I was bitten by some insect yesterday, or possibly a spider, and my right calf was swollen and showing signs of an allergic reaction. People who know me know that this is no laughing matter for me so I started treatment at once with anti-histamine pills and I am supposed to see my doctor later today. But I did decide to ride out since the swelling wasn't too bad - yet - this morning. I did an easy road-ride taking me over Egenhoven , Bertem, Leefdaal and Neerijse towards Sint-Agatha-Rode, Sint Joris Weert and Nethen. Over Hamme Mille I completed a short loop. The weather was hot, I already had an average temperature of 27 degrees around 1pm. But there are some clouds gathering and meteox.be is showing thunderstorms in the south-east of Belgium, and they are slowly making their way up north.

Ride Stats : 39k and 245/257 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h44mins

4577/43920

26-06-2009, 15:49 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Very hot today with temperatures reaching 30 degrees C but a stiff breeze kept it from getting tropical. Nevertheless it was still hot when we set out with the KBC MTB club for a ride along the base loop of the August 16th Haasrode organized ride. There were only 3 of us but this also meant we could keep an even pace throughout the ride. The base loop already is around 35K long and with nearly 400 heightmeters it is not for the meek either. Taking us through Meerdael forest towards Nethen and the famous "lianenklim" upwards towards Bossut . Then descending into Archennes and passing through some narrow overgrown track towards the N252. We crossed that and followed another trail into Gottechain. From here we made our way towards the outskirts of Grez Doiceau before looping back over Nodebais and Tourinnes. The Meerdael forest was entered again at the Forestry house and we passed next to the Dikke Eik on our way to Mollendaal. From here it was downhill towards the Bremberg and back into Haasrode. In all a very fine ride and certainly worth doing. Come and join us on August the 16th for this distance or perhaps one of the longer distances - up to 62K - of this organized ride. When I arrived home around 9pm it was still 25 degrees C but there were clouds, perhaps indicating some upcoming rain. 

Ride Stats : 42k and 405/457 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h9mins

4538/43675 

25-06-2009, 21:43 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather was great today so I took the Moots out for a discovery ride into Brabant Walloon. On these rides I just let myself be guided by my instinct and my GPS. I take roads I would normally not take, and try out trails I didn't do before or I want to discover again. Sometimes this means turning back, sometimes you get an 'aha' moment when you can connect two roads you didn't know could be connected. Sometimes the trails are overgrown very badly and care has to be taken not to get caught in some undergrown rut . But that makes it even more fun. I made more or less a loop, starting out along Tourinnes-la-Grosse and then crossing over towards Pietrebais and Longueville. Here I discovered the Accro Bike trails which I followed briefly, opting instead for lesser-known alternatives to connect with Chaumont Gistoux. Following the river "Train" along a small track meandering above it into Bonlez. Here I had to walk a couple of meters because the track was wet. A steep and narrow path brought me to the bigger roads again. Next I had to do some funky stuff and even pass through someones' garden because the Golf Course of Bercuit cuts off some trails. Putting up 'Chemin Prive' signs everywhere but when you ride on the road does connect. Or sometimes it doesn't and you have to improvise. But I made it into Grez Doiceau and Biez just fine, adding a couple of steep heightmeters before making my way to Gottechain and crossing over towards Bossut. Some of the trails in Biez were pretty much overgrown and I was the first biker to pass here in quite a while. A real Big Bad Wolf trail and the way I like them. Riding towards Nethen I chose to do the 'lianen' downhill which was great but for one serious mudhole. Pity because here you really have to hold on to the trees to save yourself from a mudbath. I rode into Meerdael forest for a last couple of easy cooldown kilometers along bigger forest roads.

Ride Stats : 60k and 635/646 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h17mins

4496/43270

23-06-2009, 20:59 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf