While my first plan was to take a days' rest today, the fact that this might very well be the last of the fine "summer" spring days for a while made me decide to ride out anyway. I decided to connect to the trail of the Philippe Van Coningsloo Memorial ride and try following it completely. Picking in on the Wolfshagen riding in the direction of Terlanen I was speeding along in the hot weather with the wind in my back. The PVC went up the Smeysberg, then down into Huldenberg and up again over the Ganspoel towards Duisburg. From Duisburg it dropped into Vossem and then followed the big road towards Leuven for a while until it turned right towards Leefdaal. There it climbed out and rode straight into Neerijse. From Neerijse it then connected to the Wolfshagen again. This was one lap.
When turning off the Tervuursesteenweg I saw a familiar biker standing by the side of the road. I recognized her as Christine Vardaros. One of the friendliest Cyclocross Pro's out there. It had been quite a while since we last met and I am pleased she recognized me too. We rode together for a short while so we could chat up a little about what had happened in the 4 years since we last met. She told me she had also been mountainbiking - racing a mountainbike that is - but she was not too thrilled by the "good brakes" and the "wobbly" suspension bits. Well, compared to a cyclocross bike I believe she is absolutely right when she describes the sensations aboard a mountainbike. I have the same sensation when I switch from my roadbike to my mountainbikes. It takes a little while to get used to the different handling and comfort level. She was on an interval training so our roads split way too soon.
I continued and did the whole PVC lap one more time. Then I returned whence I came, over Sint Joris Weert, the Zoete Waters and Vaalbeek. I had a good ride and a pleasant meeting with someone I hadn't seen in a long time. So in short, I had a good day.

Ride Stats : 67K and 575/590 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h30mins

3961/41830