hilset was once again ready for duty, with new brake lines and a new shifter and cable for the front derailler. With an average temperature of nearly 20 degrees throughout the ride it was fun and good to be on a bike again after a couple of days of rest. In the next couple of days I have to get back into the rhythm so lets hope the weather stays more or less dry and with temperatures above 10 degrees C. Todays ride took me over Bierbeek, Neervelp, Opvelp, Beauvechain, Tourinnes and Hamme Mille , then onwards to Nethen, Sint Joris Weert, the Zoete Waters and Heverlee before returning to Blanden following the Naamse Steenweg. The offroad trails looked already a lot dryer than last week, so maybe in a couple of days it might be feasable to try them out.

Ride Stats : 41,5K and 285/305 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h47mins

2245/21965

06-04-2010, 18:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

My cold seems to get worse so I decided to not participate at the Ronde van Vlaanderen tomorrow. The weather forecast isn't very inviting either. Today I just rode the same track than last monday and tuesday. I took the Litespeed with the wheels of the Hilset. The Hilset is in for service and to get a new front derailler cable. I'm also getting new brake cables, inners and outers.
The ride itself was marred by a strong southern wind. I didn't feel very strong because of the nose cold and I just paddled along, trying to keep my heartrate low.

Ride Stats : 34K and 205/235 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h34mins

2204/21660

02-04-2010, 13:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was less stable than yesterday when I rode out for a ride that would take me along the exact route I did yesterday, but in th eopposite direction. I had a bit of a shower when leaving Bierbeek but things dried out quickly once I reached Opvelp and it would stay dry during the remainder of the ride. The wind was a bit more fierce than yesterday and the average temperature was 3 degrees less with 12 degrees C. When I was on the last hill of the day, shifting to my big ring in front upon reaching the top, I broke the cable.
Since it still was the first cable, installed when the bike was configured back in 2005, I cannot really complain about the dependability of the XTR shifting cable with LX shifting gear . I called Filip Sport and I can pass the bike along on thursday. Luckily the cable broke only 2K from my home, leaving me to peddle along with the chain on the small ring in front for just a couple of minutes. In hindsight, I already suspected it to be a little looser when I left home, but obviously no-one can foresee the exact moment when a thing like this will happen.

Ride Stats : 34K and 200/230 heightmeters in 1h33mins

2170/21425

30-03-2010, 20:58 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Some intermittent showers but temperatures around 15 degree C so I rode out around 6pm for an easy ride at a good pace. Still recovering from a cold but it looks like its getting better now. Got my gearing correct for the new wheels and shifting went flawlessly today. I did a medium ride over the Zoete Waters, Sint Joris Weert, Nethen, Hamme Mille and the over Tourinnes, Beauvechain and Opvelp towards Bierbeek and Haasrode to close the loop. Managed a good pace in general and the wind was also less than yesterday which helped considerably.

Ride Stats : 34K and 210/220 heightmeters in 1h23mins

2136/21195

29-03-2010, 20:25 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

After a couple of days of rest, due to nasal restrictions, I wanted to ride out again, albeit for just an hour. I had put my summer wheels on my Hilset, with the Schwalbe Marathon Extreme tyres, and even though the forecast called for rain and wind, there was only a bit of wind to be dealt with. I took it very easy and rode a relaxed ride over Hamme Mille, Tourinnes, Beauvechain, Opvelp and Neervelp. When I turned towards Bremt I felt the wind in my face and things got a bit more difficult. But no drop fell so I came home dry and with another ride under my belt. Not long after I arrived home it started to rain, only a shower it seems but still it was better to be inside than out on the bike at that time.

Ride Stats : 30K and 225/245 heightmeters in 1h22mins

2102/20975

28-03-2010, 13:30 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today it was again very mild and with temperatures around 17 degrees C it really was too good to stay home. So I rode out for a little ride, even though I didn't feel very well. The rest of the week doesn't look too good weather-wise. 

Ride Stats : 20K and 145/155 heightmeters in 53mins

2072/20730

24-03-2010, 19:08 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A dry day so I decided to ride out in the afternoon after work . My legs didn't feel very strong and my throat had been giving me some concern the last couple of days but I would ride gently, not overdoing anything. I rode through Meerdael forest and then checked my GPS to bring me to Beauvechain. Through the fields and with only a slight wind this was very enjoyable. I checked my GPS map and took direction towards the church tower of L'Ecluse which I saw protruding over the next crest. The trails were mostly dry except for some patches in hollow roads. After a while I was in Sclimpre and from there it wasn't far anymore to Melin. Here I decided to turn around, take a picture of the church, try out some singletracks I had noticed before when passing on the tarmac, and then I made my way back towards La Bruyere and Nodebais. I had the wind behind me now so this was even more fun to do.

In La Bruyere I turned towards Tourinnes and from there made my way into Meerdael Forest for a last loop bringing me back home with another ride under my belt. My average heartrate was 112bpm so I did certainly not strain myself any more than I should. The temperature was 14 degrees C on average which felt good with only a mild wind from the east.

Ride Stats : 41K and 370/415 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h17mins

2052/20575

As nice and pleasant as the weather was yesterday, it was a whole different story today. It had rained quite a bit last night but the temperature had also dropped considerably during the latter part of the night. Whence I had 18 degrees C yesterday, today I only managed 7 degrees C average during my ride.
I had more or less plans to ride the SVK 65K, or at least selected parts of it . As it turned out I started on the trail not far from my home but soon discovered the trail was wet and to top things off, it began to rain slightly. A light drizzle but with the low temperatures and the wind that got bad once you were out of the forest I didn't feel too inclined to ride more than about an hour or so. What a pity the SVK ride didn't go through yesterday. It would have yielded them a lot more attendance and it would have yielded me more than only selected bits and pieces of their track. As it stood, I inclined myself before the weather deities and decided to call it a day after doing a loop around Valduc. The rain was getting more intense and my Nokian NBX Lites were meeting their limits on the slippery trail.
Spring has begun, and yesterday and most of last week indeed felt like spring, but today was an off-key note in the carmina burana.

Ride Stats : 20.5K and 195/230 heightmeters in 1h12mins

2011/20160

21-03-2010, 13:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

This morning it was raining so I was fearing today might be a day off from biking. But around 10am it stopped raining and I decided to go for an easy ride. Riding through Heverlee and around Leuven to reach the Leuvense Vaart . I followed the Vaart for about 16K until I reached the Kampenhout Roundabout. Here I turned around and rode back along the other side of the water. I achieved an average speed of nearly 25kph during the first hour of the ride but when I rode back I felt how strong the wind could be. I also saw some dark clouds gathering on the western skies and this made me even more wanting to get home. But in all I managed to escape the wind quite nicely by leaving the Vaart in Kessel Lo and riding home over the Martelarenlaan, then along the Park Abbey and further following the narrow bikepath next to the Leuvense Schaatsbaan. Here I was at the winds' mercy again for some time, following the Expressweg towards Blanden. But I then added a little loop bringing me in the Duivestraat and the down the Brainestraat before I reached the Prosperdreef where I had the cover of the Meerdael forest.

Ride Stats : 48K and 155/200 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h1min

1991/19930

Just a relaxing ride along Hamme Mille, Nodebais - taking a new section of bikepath between Hamme Mille and Nodebais - then onwards to Beauvechain and Meldert and coming back in along Opvelp, Bierbeek and Haasrode. The weather was still OK with 15 degrees C and an overcast sky announcing the arrival of some rain later this night. The legs were OK and I also removed my Lumicycle lights from the bike. Normally I will have no more use of them since the days are getting longer quickly in March.

Ride Stats : 34K and 230/255 heightmeters in 1h28mins

1942/19730

19-03-2010, 19:43 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today a recovery ride was on the menu. I rode out with the Hilset and was aiming for a 2 hour drive. The temperature was near 18 degrees Celcius so it was short trousers time. Well, 3/4th since I added a pair of knee leggings just to be on the safe side. I rode over Egenhoven to Bertem and there took the little bikepath along the river Voer . I followed this path towards Leefdaal - check the castle pic - and then further on towards Tervuren. The path was dry and had been receiving some maintenance lately so trail conditions were great. In Tervuren I turned towards Eizer and then further to the south-east towards Huldenberg.
Here I quickly joined the river Ijse for a ride along its edges on another bikepath. This took me all the way towards Neerijse. Here the path disappeared so I rode into the Doode Beemde to cross the boardwalk over the wet fields towards Oud-Heverlee. I emerged out of the nature reserve just south of the Zoete Waters.

Another couple of easy kilometers and I was back home, with a nice and relaxing ride under my belt.

Ride Stats : 44K and 255/285 heightmeters in 2h2mins

1908/19475

Today it was even warmer than yesterday, it was almost 13 degrees when I left home, but there was also a strong wind blowing from the west. Even so I chose not to underdress. I only wore my summer gloves . The feeling of the thinner gloves on the handlebars was strange to get used to. I felt good so I chose for another offroad ride. I wanted to ride in the region of the Dyle and Yse so I rode towards the Margijsbos where I had a bit of a climbing frenzy, doing no less than 4 climbs and descents in this forest. At the end I followed the river Yse towards Huldenberg where I attacked the Smeysberg offroad. I then went to the other side of this hill dropping down into Terlanen. From here the Sint Agatha Rode Bos was beckoning me for another climb. A very steep one for sure. I had to sit way up front of my saddle, struggling to keep the rear wheel from spinning. It said 23% on my GPS readout after I uploaded the ride to my PC. But I made it. Dropping down on the other side back into Terlanen for another uphill, back up the Smeysberg. Another 21% slope. Then I followed the road towards Sint Agatha Rode, down the Keiberg and then towards the church and Sint Joris Weert.

In Sint Joris I couldn't resist doing a loop into Meerdael Forest, with another climb or 3 against the Nethen slope. By now I began to feel my legs getting saturated so I decided to call it a day and make my way back home. I came across a region I call Weather Top where they have been felling a lot of trees, exposing the trees that are left to the winds. The result of the storm of a couple of week ago can be seen on my picture. Almost 10 healthy strong trees were uprooted, a very sad sight to see. The road was blocked but I took advantage to climb all the way to the top , 102m , adding a couple of more heightmeters to my conto. From there it was all downhill as I crossed the Naamsesteenweg and sped along the Sint Margrietendreef back into Blanden.

Ride Stats : 41K and 585/630 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h32mins

1865/19190

17-03-2010, 20:29 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf