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Today I wanted to do the second part of my secret Meerdael loop. It's a toughie even when conditions are good so I made myself no illusions , this was going to hurt !
I was not disappointed. The trail conditions were rather good on most of the climbs and descents but the storms from last week had broken many trees and thrown a lot of debris on the small trails. I had to dismount a lot, carrying my bike over big trees which blocked the trail and every now and then branches would find their way into the spokes of my wheel, forcing me to a standstill. Also on the level parts mud was a factor, making it difficult to progress. Luckily I have a very light bike and a good eye for the trail, always finding a way to circumvene the muddiest patches. Or at least most of the time.
I was very careful on the downhills because they are steep and with all the branches lying over them, one false move could send me over the handlebars. Still, I rode them all what could not be said about the uphills.
One uphill looked like something had mauled its way through it, leaving it wet , soggy and basically unride-able, at least not in my current condition. I tried and attacked it fiercely and I made it about 3/4 of the way up, but then my strenght went and a few meters further my determination was gone and I ground to a standstill in a heap of leaves and branches . On clutching my rear brake, to stop me from rolling back down in case you were wondering , I felt it went too far to be normal. I looked back and found that the little pin that secures the brakepad was gone, and the brakepad had dropped out. I was lucky it happened just there and I found it almost immediately lying between the leaves .. I had no spare pin with me so I went home, put in a spare pin and rejoined the trail where I left it.
Always going up and down, the strength of my legs was diminishing with every heightmetre. But mountainbiking is not only about physical strength, it is also and perhaps even foremost a mental thing. I *willed* myself up the steep hills. My legs are strong, that is true but do NOT underestimate the power of the mind. Lots of people give up when they see a steep hill, they think 'oh bugger, I'm not gonna make this', and they are already defeated even before they actually start the uphill.
Me, I see every uphill as a challenge, the steeper and more technical it is, the more I rejoice in attacking it and believe you me, the feeling when you actually make such an uphill is pure joy. I had a lot of pure joy moments today.
Very tired now but also very happy that I made this one. I saw 5 roedeer alaong the way, one couple and one group of 3 . I stood still immediately and we were standing there, man and animal, checking each other out, they moving ever so gently away from me, standing still after a few steps, to check me and what my intentions were. I find these moments very rewarding.
Ride Stats : 46K and 795 heightmeters in 3h07mins
597/3995
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