The weather had taken a turn for the worse overnight and when I rode out around 11am it was 13 degrees C and there was a cold wind blowing from the north. I wanted to ride towards the Sonian Forest today, and there do the local Bloso loop, affectionately called the Nero route. Nero, by the way, is a comic book hero in Belgium.
When I rode towards Duisburg, I could see the sun from time to time but there were also dark clouds gathering here and there. I wore a long sleeved jersey and was glad I did. In this first part though , I had the wind more or less in my back so that was an advantage.

When I arrived in the forest I noriced some droplets of rain but the thick foliage kept me as good as dry. The dropping barometric pressure added a couple of free heightmeters to my Garmin as I rode through Jezus-Eik and picked up on the Nero route just in front of the - infamous - railroad singletrack. There were - again - workings going on at the start of the track but the track itself was restored and felt quite good. Some little technical sections and then at the end they had added a couple of whoop-de-doos and berms. Nice section here.

The rest of the Nero trail was its usual self, fast forest lanes and 3 sections of interesting singletracks. When I neared the last one, alongside the Avenue Dubois, it had started to rain again and this, along with the darkness, made the singletrack a bit more difficult to ride. I was already thinking the way back would be a wet one when the rain subsided and when I came back to the railroad where I started, I had a bite to eat and waited for the clouds to disappear.

To my surprise, and this really was a stroke of luck, the north-easterly  side of the Sonian Forest seemed to be almost dry. When I emerged in Duisburg and ventured into the fields leading me towards the Ganzepoel, I even saw the sun peeping through the clouds. Its warmth made me dry up fast and the wind seemed to have subsided as well. I rode towards the Margijsbos and the into Sint Joris Weert for some last stretches of forest and some nice tracks to finish off this ride.

Ride Stats : 76,5K and 770/1010 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h58mins

4506/48415

Today I wanted to do the mother of all tracks in the Grez Doiceau region. The track that Laurent Saublens marked on a map for me almost 10 years ago. The track was then 42K long and was the scene of a chrono race in october every year. That race was organized by the Blancs Gilets, the club that I still belong to but that has changed its name to Royal Velo Club Ottignies Blancs Gilets after a merger with the Ottignies club 3 years ago.
The Accro Bike is no longer organised, too many troubles with the Chaumont Gistoux community which favors its own organisations and an unwillingness to organise a lame version of the original that stays on Grez Doiceau territority. But, as I have said before, I still have the original track buried deep into my brain and today I wanted to do the 'race' version. So I took the Moots to Grez and started out on this 42K long - 700 heighmeters trail that brings so many beautiful trails together. Hill after hill, in relentless succession and only offering some relief in the downhills and flat sections. Even so , some of the downhill are very treacherous with ruts, stones, gullies and other nasties that lie an await your mistake. The trails were bone-dry and I managed to ride each and every uphill. No mean feat considering the fact that there are a couple of 24% sections. But the Moots helped me with its flawless traction and perfect balance.

I noticed a lot of orange arrows and I believe these must belong to a Chaumont Gistoux or Wavre organised ride that has taken place in the last couple of weeks, judging to the freshness of the markings. I managed a good speed throughout the entire ride and I think I did the 42K in just under 2h30. When I think of the times the racers managed all these years ago - and in more difficult circumstances, october, remember - I had to shiver. I believe Filip Meirhaeghe himself still has the all-time record with 1h45 or thereabouts. Oops, thats an average of almost 24kph .
Nevertheless I did fine, considering the fact that I rode alone, had no incentive to put down 'a time' and am about twice as old as Filip was when he rode that time. Arriving back in Grez I rode home over Bossut and Hamme Mille, adding another 100 heightmeters to finish just over the 1000m mark.

Ride Stats : 67,5K and 890/1020 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h45mins

4430/47405

Sun was out and with a temperature of around 20 degrees C and a little wind I set out with the Moots YBB to cover the 3 Meerdael Bloso routes. I decided to do them in the opposite direction. Starting out with the Green in Blanden, then moving on the Blue in Vaalbeek and take the Red towards Bierbeek. The trails were perfect, the Moots was zooming and I was maintaining a good pace. I felt good and my legs didn't mind the pace. When I rounded the Red and moved on the Blue again there were a couple of hills waiting. I had crossed 4 or 5 bikers but when I reached the Nethen area I had the trails for me. Allowing me to let the bike go on the downhills and put on the power on the uphills. When I reached the Zoete Waters I hopped on the Green again. The worse of the hills was behind me now , a little nasty climb next to the railroad where I could once more enjoy the enhanced motricity the Moots YBB suspension offers. This bike now is 7 years old but it looks as new as when I bought it. Titanium does not corrode neither does it know any fatigue. At least not the kind susceptible by us mere mortals.

When I reached the E40 and followed the singletracks parallel to it I stopped to make a picture of where the trail has been altered. The old railroad crossing coming from the Oud Heverlee straat, is gone. You can see on the picture the arrow on the other side, pointing up the crest next to the E40. What you need to do when you get here is follow the Oud-Heverlee straat to the left for about 450 meters. There is a railroad bridge there where you cross the railroad. Take a right after the bridge and follow the road parallel to the railroad back down to the point where you arrive at the other side of the old crossing. Just after passing under the bridge where the E40 goes over. You can then follow the Green trails again.

Me I went in the other direction for the last section of the Green, taking me past the starting point in Heverlee and back into Heverleebos where I started my ride 2 and a half hours ago. I was surprised to see that I had a very nice average. Blame it on the bike and on my legs which were indeed very good today.

Ride Stats : 56.5K and 485/585 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h39mins

4363/46385

15-06-2010, 21:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf