Big Bad Log

Just an easy ride along the Haasrode Tour today. Weather was the same as yesterday minus the rain but with the wind blowing strong from the west and the sun hiding from time to time . In Beauvechain I cut the Tour short to make it an even 50K - or almost. With an average heartrate of 97 this was indeed a very good recovery ride for me. Took a few pics of ondulating fields near Hoegaarden.

Ride Stats : 51K and 415 heightmeters in 2h18mins

5026/47155

Light drizzle this morning so I decided to wait a while before heading out. When I finally rode out around noon it was still raining very lightly but the forecast called for sun so I decided to risk it. First I had to ride towards Halle and the 7 Fontaines area - where the Green Route passes. It took me around 1h45 to cover the 39K, riding over Duisburg, Jezus-Eik and then up to the Middenhut and Sint Genesius Rode . Around 30 minutes into the ride the drizzle stopped and it would remain dry for the rest of the day. Great! Just before the Kapucijnendreef in the Sonian Forest I was stopped by a Chinese (?) girl in the forest who asked for directions to the Tervuren museum.. Took quite a bit of explaining - I hope she eventually found it.
At the 7 Fontaines I had to find the point where the Green Route passes but that didn't prove too hard to find. I had been here before, first with Minna and later on my own, so I remembered most of the route, or at least that was what I thought. I had a map with me that I got from Minna and that would prove of great value along the ride. After the first climb on some of the worse cobbles I ever saw - and yes, I rode Paris-Roubaix twice - the route remains on the plateau for a while on tarmac. Then it turns left and the fun begins. A nice little downhill into the Bois de Hamme followed by a climb up to the Chapelle Bon-Dieu de Gembloux. This little chapel is a point where the route passes 2 times. The track then bends to the right for a downhill into Sart Moulin. A great little section in the forest follows - I don't think Minna did this, the arrow is hardly visible - down and again up along a singletrail. Then a section where you have to go through a hollow road uphill to emerge on tarmac. Down it goes to the big road which is crossed. A section into an industrial area - mind the arrows - and then it goes into the Bois de Foriest and the Bois d'Ophain. Some of the arrows are very well hidden and at places they have put new arrows up . The Green, Blue and Yellow route have a common section here and its a really nice one. One known mudhole has been completely gone - they have simply filled the holes so there is no more puddles nor mud. A nice track leads you down to the Ry du Vervois. Just before that there is a sharp turn left with a passage through a little river and a nice uphill section in what appears to be a private forest. You emerge in a rural area where great care has to be taken not to loose the track. Its to the right and some 20 metres on the street you have to turn left into what appears to be a footpath. The arrows are all there but sometimes you have to REALLY REALLY look for them. Some are partially covered, others are hidden behind parked cars etc.. The trail then descends into Braine l'Alleud itself, with some twisty passages through the city. Take care, there are cars here and the track really twists and turns. You pass the church where the routes start- leave the church to your right and turn left or you will lose the trail. Then you descend towards the river Hain, cross it and commence a nice little climb out of the city on a small trail. You then more or less make your way back to the big road, which you have to cross again. Some climbing to be done now, some on tarmac, later on hardpack . You slowly make your way back to the aforementioned chapel. I stopped for a little snack. After the chapel, there is another really narrow trail turning right from the gravel road. Its overgrown with grass and there is a gully so be careful. You then make your way into the Bois de Clauseweide, provided you don't miss the arrow that is covered behind the foliage. Forest road with a golf track on your right and you are heading for a really nice downhill-uphill passage along a narrow trail. Great fun, remember to shift on time or you will be walking here. Before long you arrive back at the 7 Fontaines area.
This is a very nice trail, with some interesting challenges, great tracks and you notice some effort has gone into finding good trails instead of taking the easy way out and incorporate another piece of tarmac. Not here. They have done a good job. The arrows are there but at some points you can use the map, so bring it . It's 100% ride-able, no mudtraps although at some points there are cobbles I would be very careful on when it has rained. The trail is some 26K long and incorporates 440 heightmeters. So you need a certain level of fitness , its not a beginners trail.

When I was back at the ponds of 7 Fontaines I wondered if I should ride the trail again. The first time I had to look a bit for the arrows, so I couldn't ride it at a good speed. But seeing that I stil had to do 40K to get home I dismissed the idea. Perhaps I will do it again soon with Guna - who I had to disappoint today because she couldn't start as late as I wanted to - at least then I would not have to look for the arrows anymore.
The ride back was nice because the sun was out in full force now AND the wind was blowing in my back. The joys of biking. I had to suppress the urge to close my eyes and dream away.

Ride Stats : 106K and 935 heightmeters in 5h01mins

4976/46740

After having spent the best part of the morning and early afternoon in the UZ Gasthuisberg in Leuven for some allergy tests, I wanted to ride out again. I had quite a bit of fun on the Red loop in Overijse yesterday so today I wanted to do all 3 of them . Riding thought the Meerdael forest towards Sint Joris Weert and Sint Agatha Rode, I picked up on the usual spot with my little extra loop in the Sint Agatha Rode Forest. The weather was great, partially cloudy, not too warm but sunny and dry.

The kilometers went by at a good pace - here and there I injected a little extra climb to spice things up - and I was back in Sint Agatha Rode in little more than 1h40. Not bad for 34K and just shy of 500 heightmeters. On the way back I stopped at the Hertebron to drink its cool water before heading back over the Kluis and the Langendaalstraat towards Blanden.

Ride Stats : 53k and 690 heightmeters in 2h47mins

4870/45805

Started out on the Blue Meerdael Bloso route. In Sint Joris Weert I followed the arrows connecting the Meerdael to the Overijse Bloso's and in Sint Agatha Rode I got on the Red Overijse route. An extra descent and an extra climb in the Sint Agatha Rode Bos and then the usual trickery of this fine route. At the little chapel next to the Sint Agatha Rode bos I had a little snack before making my way back towards the Meerdael Forest.

Arriving in Sint Joris Weert again I continued on the Blue route, switching over to the Red one after the climb alongside the Savenel wall in Nethen. I passed two bikers here who were catching their breath after the Savenel climb. Making a little detour towards the Warande ponds I added another little climb before crossing the Naamsesteenweg and climbing up into Hamme Mille. I had another snack and saw the two bikers on the climb just before I started riding again. The wind was blowing in my back when I speeded through the fields towards Bierbeek. Obviously, when I climbed through the fields back towards the Meerdael Forest, it was blowing from right in front of me. At the beginning and at the end of this section I stopped to take a picture. After that the remainder of the Red route only brought one surprise, a nice mudtrap I didn't spot on time and which brought me to a full stop. The little track parallel to the Naamsesteenweg was still pretty wet and you had to cross from one side to the other to stay dry. It provided some fun. Back on the Blue I only had to do a few more kilometers. The weather was not as gloriously sunny as yesterday but still pretty warm and with a noticeable wind blowing from westerly directions.

Ride Stats : 62.5K and 710 heightmeters in 3h06mins

4817/45115

Took an extra day off work today and it turned out to be a mighty fine day. The sun was out so I couldn't resist getting on my bike for a Long Slow Distance ride. I set out following the Maleizen Tour from Archennes over Chaumont Gistoux and up to Corbais. There I saw some other arrowing pointing towards Walhain Saint Paul, so I followed that. After a while the arrowing was gone so I had to play it by ear. I dropped into Chastre and was looking at the sun's position to judge which way I had to go. Of course, roads are not in a straight direction and before long, I had the feeling I was riding too much south of the line Gembloux-Wavre. I seemed to be turning around between Cortil-Noirmont, Gentinnes and Chastre, with no idea how to make it to either get to Court-Saint-Etienne or Mont-Saint-Guibert, from which I know my way home.

Because of the burning sun I also began to worry about sunburn. So I stopped at the school of Gentinnes , coming in from Mellery, and asked the way. They sent me over Vileroux and Hévillers and yes, there I was in Mont Saint Guibert. Saved !
I picked up on the Maleizen route again but next to the Bois des Reves I turned east towards Louvrange and Dion Valmont. With a little less than 90K I was very pleased with the distance today, but also glad I made it home.

Ride Stats : 89.5K and 705 heightmeters in 3h57mins

4755/44405

29-06-2008, 14:04 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

28-06-2008, 23:33 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

26-06-2008, 19:16 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

25-06-2008, 18:47 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

24-06-2008, 16:41 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf