Started out early for a ride along the Meerdael Bloso routes. The sun was out and with temperatures around 11 degrees C it promised to be another fine early spring day. I took the BBW again - by default - for this offroad ride. I left out a little bit of air from the Hutchinson Pythons but I soon found out that they do not like to be too soft. Especially the rear tyre was rolling in the corners on hardpack. Even though the comfort was marginally better I decided to pump them back to the prescribed 2.5 bars.
Riding offroad with the 8.5kg Hilset is a challenge. The bike is light and fast but also very skittery due to its lack of suspension. This takes some getting used to. It doesn't bother me much on the hills, there the light weight is an advantage and the lack of traction is a nuisance but nothing more. But especially on the downhills the bike is a handful to handle. The steering is precise but the lack of suspension leaves all the jolts and bumps to go through the tyres and handlebar into the arms and shoulders. In the back the moans and groans of the frame under the hard beatings is not transmitted because I would not dare to remain seated anyways. Good thing the frame is titanium otherwise I believe I would have long ago cracked under the stress. In the front I am thinking of mounting my Morati M-bar. This will be a lot more comfortable than the current aluminum/carbon Extralight setup. The Pace fork is also not one of the most forgiving around. It offers some comfort but an all-titanium job will also improve that. I might be looking into that once the Moots Psychlo-X is built up. This latter frame is currently in Belgium but has been at the Customs offices since March 12th. I'm curious as to how much import and VAT I will have to pay.
Anyway, the ride went well, my legs still felt tired from yesterdays' major ride but I managed to keep a good pace nevertheless. My Endomondo app performed flawlessly today, after experiencing some weird gps-related jumps, bouncing me up and down to the equator. Maybe it is related to the major upgrade Endomondo did last thursday. It first occured on that day. I re-installed the Endomondo app yesterday. I did not experience these bumps using the Garmin Fit app but I did see them on my Google maps history. Weird.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 41K and 480 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h00mins

2059/21210

25-03-2012, 13:23 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Decided to ride to the Hallerbos. Since I only had the Hilset BBW that was more or less in working order and capable of such a distance, I fitted it with some new Hutchinson Python NG Air Light tyres. These have a reputation of being very well suited for dry terrain and offer excellent rolling capacities. I put in 2.5 bar and got on my way around half past 9.
Since the Hilset has not suspension and the tyres were pretty hard I expected a harsh ride. So I decided to take as many concrete roads as possible, only occasionally passing through offroad sections. Of course , when I arrived in the Sonian Forest I had no choice but to ride along the broad forest trails. These rolled very well and I was amazed I made 23K during the first hour. These tyres really roll well.
Entering the Sonian Forest in Duisburg I noticed some red bloso signage. Hmm, some future trailexploring looks mandatory. Through the Sonian forest, along the Zonienwoudlaan in Rode Saint Genese and before long I was in Dworp near the Hallerbos. I followed the signs towards kruispunt 50 before taking a left up the Dries into the Hallerbos. When I entered the forest I paused for a snack and to take a rest. I was some 40K into the ride.

24-03-2012, 16:16 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Beautiful spring weather today, with temperatures above 20 degrees C. So I left work early for a ride on the Litespeed Obed. I picked in on the trail of last sundays' SVK ride. I got the track off the web and decided to see how far I would get before a) it got dark or b) I got tired or c) the Obed would make too much noise in its bottom bracket. It turned out that this was quite a nice ride, the first kilometers through Heverleebos were relatively easy and I could maintain a good pace. But when the track entered Meerdael Forest and came near Sint Joris Weert, things got serious very fast. By now the fine weather and the easy kilometers had warmed me up just fine and I started on a series of climbs and descents that would get me more and more southwards.

The Obed has developed quite a bit of play in its bottom bracket and I decided this would be its last ride until the bearings are changed. A rendez-vous to that effect has been made at Filip Sport for next week. When I was grinding up the steep hills near La Malaise and in Archennes, the noises coming out of that bottom bracket began to get me worried. The play lets the chain rub against the front derailleur cage and you just feel that the crank is not turning round. When I arrived in Bossut with just under 40K on my counters I paused and had a look at the remainder of the track. I was getting tired by now - the fast ride from yesterday was also still in my legs - and with another 35K to go on the loop I decided to call it a day and ride homewards. Into Meerdael Forest , past the Warande Ponds and then along the Prosperdreef. I could not resist making an extra loop though one of the forests' most beautiful little valleys and past the Tomme. Back to the Prosperdreef and I was nearly home, very pleased with the ride.

22-03-2012, 18:35 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

With the Moots YBB suffering from a flat rear tyre and the Litespeed Obed having developed serious play on the bottom bracket I was keen to check out the condition of my Merlin after its winter sleep. The rear tyre seems in need of a new shot of notubes fluid and I also wanted to check the suspensions and drivetrain. So I took it out for what turned out to be quite a fast ride.
I normally am very fast on this bike, it gives me an extra boost and the full suspension concept brings comfort and speed. I was enjoying the Bloso Green trail which is relatively flat but still offers a couple of nice ondulating sections and a good stretch of tank track near the E40. 
Piece of cake for the Merlin. I really have to force myself to remain seated on this bike. It doesn't seem to notice the trails and effaces most of the roots, ruts and other potholes. With a hardtail you would be forced to either slow down or take a royal beating. I happened upon Alain De Munter who was also doing some training in the area. That even upped the pace a little more. Alain is a very fast and technical rider who competes in all sorts of mountainbike and duathlon events. He talks of doing the Crocodile Trophy this year and I think he would be right at home on those trails. We maintained a good pace, and on this bike I could even pretend to be able to follow his pace. 

Just before Vaalbeek our ways parted, he still had to ride towards Huldenberg and would be hard pressed to be home before darkness fell. The weather was great with an average temperature of 14 degrees C. The bike performed well but I could feel my rear tyre losing pressure towards the end of the ride. I have to keep an eye on that. 

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 28K and 200 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h09mins

1878/18840

21-03-2012, 19:41 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Late in the afternoon but I still decided to ride out and get a mountainbike ride in. I went for a hilly parcours taking me first through Meerdael Forest towards Sint Joris Weert where I started on a successive series of climbs and descents, taking me towards The Kluis and further south to Nethen. The trails were great, just the right amount of grip and the thousands of wheels from yesterdays SVK organised ride had well honed the sandy climb near the Savenel wall. I then rode towards the Warande Ponds, still riding up and down the slopes as much as I could.
I took a picture of the work that is taking place there. Seems they are reshaping the ponds , giving it a serpentine look in the middle.

After that I crossed the Naamsesteenweg and went for a cooldown loop through Mollendaal forest. And cool down it did. I could feel the cold of the night dropped down through the cloudless sky. I think this night will be a cool one. With a nice 415 heightmeters for only 22.5K I had a good Hill Factor.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 22.5K and 415 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h21mins

1850/18640

19-03-2012, 19:55 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf