A little more than a year ago O2 Bikers published a GPS roadbook starting in Grez Doiceau. I saw the potential of that 35K loop and quickly added a couple of other tracks to make it a bit spicier and incorporate a couple of tracks the guides that produced the O2 Bikers loop wouldn't or couldn't add to their loop.
Since I was at that time offering to guide a ride to a couple of friends, one was called Julie, I named my track the O2 Grez Julie track. Since then many moons have passed, Julie has yet to ride this track but it has seen a couple of changes, making it a bit tougher every time. Today I rode to Grez to ride the Julie 3 and add another climb near Gottechain to add a couple of heightmeters and thus producing Julie 4.

Nature was in full bloom, the weather was warm with a 21 degree C average temperature and a wind blowing from the southeast. I still felt my legs from thursdays's ride so I took it easy. As far as "taking it easy" is possible on a trail that is around 58K long and counts nearly a 1000 heightmeters. You can check the trail on the Garmin Connect website and I also offer it as a download. If you ride it I would very much appreciate your comments.

When I left Heze I saw another trail that I could possibly add, so Julie 5 is already germinating in my mind. The last couple of kilometers were very tough, passing through Pietrebais a couple of times, with some very fine singletrails and hairy descents.

The trails were as dry as a bone. The only bit of mud I saw was in Bonlez, where a small singletrail takes you next to the river Train. There are some wells always leaving the trail wet. I stepped off my bike and walked. The river is very close by here and when you should slide away and fall into it  - even with the warm temperatures of today - it would not be very healthy. Another wet spot was on a small singletrack near the river Pietrebais, where you have too cross a little rivulet a couple of times. When I arrived back in Grez Doiceau I felt tired but very satisfied with yet another great ride. I saw some markers for an organised ride. I'm guessing its the one starting at the College Technique St Jean in Wavre tomorrow. They took some of the trails I was riding so I would heartily recommend anyone to start there tomorrow. With the current weather and trail conditions it is great to be out there.

Ride Stats : 79K and 1065/1160 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h39mins

2919/29355

24-04-2010, 17:27 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Nice sunny and calm weather. A little bit of wind still blowing from the northeast. But nothing to stop me from riding out. I decided to do the Overijse BLOSO routes once more. It had been a while since I rode them completely and integrally. Usually I deviate to add a climb here and there but today I stuck to the route. The arrowing was excellent as far as I could see. As of usual I picked in on the Red route near Sint Agatha Rode. The trails were perfect. P  e r f e c t. There was hardly a puddle in sight. Except for a few places were little rivulets cross the trails, like when just before you arrive in Overijse after the descent from the Bisdom. I believe it is called the Hassenbergstraat, or at least that is the name of the street where you end up in after 500m of forest trails. I paused at the park in the centre of Overijse to take a picture of several birds on the pond.

When leaving Overijse along the Reutenbeek there were heavy road workings going on, forcing me to walk a couple of meters.  I could make good speed due to the dry conditions and a couple of legs that felt good. On the climbs I felt strong and I turned my ride into a bit of interval training. Taking it easy on the level roads and putting a bit of pressure on the legs on the climbs. Those who know these trails know that they incorporate quite a few climbs. Also the descents are a challenge from time to time. The entrance of the steep descent at the end of the Langeheidestraat on the Red trail was blocked by fallen trees. But after a bit of climbing I could get back on my bike and take the steppy descent . Following is a steep climb that comes out on the Loswegstraat. Then there is a bit of level trail along the Tommestraat before dropping down into the long descent into the Laurensart forest that ends on the Klabbeekstraat. The heightmeters were accumulating nicely and before long I had completed the 34K lap. I drove back to Sint Joris Weert and did a little extra loop towards The Kluis area.

From there it didn't take me long to arrive home. This was a very good ride. I had a good feeling in my legs. The bike performed flawlessly and in a couple of weeks it will need to go in for maintenance. The Race Face bottom bracket has seen its best day and the bearings need to be changed. Not easy since this kind of bottom bracket is old school. But I'm sure Filip of Filip Sport will find the necessary spares. The bike will take a well-deserved summer vacation and the Moots and Merlin will come out to play with instead.

Ride Stats : 55K and 685/750 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h54mins

2840/28195

Today there was a photoshoot planned with the KBC MTB club so we were hoping for a big turnout. And indeed there were about 20 bikers present at the start in Heverlee. All clad in KBC apparel spanning a couple of years. From dark to light blue on white with some black tossed in between . We had a appointment with the KBC photog at the Zoete Waters. It took a while to locate the man but then we were set for a couple of shootings. Some riding, some posing with the big group.

I had taken my precautions and had already 1 hours ride in Meerdael and Heverleebos before I arrived in Heverlee. So when we left around 7.30pm I reckoned we would have around 1 hour before the sun would be too low to see where we were going in the Meerdael Forest. We took off again and soon I was asked to guide the group around some of the better singletrails. No problem, and the coming 45 minutes I would guide them through some of the finer trails of the south of Meerdael forest. I left out the real crackers because I didn't want any accidents or people who were left behind. But I think most of them had a nice ride . The trails were great, dry and fast. You could literally ride any trail you wanted, without having to fear for mud. Some of the climbs were pretty steep and there were also some great downhills for the group to enjoy.

Before long we crossed the Naamsesteenweg because the group would ride to Haasrode for a drink. I decided to leave them and return home, just in time before darkness started to set in.

Ride Stats : 43K and 470/540 heightmeters (Polar/Garminà in 2h26mins

2785/27445

20-04-2010, 21:16 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Easy and uneventful ride. Giving my legs the opportunity to recover. I prefer active recovery to sitting in a chair and hoping the pain will go away. Weather was still OK but minus 5 degrees as compared to yesterdays' 20 degrees C.

Ride Stats : 23K and 140/190 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h6mins

2743/26905

19-04-2010, 18:53 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf