Another tuesday, another loop incorporating the Base Loop of the Haasrode TT for 2011. This time I decided to ride it in the other direction, or counterclockwise as it turned out. I have been riding this loop for 3 tuesdays in a row now and I like it very much. It is 38K and incorporates a good mixture of forest, field and single tracks. The weather was great today, with and average temperature of 15 degrees throughout the ride. This made the trails very fast .

But I also feel I'm getting in better shape, slowly but surely. The first time I did this lap, 2 weeks ago , it nearly took me 2h30. Today, as it would turn out, I was back home almost within 2 hours. And I probably would have made it in 2 hours if I didn't take a wrong turn in the fields of Gottechain. Stopping, riding back and turning in the right trail took me just about the minute I lacked to make it 2 hours flat. But obviously the time is secondary to the fun I had doing these trails. In and out of Meerdael Forest, looping to Gottechain and then back over Nodebais and Valduc into the Meerdael Forest again.

There were lots of small white flowers already in bloom and the trees also seemed ready to sprout what will become leaves. The bike performed flawlessly and like I said before, there was not a puddle in sight throughout the entire ride. I felt very satisfied and relaxed when I arrived home, even though the pace had been pretty high, especially near the end of the ride from Haasrode back to Blanden through Meerdael Forest again. 

Ride Stats : 38K and 425/450 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h1min

670/7230