Sun was shining today and beckoning me out for a ride. With 30cm of snow I already knew that the plan would be simple. Only take roads where there were already trails drawn by jeeps or tractors. Riding up to the Kluis I quickly noticed the amount of snow on the trails was really huge. The jeep tracks were the only way where you could keep the bike rolling. Big tyres or not, getting though a layer of snow of a foot or more is simply not possible. Or at least not for hours on end. I had a little plan to do my climbing loop behind the Kluis but when I got there I quickly learned that the only way you stood any chance of getting through that snow was riding downhill.

I then decided to ride towards Nethen and try some of the small backroads. Passing over the Beaumont Hill I had my first glance of ice on the tracks. Due to the steepness of the hill I was forced to walk. I came to the big road between Pecrot and Nethen which was completely deserted except of some walkers with sledges and the occasional 4x4. Dropping down into Nethen along the big road gave me some time to relax. I climbed up the Ruelle du Curé a couple of times before I rode through Nethen to have a look at the Tienne Vincent and the Bruyere du Wez. Took the Bruyere first and it was really tough getting up because of the 17% slope and the icy on the tracks. Dropping down the offroad track into the Rue du Tienne Binard was a real kicker. Letting the bike find its way on the top section, having to avoid a fallen treebranch and then into the Tienne itself trying to stay away from the icy patches. Riding up the Tienne Vincent was easier. As far as you can call an 18% slope easy of course. The tarmac was visible through the snow on the tracks drawn by the cars. Obviously they had usd salt here. Back down through the Tienne Binard and I decided to ride towards the other side of Nethen again to do another couple of climbs up the Beaumont Hill. The second one, following the Rue du Bois Brulé was too much to ride. There was only a single jeep track and the steepness forced me to a standstill, having to walk the last section.

Oh well, I can accept defeat. From the Rue de Beaumont back down to Nethen along the Rue de Pecrot. Then up the Tienne Vincent one more time this time riding straight towards the La Trace forestry and into the Meerdael Forest. The road down towards the Naamse Steenweg was very icy in the tracks. I had some narrow escapes but managed to keep the big rubber tyres on the track. I followed the Naamse Steenweg out of the forest and back home. Had a good but very demanding ride. Both mentally and physically my forces were drained by the constant demand to be alert and the sheer difficulty of riding a bike through these conditions.
Again , I was very impressed with the Sandman although at time I wished the 3.8 Surly Larry tyres would have had a but more knobs. The Larry is a compromise tyre that performs great in most circumstances except the really bad ones demanding extra traction. Perhaps an Endomorph would have been more suited for this deep snow conditions.

Ride Stats : 29.5K and 410 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h27mins

8986/99445

25-12-2010, 16:34 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another couple of centimeters fresh snow tonight after a little thaw yesterday. I estimate that there is still around 20 cm snow in the forest. I rode out just before dusk to do a little ride in the Mollendaal bos. I had changed the saddle and found the seating to be a lot better on the Sandman Atacama. The snow offered better traction although I had to take care with the jeep tracks. The edges of the tracks were high and frozen, so touching them with the big tyres made the bike bounce to the other side. Whenever I wasn't sure I just steered it into the deep snow and there it found heaps of traction but also some resistance to the forward movement.

Doing my little climbing loop out of Mollendaal into Bierbeek and back up again into the forest for 2 times proved to be more than enough for today. The going was heavy in the deep snow although the second time around I could - try - to follow my own track, making it a lot easier . Having a little rest in the shelter overlooking the Mollendaal crevasse I took some pictures from bike and man.

It had been snowing lightly throughout the entire ride and my average temperature was -1 degree C. There was a cold wind blowing from the northeast when I left the shelter of the forest for the loop into Bierbeek. Another loop dropping down towards the Brise Tout forestry house and then up to the highest point once more.

I passed the 99000 heightmeter mark today so I'm almost where I want to be for this year. A couple of rides to go. The forecast is for more snow tonight but then it would remain dry whilst getting colder again over Christmas and the weekend.

Ride Stats : 18K and 265/290 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h36mins

8956/99035

23-12-2010, 18:43 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Lots of snow these last couple of days, I'm guessing between 15 and 20 cms. Today the temperature went above zero which was a pity because the big snow pack was starting to get all squischy and melting. I decided on a Meerdael Forest ride and took the Sandman Atacama which Koen had been friendly enough to lend me for a couple of weeks.
The snow was deep and beneath the snow a layer of mud wasn't making things very easy for the big-tired bike. The grip had been way better last saturday when it was still freezing. But I went and rode a loop into the forest, trying to take advantage of the jeep tracks when the trails were flat and keeping into the deep snow during ascents and descents. This kept the big tyres from sliding away. The tyres lack the necessary grip for muddy conditions and the deep snow was still offering good traction and grip.

Incorporating a couple of climbs, according to my GPS up to 24 % , the big tyres were also finding their limits. But when I was looking at the size and shap of the other bike tracks, I wasn't the only one having trouble with the slippery conditions. The big brakes make it very easy to control the bike and keeping the weight way back in the descents also helped to prevent the front wheel from getting too heavy. Pausing every now and then to take a picture of bike and ladnscape I was looping towards the edge of the forest in Nethen before turning towards the Kluis and the Paddenpoel.

Returning through the Denteneerpad I crossed the Weertse Dreef - which was still closed to cars - and finalized my ride . The Brooks saddle was not to my liking, I have to change that for the next ride. The rest of the bike is OK, I would prefer a narrower handlebar and I need to get the seating position a little further towards the back of the bike. All things that can be remedied for the next ride.

Ride Stats : 16K and 235/295 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h32mins

8939/98745

21-12-2010, 17:49 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf