Another sunny morning saw me ride out just before 10am. Even though the sun was out the first entry into the forest still felt chilly. I decided to do route #6, which is relatively new - new enough not to figure on the map I got from Houffa Bike a couple of years ago. The route starts out along de Rue de La Roche, together with red routes numbers 3 and 4, and the blue number 2. After a couple of climbs and descents the number 6 veers to the right to descent towards the river Ourthe. A very nasty descent as well, wet rocks and a lot of mud along the river. I didn't ride it. Then it crosses the river Ourthe by means of a wooden bridge, and follows the road to La Roche for a brief moment before turning into a great singletrail that turns away to the right and is very steep at its start. It follows the tarmac road for a while - high above it - before turning sharply to the right for a long, steep and steady climb up to the plateau. It then redescents towards a river. As it turns out this is the same descent as the number 2 track uses as a climb. So better be careful, there are bikers ahead. After crossing the river and then taking to the right alongside it, the trail unavoidably has to ascent again. Very steep at first, then a technical passage with roots and rocks - only the best will ride here - and then it continues to climb towards the plateau. A steep descent, a little tarmac section and the track is joined by the number 2. Number 6 goes towards the Tier des Nutons where it meets the XC trails. Here I had to be very convincing towards the official before he agreed I could ride the trail for a short while. Just enough to take me towards the start of the 4X where I could descent towards the road. Some 21K and almost 550 heightmeters. Not bad , the number 6 is certainly the best choice for anyone just having time enough to do one route when in Houffalize.

I had time for another trail so I chose the number 2. Its start was well-known to me, since it follows the number 6 I just did, and the number 3 we did yesterday. A long grueling climb in the sun before joining the plateau. It then calmed down a bit, with trails ondulating up an down but not going to deep to create any problems. But , as the trail veers away from the red number 3 and 4, which take towards the east, the number 2 veers to the west and descents along a very nice track down towards the river Ourthe. Then the long climb follows - climb I descended earlier doing the number 6. 100 heightmeters later I decided to take a break and have something to eat. The trail moves towards Taverneux, where there still was some climbing to do, some on narrow tracks between fields, before dropping into Houffalize.

After the race I took out my D2X to check it out whilst taking some pictures from the Juniors Men and Women World Cup. These pictures will be put online later in my Houffalize picture album.

Ride Stats : 50K and 1130/1106 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h30mins

3219/29810

02-05-2009, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today I had an appointment with a friend from Latvia. She rode over to Houffalize from Brussels and we met up at the Ol'Fosse d'Outh on what looked to become a nice sunny day. The plan was to bike for around 3 hours so I started out on route Number 3. This is a quite difficult route with some nice steep climbs and descents. The first couple of climbs are very steep , and the sun was already out in full force as we were straining on the smallest gears to make the climb. This being my first Ardennes ride I was pleased to be here but also cautious because I had to re-learn a couple of old skills, like riding over roc and roots. Also, the descents demand a lot more concentrating and the uphills are 25-minute affairs instead of the quick 5-10 minute uphills I was used to in my own region. After a while the route joins the number 4 route and things even out a little. My friend had become quite a bit stronger in both uphills and downhills since we last met up for a ride and I was pleased to see that she was enjoying the beautiful landscapes our Ardennes have to offer.

After a while we came to the route number 5 and we decided to follow that back to Houffalize , adding 15K to our ride. The number 5 keeps ondulating nicely up and down the valleys and with some singletracks here and there was also demanding of our technical skills. Near the end the constant succesion of hills became to take their toll, the legs were starting to feel it !
The tracks weren't exactly what you would call 'dry' but then no ride in the Ardennes ever is. But on the whole things worked out very well, all mud holes were contourable and except for one spot near the end we could ride everything. When we dropped back into Houffalize we went over to the Press area for me to pick up my press card for the World Cup Event. After the ride we strolled along in Houffalize and enjoyed the nice sunshine even more.

We took a good long look at the 4X track, amazing ourselves with the ease with which these guys take all the jumps. It looks easy, but it certainly is not. She also wanted to look at the Ol' Fosse d'Outhe descent and the one at the Caserne des Pompiers. The new section over the roots near the hotel Ol' Fosse d'Outh will certainly see it share of accidents during the races. From watching the training sessions, only the best riders will be able to ride this section during the race. The rest will have to walk. Thanks to G. for being around, I had a great ride and we spent some quality time together after the ride. Pity she couldn't be here this sunday, it would certainly have been a great experience for her to see the real MTB pros in action.

Ride Stats : 48K and 915/835 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h19mins

3169/28680

01-05-2009, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Riding up to Houffalize this afternoon to stay there for the long Mountainbike World Cup weekend. The weather was dry, not too warm but fine nevertheless. Arriving at the Ol Fosse d'Outh hotel around 4.30 pm I had ample time to check in and go out for a little ride. A quiet 'mise en jambes' as the French would call it. Although quiet and easy is not exactly what one would expect around Houffalize. The World Cup circus had landed and the first training sessions, both for XC and 4X were under way. On the road to La Roche the riders dropping down the 4X track jumped over the tarmac to a finish. I had to walk my bike around the finishing area to be able to continue my road towards La Roche. The long climb into Mormont and to the plateau behind it were taken relaxed, on a low gear to save my legs. On the plateau I turned left towards Nisramont. A downhill took me back to the river Ourthe.

I left the Nisramont barrage for another day and continued on the other border of the Ourthe for the climb back out of its valley. When I reached the little village of Nisramont I had 18K and already a solid 280 heightmeters on my counters. So I turned my bike around and continued along the same way I had come, back towards Houffalize. The 4X had finished and I only encountered some XC riders, taking an easy training session on the road, some alone, some in groups of up to 20 bikers. Back I the hotel I changed my bikes' wheels for the knobby kind, since I am planning an offroad ride tomorrow. I will try to combine 2 of the marked routes.This little report was typed on the Ol'Fosse d'Outh rent-a-pc internet connection. Not sure if I will be able to use it again tomorrow. This evening all is pretty quiet here but I'm guessing it will become more hectic by tomorrow. Signing off.... 

Ride Stats : 37.5K and 475/508 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h45mins

3121/27765

30-04-2009, 00:00 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf