What a difference a day makes. This morning the sun was out and even though it was a cold night the temperatures were rising when I took the Moots Psychlo-X out for a spin. I got on the trail of the Brabantse Pijl cyclo and followed that to Oud-Heverlee. Here I picked in on the beginning of the track and followed it towards Huldenberg where the first serious obstacle was awaiting me. The Smeysberg. I did not take the big road going up that hill but tooks it's parallel alternative - the Kleinwaverstraat -which is every bit as steep, even steeper at some point - but is a calm road with almost no polluting traffic. Getting over the 20% bits was not easy on the Psychlo-X with its road-cassette. But I managed it and continuing along the Brabantse Pijl track into Huldenberg and then towards Overijse, where the real challenge awaits. The Ijskelderstraat, the Schavei, the Hagaard and the Herstraat. All serious little climbs that the profs will have to tackle for 5 or 6 loops. Me, I was quite pleased with only one loop, those little hills hurt like hell. From the Hertstraat the trail then makes way towards Wavre and Terlanen. I left it near Nethen. Perhaps I will do the complete loop a little later in the season. Today I had enough with this intensive workout and decided to call it a day, returning over Hamme Mille and along the Naamsesteenweg.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 64K and 625 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h33mins

4028/12275

07-04-2013, 14:56 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Time to get the Moots YBB out of the stable. I started out on the Meerdael Bloso routes, starting in Blanden with the Green and working my way towards Nethen were I added a couple of extra climbs to boost up the amount of heightmeters and give my legs a workout. Jumping on the Red I decided to stay inside of the forest and finish off my ride with the Mollendaal trails loop I did a couple of days ago. This is quiet an intense loop with several climbs up and down the backbone of a crest that runs through Mollendaal forest from the east to the west. The loop consists of parallel trails roughly going from the north to the south, and back again. So a lot of small trails and a lot of climbs. I found the tension in my tyres a bit too high - I started out with 2 bars - so I stopped and lowered it a bit. But by the end of the ride I again falt the ride becoming rather harsh. The front fork is rather hard  - a Magura Durin SL - and the back of the YBB has some suspension, but the tyre pressure has to be spot on to give it a great feeling. Also, the Rocket Ron in the back is a little narrow. The trails were bonehard due to the week-long drought and near-freezing temperatures. No mud in sight. I finished the ride with a very satisfactory amount of kilometers and heightmeters. 

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 55K and 725 heightmeters (Garmin) in 2h53mins

When I arrived home I wanted to let my legs recover a bit from the ride so I got on the Tacx Satori for a cooldown session. half an hour of easy spinning.

Ride Stats : 20K in 00h31mins

3965/11650

06-04-2013, 15:23 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today saw overcast weather and still that fierce Northeasterly wind. The temperatures reached a meager 5 degrees C , which is about half of what we should normally get this time of the year. I quickly decided to stay indoors and do a stint on the Tacx Satori on my Hilset. Nice and relaxed for an hour of recovery riding. My legs could use the easier pace after the last two days of mountainbiking.

Ride Stats : 45K in 01h01mins

3890/10925

05-04-2013, 19:04 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Today was the first ride of the KBC MTB club in the new season. There was quite a turnout at the start at the Heverlee Kazerne around 6.30pm. I was to guide the 'faster' group today and soon we were heading with 6 biker guys and 1 biker lady towards the Mollendaal Forest. I chose the same trails I reconnoitered yesterday - with the exception of one loop because the darkness was upon us quicker than anticipated. The group was pretty heterogenous and I could maintain a good pace, ending up with about the same average I had yesterday on my own. The trails were still super even though the wind was still cold and the temperature a measly 5 degrees C on average. We saw 4 roedeer and one buzzard . Near the end of the ride , when I arrived in Blanden, I bid my farewell to the group and left them in capable hands to be guided back to Heverlee.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 33.5K and 400 heightmeters (Garmin) in 1h42mins

3845/10945

04-04-2013, 21:01 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Even though it was still rather cold - 6 degrees C -and there was a mean wind blowing from the East, I could not resist riding out . I started with the Obed and took a succession of parallel trails and paths leading me in a north-south way though most of Mollendaal Forest. The trails were great ; dry and fast and I could maintain a good speed. There were some spots were trees had fallen - or were put - over the trails but I only had to dismount once. I was checking out some of the small tracks near the Mollendaal valley and was pleased to find they were all rideable. I finished early because I had a dental appointment. I am planning to come back to these trails soon though.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 26.5K and 340 heightmeters (Garmin) in 01h22mins

3811/10525

03-04-2013, 18:52 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Even though the sun shone abundantly it was still very cold with a strong wind blowing from the East. I did not want to ride out in those conditions so I settled for the easy ride and stuck to the Tacx Satori. Relaxing after a busy weekend. Low resistance and high revs.

Ride Stats : 48K in 01h06mins

3785/10185

02-04-2013, 20:15 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf

Fourth day in a row that I was to be cycling outside. Fourth day in a row with sun shining but with an unpleasant and cold north-earsterly wind blowing. I started with the Obed through Meerdael Forest until I reached Valduc. Here I cut to the right towards Les Claines and then rode up to Bossut. Down into Grez and before long I was on the Accro Bike trails. I decide to avoid all dangerous, steep and technical stuff , my intimate knowledge of the terrain allowed me to connect the long climbs and before long I was accumulating the heightmeters. The trails were fine, here and there a bit wet because of the snow that was still melting and the sun that made the frost disappear. Longueville, Gistoux, Wavre, I was glad to be out of the wind into some secluded valley and I gradually became more confident in my bike skills again.

Looping back towards Grez Doiceau I was grinding my teeth on the last long climb towards Bercuit. From Grez I rode back to Bossut and then disappeared into Meerdael Forest again. Out of the wind at last. The last couple of K were a joy with relatively flat terrain and dry forest roads. Alongside the Naamsesteenweg for the last loop into Blanden before I arrived home. Very satisfied with this ride.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 58K and 875 heightmeters (Garmin) in 03h09mins

3737/10185

01-04-2013, 14:37 geschreven door Big Bad Wolf