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| Tales from the Woods |
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| 06-07-2008 |
 16th Meerdael Classic |
Left home at 7.10am to ride the short distance to the start of the Meerdael Classic, 16th edition. This traditionally takes place at the Football terrain of the 'Zwarte Duivels' in Oud-Heverlee. I was pre-inscribed for the 100K - the golden distance - so I was prepared for 5 hours of fun and enjoyment on my bike.The Ride:
At 7.30am I was ready to roll. The track was in the opposite direction from previous years and they also promised some new sections. It started out easy going down towards the Zoete Waters and then ondulating into the Kouterbos towards Sint Joris Weert. Here a nice singletrack section was waiting for us before we made our way towards the Kluis area for a first climb where the chain had to go on the lowest gear. As usual I started out easy to get a good warmup and feel how the legs were. After the climb followed a tricky downhill - on the Blue BLOSO route towards Nethen. We crossed the road and made our way towards the Bois de Beaumont, again via a narrow track, this one between two fields and very demanding because it was slightly offcamber and sported some ruts. Following the railroad track towards Pecrot we were in for a nice treat here. First uphill towards the Chapelle Robert, zoom down into Pecrot and then the famous railroad singletrack was ours to experience. At the end of this track we had to climb all the way up to the plateau again, only to turn twice to the right and come down again, this time via a nice bermed trail the local freeriders use. After this we crossed the railroad down at Florival to make our way towards Ottenburg. Here they surprised me a first time by offering a track roughly following the river Dyle back to Pécrot. It was a little wet here but not muddy. All was very well manageable, surprisingly good even after yesterdays rain. Then we rode in the direction of Sint Agatha Rode for an easier part of the loop taking us all the way to Neerijse. Making our way towards Huldenberg we were offered some nice tracks - some very steep ones as well - taking us up on the Smeysberg. I was just beginning to wonder whether I missed the first rest stop when I spotted a sign telling us it was only 1K away. Great, but after 31K that is a bit on the long side.
From the first reststop we dropped down a sandy road - with danger sign - to make our way into the Sint Agatha Rode bos. First via a nice singletrack between the meadows and later up on another track I didn't do before. Steep, narrow, wet and slippery and with barbed wire at both sides the preferred direction here is uphill. Which we did. We then made our way up to the little Chapel where we turned right - crossed the road towards Ottenburg and made our way down another fast singletrack only to climb steadily back up towards the Kouter. This part was on the Overijse BLOSO routes , but in the reverse direction. After Kouter, the 100K turned right towards the Vetsaart and further on into the Sint Agatha Rode bos again, where a steep downhill crowned a very nice passage through this protected area. Then it was time to make our way towards Ottenburg. A great and very difficult climb - I made it the last time but this time it was too slippery - over stones scattered freely and offering hardly any grip. Steep as well of course. I don't think a lot of people made this. After that we made our way towards the Noir Epine where we turned left again for some field roads taking us back towards Ottenburg where we were treated to a great descent along the BLOSO route - again in the reverse direction - and further along the edge of the field towards the second rest stop.
After this the long climb up towards the Tomme made us quickly digest our food. Great downhill towards Gastuche and back towards Archennes via de Chateau de la Motte. In Archennes the technical climb up the Hézidelle tested us on riding technique uphill. The sand was wet though so it was possible to make the climb without too much trouble. We know made our way towards Bossut for what would turn out to be an easier part of the ride. Less climbing, more field tracks but with still some nice challenges along the way. Amongst others a tricky downhill north of Grez Doiceau and a technical climb over roots leading into the Bois de Linsmeau. Then we looped back towards Bossut to find a thrilling descent over cobbles taking us to the 3rd rest stop just south of Nethen . This one was very crowded - possibly because all distances passed here. I had upped my speed with the passing of the kilometres and was now actively trying to follow faster riders that passed me. This took my average speed up suite nicely. We were now taken back towards the Meerdaelwoud for a passage along the Warande Ponds and after that the crossing of the Naamse Steenweg and a climb up towards Valduc. Here the 100K riders would split off from the lesser distances for a loop taking us more or less around Beauvechain. This also proved to be a loop offering not too many heightmeters, which obviously was good for the average and also clement on the legs for those who were starting to feel the fatigue. At the little Chapel in Nodebais a 4th and last rest stop was offered. Manned by women, this was obviously my favourite. I asked and received some oil for my chain and took a last offering of banana, cookies and sports drink. With a full stomach I set on for the last 16K. The drop into Meerdaelwoud offered another patch which might be called muddy but then we rode back in over the Mollendaaldreef and the Weertsedreef. So no more challenges except for the part in Vaalbeek and an ultimate little loop along some narrower tracks before rejoining the starting area. An Alpro drink was gladly received and I went into the Canteen to collect my T-shirt. The Moots had to wait in the garded bike park for a few minutes.
The Lowdown:
What I liked:
+ Great trails, with attention to lesser visited tracks
+ the region and the use they made of what is offered
+ emergency numbers provided
+ dangerous downhills and road crossings well marked
+ distance splits well marked
+ arrowing impeccable
+ 4 well-stocked rest zones - lots of choices
+ very friendly people at the rest stops
+ free T-shirt when entering the 100K with pre-inscription
+ all this for only 9 (10 if you don't have a licence)
What I did not like:
- the section around Beauvechain not providing any challenges
- spreading of the 1st rest stop was a bit off.. at 31K this was too late into the ride
Synopsis:
A
very good ride, the first half certainly being more demanding than the
latter part. Although this was demanding too, depending on the speed
you made. Some very interesting new tracks I learned today. They could
have made it tougher if they had descended south of Grez instead of
opting for the loop around Beauvechain. But perhaps this would take
them too far from the Meerdael area and this IS the Meerdael Classic
after all. Arrowing was flawless all along the 100K, splits were very
well marked - before AND after the actual split.
The weather was great as well - 18 degrees average temperature, sunny
and just a bit of wind on the plateaus coupled with the amazingly rich
biking regions we crossed today provided the right ambiance for a great
couple of hours on your bike.The Bare Facts:
Profile of the Ride
Map of the Ride
Organisers Website
Ride Stats :
Meerdael Classic: 100K and 1155 heightmeters
total distance today :
110K and 1245 heightmeters in 5h22minsHill Factor of the Meerdael Classic: 11.555260/49555
06-07-2008, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 03-07-2008 |
| I'm tellin' ya dude, its gonna rain! |
Yesterday saw some thunderstorms and it rained a bit last night as well. So when we rode out with the KBC MTB club to recon the farthest loop of our annual Organised ride, I was curious about the state of the terrain. It turned out to be surprisingly dry. We rode towards Biez and there set out on the loop. Yves, the guy who plots the loop each year, made me discover an interesting alternative downhill in Biez. That will save me from the stairs of doom, but the alternative is also not without danger, it is rather steep and has a few corners with moss-covered concrete which makes it slippery when wet. But the rest is a nice little track. When we rode along towards Heze I discovered some menacing clouds on our right, over Bonlez . I pointed it out and saw the veils under the clouds - this meant rain. If course we were close to the fathest point on the loop, so no use turning back. 
03-07-2008, 21:13 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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| 01-07-2008 |
| Warm |
30 degrees C today, and a lot less wind. So I waited until 6pm to ride out but it was still very warm. I turned immediately into the Meerdael forest which was nice and cool. Lots of bugs flying around so I was general with the Deet spray. Made my way towards Nethen to check out the jungle hollow road. Well, it was dry but very washed out. Deep gullies made it impossible at times to keep on riding. I had to dismount a few time and lift my bike out of a rut or over some sandy boulders. Other parts were fine but demanded a lot of determination, trail insight and just plain luck to keep things rolling. Upon emerging from the hollow I rode towards Bossut and then made my way down along another hollow road, this one very sandy and I needed to keep the momentum high just to keep rolling. Up again towards the football field where I checked my Moots because the cranks were making a ticking noise. Everything seemed fine from the outside so it must be the 2003 XTR crankshaft nearing its end of days. Mmm, it will not be easy to find a replacement. After Archennes I climbed back up to la Malaise , down into Pecrot and up again towards Nethen. Down into Nethen and then along the railway towards the Beaumont forest. Down into Fontenelle and then up towards the Herculessalon in the Meerdaelwoud again. A little pause next to the Ponds near the Kluis and after that another climb up to the Nethense Baan. From there I was gently riding home. At home I put some oil on the crankshaft in the hope that it will stop the creaking, but I suppose I better contact Filip Sport for a new one.Ride Stats : 31K and 395 heightmeters in 1h45mins5057/47550
01-07-2008, 21:08 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf
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