After seeing Tom Boonen clinch his 3rd Ronde Van Vlaanderen victory I was motivated to ride out in the late afternoon. The sun was still out and during the first part of this mixed ride that took me through Mollenfaalbos to Mollendaal, Beauvechain, Sclimpre towards Melin I had the win nicely in my back on the mix of cobbles and dusty field roads. Turning to Lathuy and then arriving in Dongelberg where I switched onto tarmac for a trip to Jodoigne. Here I had some difficulty finding my way towards Saint-Marie-Geest. 2 roads were blocked but the third one proved to be a good one. Offroad again and before long I was in Sainte-Marie-Geest and on the Ravel 2 which took me into Hoegaarden.
From here I began noticing the wind as I turned towards the north. Riding through Oorbeek and Kumtich and then turning to the northwest until I reached Willebringen and Neervelp. From there another stretch in northern direction brought me into Bremt where I turned west for a last stretch to Bierbeek , Haasrode and into Blanden. Good ride .

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 60K and 500 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h37mins

2355/24120

01-04-2012, 20:41 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Grey and relatively cold weather but at least it was dry. Added a layer of clothing and rode out on the Hilset BBW for a perimeter ride around Meerdael Forest. Starting out towards Haasrode and Bremberg and then making my way towards Valduc and Nethen. Upon crossing the Naamsesteenweg and just before the hilly section in Nethen I came upon my friend Johan and Roger, who were also doing a ride in and around Meerdael Forest. The wind was keeping us all into or near the shelter of the trees. We exchanged some information and went our seperate ways. I continued and before long I was in Nethen and riding into Sint Joris Weert. Nearing the Zoete Waters where I stopped for a moment to take some pictures of the re-erected giant toadstool in one of the ponds.

Into Heverlee bos now and I continued to Oud-Heverlee and Heverlee, where I crossed the Naamsesteenweg for a loop past the War Cemetery and into Blanden. Crossing the Naamsesteenweg again and then finishing off my ride along the Prosperdreef and into Blanden. Just another little loop before calling it a day. The ride went fine, sursprisingle hilly despite my efforts to remain on the bigger roads I was lured from time to time into taking one of the many smaller tracks.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 41K and 505 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h13mins

2295/23620

31-03-2012, 14:54 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The weather took a turn yesterday and today and when I took the BBW out late in the afternoon the temperature was just 10 degrees C. Contrast that with the 19 degrees C from wednesday and add a fresh northwesterly wind and cloud cover and you realize fast that we are only late March.
I decided to try the Mollendaal parcours I devised last winter. The trails were dry and fast but also bonehard on the Hilset with no suspension except for the inherent qualities of its titanium frame and what little comfort Hutchinson Python Air tyres inflated to 2.5 bars have to offer.
But the steering was crisp and my form was good enough to keep the pace high notwithstanding the lack of comfort. The efficiency was also influenced by the lack of traction on the climbs. But at least the loud clinging sound was gone. Yesterday I tightened the Mavic Crossmax wheels' bearings.

The ride went well and when I came out of the forest near the end I was glad I did not have the wind in my face. The forecast calls for a little rain tomorrow and the colder  - normal - temperatures will remain for the next couple of days.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 27K and 325 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h20min

2254/23115

30-03-2012, 19:46 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

The dry warm weather keeps on going so as soon as I got home from work I was on my bike and aout and about riding again to Sint Agatha Rode and the entry into the Overijse trails. The Green and Blue were my tracks of choice today and soon I was in Terlanen grinding the gears on the Moskesstraat. The bike was still making a lot of noise and I began to suspect it coming from my 1999 Mavic Crossmax rear wheel. I was to be proven right when I grabbed the wheel and moved it from left to right. Bingo, the same kind of sounds and some play on the bearings. Once you know where a noise is originating from it doesn't seem to bother anymore. I made good speed and enjoyed the dry trails, the sunny warm evening and the bike that was zooming along under me, from time to time making a lot of noise. When I came into Terlanen I stopped to tale some pictures of the big Bilande farm. Now privately owned.

28-03-2012, 20:22 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Another beautiful sunny day and when I got home from work I decided to ride out on the Hilset BBW. I rode through Meerdael forest towards SInt Agatha Rode where I picked in on the Red Overijse Bloso. This is the toughest of the 3 Bloso routes and incorporates a fair bit of climbs. Before long I was grinding though the gears on one of the steep uphills. The bike is making some cling and clang noises that seem to be originating from the bottom bracket area. Still, when I stop pedalling it keeps making the same noises. I have checked all the usual screws but to no avail. Anyway, on with the ride. I found out today that the Hutchinson Python also has some disadvantages. During hard braking in the downhills it tends not to offer a lot of stopping power. This may be due to the lack of big knobs. On one particular downhill, the steppy one at the end of the Losweg out of Ottenburg, I really had to take care because the lack of suspension doesn't give one a lot of margin for error.
But before long I was grinding up the hill again, accompanied by the now familiar noises of my bike. Before dropping down into Florival I took some time to eat a Cliff bar , enjoying the sun in my face.

Another couple of hills and I was back at the point where I had injected myself on the Bloso track. From Sint Agatha Rode towards Sint Joris Weert.
Here I had an unfortunate accident involving a young girl. I was riding uphill towards the Kluis when the girl suddenly emerged from behind a car that was slowly riding downhill. I had no time to avoid her, not even time to reach for my brakes. My bike was stopped by my front wheel shafing against the inner legs. She bit back the pain and ran towards the car. The woman driver must have been either her mother or the mother of a friend. I stopped and looked at the woman but there was nothing much I could do. Fortunately I was riding uphill so my speed must have been no more than 10-12kph but still I pity the poor girl.
Riding on towards The Kluis and then along the Paddenpoel on the Denteneerpad. I stopped to look at some weird looking trees and took some pictures.

Riding on towards the Weertse Dreef and for a last loop with a strong uphill section where I really put down the power. Legs felt strong today despite this being the fourth ride in a row. Good workout with some good power sections uphill.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 36.5K and 475 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h43mins

2177/22220

27-03-2012, 20:12 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

A well-aimed day off at work . Another sunny day promised and I was out around 11 AM for a long recovery ride on the Hilset Big Bad Wolf. My aim was to ride towards Eghezee and I chose to do so riding first along the N25 through Hamme Mille and then taking a left on the N91 and further along another left onto the N240 towards Jodoigne. Here I injected myself on the Ravel 2 and followed that towards Eghezee. The wind was blowing noticeably from my left and I imagined I would be bothered by it on the way back. I was to be proven right. In Eghezee I took a right turn onto the N91. In Noville-sur-Mehaigne I took another right to join the Ravel 2 again. A little bit further I rode towards the Ottomont burial mount and stopped to take a couple of pictures.

Further on to the N91 again and then in Geest-Gerompont-Petit-Rosieres I took a left onto the Ravel coming from Perwez. With the wind in my face I rode to catch up with the Ravel 2 again and returned towards Jodoigne. The wind was blowing from my right front end and was bothersome. Even though most of the road was downhill it felt like I was going slightly uphill all the time. In Jodoigne I circled towards the Grand Place to check out the twisted church and capture it with my Galaxy S2.

I decided to check if the castle gates in Dongelberg would be open but once again I was disappointed and had to settle from a snapshot from outside the domain. 3 white dogs were barking as I positioned myself to have a good vintage point for a picture.

Riding back towards the N240 over Lathuy I again tasted the full dryness of the northeasterly wind. I was glad to be able to take a left turn on the N240 but the last stretch over the fields of Beauvechain airport were also difficult and partly against the wind. Once in Hamme Mille I was saved by the presence of Meerdael Forest and could complete my ride relatively calmly.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 82K and 535 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h31mins

2141/21745

26-03-2012, 16:10 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf