Big Bad Log

Today I had decided not to go offroad, it had rained considerably last night and during the morning scattered showers also provided some extra water. Around noon I rode out for an easy recovery ride, following the "H"aasrode tour over Bierbeek, Willebringen, Hoksem and Oorbeek all the way to the little chapel in Huldenberg, there I turned around and rode the same loop back towards home. Along the way I only felt some drops of rain and passed some wet streets on another occasion. In all the weather wasn't too bad.

Ride Stats : 55K and 445 heightmeters in 2h24mins

3600/33545

Normally I would do an organised ride tomorrow but with the forecast rain I was shifting the major ride of the weekend to the Saturday. Today. I got out the Moots , my rear wheel back in working order thanks to Filip at Filip Sport who replaced the broken nipple and trued the wheel . Leaving for Grez Doiceau around 10.30am , passing through Meerdael Forest and Archennes to the start of the Accro Bike . This version dates from around 2001 when Laurent Saublens drew it out on a map for me. I have the official 'race' distance of 42K - which I did earlier this year - and also a version which spans some 52K and has a few more heightmeters. Both rides are tough but today I opted for the longest distance. The trails were perfect and as it turned out I made each and every climb, only having to get off of my bike for the stairs in Héze. These stairs I have never ridden, perhaps with the Merlin I would, but ever since a collegue at work crashed heavily on them a few years ago, I don't even consider riding them anymore. They are narrow . I include a picture from them taken on an earlier ride. I also include a map of both trails for those who want to give it a go. The start is in Grez Doiceau, which is located just North of Biez in the top middle of the map.

The Accro Bike is a succession of climbing and descending, barely allowing for a moment of rest in between. It has always been a race, but the circuit has been altered throughout the years, only becoming shorter and shorter I'm afraid. I made a few alterations to the circuit today , the first in Cocrou when I climbed up to the Long Tienne, I took a left dropping down into Pietrebais , then took right to follow the tarmac road for a bit and again turned right for a nice singletrack climb out of Pietrebais joining the Accro Bike trail again just past Sart. After a long stretch of field road leading to and from the Chapelle du Cheneau at Longueville, I rejoined the 42K version again in Hèze. A nice loop into the bois de Glabais, with a very sandy descent . Then it went back to Longueville with a descent into the valley followed by a steep and narrow climb out of it. Nettles didn't stand a chance with the long trousers I was wearing. I can recommend those to anyone riding these trails. There are quite a few passages which are very narrow and you can get stung quite easily. Another alteration to the 52K loop was made a little further after I descended back into the valley. It involved avoiding the long stretch of trail that has become some kind of river. Normally you follow that trail but I decided not to, and climb back out of the valley to loop around it . This yielded me again some extra heightmeters and a nice but tricky descent before joining the trail again at the fishfarm of Glabais. Climbing back around Aftia and into the Bois the Glabais, where I met some strange figure sitting next to the road. It turned out to be a papier-maché figurine but it sure was weird. A passing amazone commented that it was 'très bizarre'. I cannot but agree with her. It looked to be part of some witches trail the local youth must have concocted because I saw some other stuff on trees with all kinds of messages and riddles to solve.

Time for a little break. Great trail now dropping into Les Bruyéres with a very steep climb - I made it - and then I made my way towards Bonlez. After crossing the Train river some long uphill was waiting for me. Down it went into the center of Bonlez and then back up again along a tarmac road. Another alternative trail - or more an extention to the trail I normally follow - when I took to the right arriving in the Bois de Bercuit after Fontenelle. A nice and tricky descent with some deep gullies towards Bayarmont. I wouldn't do this when it was wet - those gullies could eat you alive. But now it was easy to stay on top of them, my tyres finding the necessary traction to do so. Sharp left turn and I climbed back up towards de Terrain de golf. A tricky descent again, some big puddles to avoid dropping down towards Dion-Le-Val. Another long climb up to the 2 chapels in the Bois des Neulettes where I stopped to eat the second half of my powerbar. Another steep climb followed in the Bois du Tour but the worse was now behind me.
I felt exceptionally good today and on my way home I did some extra trails in Meerdael, stopping at the Hertebron for a refreshing refill of water. The Accro Bike ride turned out to be 59K and 920 heightmeters with my additions. When I looked at my average speed I was very content. The Moots is most certainly a good bike and I wasn't as tired as I usually am when I do these trails. Weather conditions were good as well , slightly overcast with temps around 21 degrees C. As I write this the clouds are getting darker, it looks like it can start raining any minute. But I already had a very satisfying ride today so I can wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Ride Stats : 90k and 1230 heightmeters in 4h51mins

3545/33100

Another thursday, another ride with the KBC mountainbike club. After some tracks in Heverleebos and making our way to Haasrode to pick up an errant member, we rode into Meerdaelwoud. Here I was asked to lead so I took them on part of my secret Meerdael loop. The first part with some meandering singletracks. The pace had been high up till then and I kept the pace high on the singletracks as well, making sure no-one was left behind though. The trails were ideal, moist but not wet , offering good grip and traction. We made a brief stop at the forests' large tree, an old oak, and I made a picture of the gang posing under the tree.

I then set out for some more tracks and after crossing the Naamsesteenweg in Hamme Mille, also added in a few climbs. Not too much because I didn't want to make it too tough, but I could hear they were enjoying it. Some fallen trees made me look for - and find - some alternative trails around them. In all I had a pretty good ride, my only problem seemed to be the Polar Wearlink which didn't transmit my heartrate like it should. I've seen this before and it usually means getting a new one. My last one lasted for 2 years, this one I have from May 2007 so it barely made it for a year. I might wanna try the warranty but that leaves me without a means to measure my heartrate, so basically without being able to ride.

Ride Stats : 40.5K and 370 heightmeters in 2h08mins

3455/31870

I wanted to do the Mottige Bergskes route today, or at least try to do as much as I remember from it. The MB is a ride that started in Berlaar and passed at the Zoete Waters, going into Brabant Walloon and taking in quite a bit of nasty climbs . It was marked MB on the tarmac but the markings are long gone by now. Nasty Climbs kinda translates into Mottige Bergskes hence my nickname for it. I started out along that route, taking a little detour, and a nice 14% climb, up to the "Circuit de Golf de Bercuit" from which I kinda got lost and had to take a bit of field to get back onto a cobble road. Then taking the road from Perwez to Wavre and the first really steep hill announced itself climbing out of Wavre , quickly descending back into it, crossing the Chaussée de Louvain and taking another fiendishly steep hill to climb up to Ottenburg. From there I descended into Terlanen and took the Moskesberg out of Terlanen, dropping back into it and then up and down the Smeysberg in Huldenberg. By now I was on the 50K bloso route that starts in Heverlee so I decided to follow that for the remainder of the ride.
My legs felt surprisingly good and well recuperated so the hills didn't pose any real problems. At the end of the ride I was glad to be home though, with a good average speed and a more than fair amount of heightmeters it was a demanding ride. The weather was clement although in the latter part of the ride I had a fresh easterly wind blowing against me.

Ride Stats : 71K and 780 heightmeters in 3h02mins

3415/31500

25-05-2008, 14:58 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

24-05-2008, 20:08 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

22-05-2008, 21:18 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

20-05-2008, 21:30 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf