Could not sit still today so I chose to do a mountainbike ride in the early afternoon. Following more or less the perimeter around Meerdael Forest and trying to relax my riding style in order to make the ride not too heavy on the muscles. There was a spot of mud here and there and I did take some smaller trails but overall the ride went very well. The legs felt surprisingly good and I could maintain a good tempo throughout the entire ride.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 38.5K and 380 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h54min30secs

4698/19340

25-09-2014, 16:06 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The forecast for today spoke of light rain and drizzle starting around noon so I rode out around 9.30 AM to be sure to keep it dry. I rode out with the Psychlo-X once again, keen on making some kilometers. The wind was blowing from the southwest and whilst I was riding through Hamme Mille towards Jodoigne I had it coming from my right. Took a detour over Lathuy to ride towards Dongelberg. Checking the castle gate I noticed it was open. This was a chance to slip into the castle grounds and make a quick snapshot of the castle before I was noticed.

Riding on towards Jodoigne and then taking the long cobble road towards Saint-Remy-Geest. Taking a right towards Saint-Jean-Geest where I injected myself onto the Ravel towards Hoegaarden. A little bit of off-road to reach Klein Overlaar - no problem with the Psychlo-X - and then I was riding upwards to the Goudberg geosite. To the north now towards Oorbeek and Kumtich. Here I took a left turn and had the wind against me as I made my way towards Willebringen. From Willebringen I drove to Neervelp and Bremt. Over Bierbeek into the Meerdael Forest for a stretch of forest road that took me to the Naamsesteenweg. Following that into Blanden I had a good solid ride under my belt. Average heartrate under 100bpm so no stress for my heart.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 58.5K and 490 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h27mins

4860/18960

24-09-2014, 13:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Two days without cycling, due to heavy rains on the sunday morning. But I did 2 forest walks, 12.6 and 13.9K respectively and I did feel those in my legs when I took the Psychlo-X out around 10AM today for a mixed ride. There was a strong NW wind and the temperature had dropped to 16 degrees - 10 degrees less compared to last week. That did not bother me much but the wind did play with me during the trip towards the north. When I rode back south I stll could feel it tugging from the side and occasionally blow straight in my face. But I took it easy and enjoyed the moments when the wind pushed me along. Coming back over Lovenjoel and Bierbeek I rode into Meerdael Forest for a last couple of kilometers on tarmac before following the Naamsesteenweg into Blanden.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 52K and 380 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h07mins

4602/18470

22-09-2014, 13:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

19-09-2014, 20:27 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

With 27 degrees it was way too hot to be comfortable but I rode out nevertheless, still clad in long shorts and sleeves. September is normally the end of the horsefly season but with the temperatures still so high I was not taking any chances, lest there still be some specimen on the prowl for my blood.
I did 4 long laps of nearly 9km with a nice amount of heightmeters. Rode at an easy pace I could maintain throughout the entire ride. My last lap was the fastest, not by much, but still it indicates that I spread my effort well.

Ride Stats : 41K and 305 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h52mins

4514/17745

17-09-2014, 20:28 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I wanted to do some fast laps on my Meerdael trails so I took out the Psychlo-X instead of the YBB. Warming up sufficiently and also reconnoitering the condition of the trails I did a fast lap of the medium distance, followed by a cooling down lap and then I did a fast lap of the shortest loop. My heartrate went up to 143 which is a lot considering my recent condition but all went well and I could complete the lap with a new personal record. I did the same on the medium distance. After that I did some cooling down laps but the speed was still high enough to make this a very fast offroad ride. Legs felt good .

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 29.5K and 185 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h25mins

4472/17440

15-09-2014, 19:57 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was misty and only 15 degrees C when I rode out with the Moots Psychlo-X around 10am. The plan was to ride over Korbeek Dyle and Duisburg into the Sonian Forest. There was a light drizzle and the fog was rolling over the rivers Dyle and Voer. Into the Kapucijnen forest and up the long easy climb towards Jezus Eik. From there I followed the highway towards the Rouge Cloitre area. Pausing at the ponds to take a couple of pictures before attacking the steep climb out of the valley.

Along the N3 I rode into Tervuren and its' park. Back up to Duisburg and from there I rode towards the river Voer. I followed that little river along its left border where a bikepath twists and turns for several kilometers from Vossem to Bertem. In Bertem I rode upwards onto the plateau and then down into the Dyle Valley. From Arenberg I connected to Heverlee forest and the last couple of kilometers of this mixed ride where again on forest roads. Had a good ride with a relaxed 103bpm average heartrate.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 53.5K and 415 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h16mins

4443/17255

14-09-2014, 13:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another fine evening with temperatures in the high 10's. I decided to ride out on the YBB, taking in some Meerdael Forest trails. I first did the long version of my Military trail, after that reconnoitering a new trail that took me into the Kouterbos and out of it again along a different climb. It is some 8.1 km long and I lapped it in around 22 minutes. Doing another lap of that and then finishing off with another Long Meerdael Military lap. This is 7k long. Amazingly this last lap was my fastest ever . Form is good and I took it relatively easy and relaxed during the first hour. Riding back through Vaalbeek and along the Prosperdreef to reach Blanden.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 37K and 275 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h36mins

4389/16840

12-09-2014, 20:21 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

It was a little bit colder today with only 16 degrees C. But once I was warmed up it was pretty comfortable riding. No wind and the trails were great. I set out with the Moots YBB for some Meerdael trails . Did a lot of loops around the old military compound. Trying out the Langedaal trail which had dried up almost completely. Only a couple of puddles but they were easily avoided.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats 39.5K and 200 heightmeters in 01h37mins

4353/16565

10-09-2014, 21:24 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

I felt yesterdays' long ride in my legs throughout the day but when I got home I decided to ride out for an exploratory ride of some trails I knew in Mollendaal forest. It had been a while since I connected them all but I had no trouble riding a consistent loop of around 22K with a lot of narrow trails and constant up and down sections. The trails were fine, with only one mud-trap and 2 trees which had fallen over the singletrack. The bike was performing great and so were my legs.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 24K and 275 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h12mins

4313/16365

08-09-2014, 20:19 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf