|
Today I wanted to some of the hills I missed out on when choosing for the 108K instead of the 144K during yesterdays' ride. So I set out to Bierbeek where the distance split was and rode towards Opvelp and Beauvechain. I avoided the 3K long cobble section and then rode towards Hamme Mille and Nethen. When I left Hamme Mille the road was blocked by a police man. He made all cars make a turn and also blocked my way. I stopped and asked him why we couldn't continue along this road. His answer was pretty straightforward and non-revealing : "Parce que je suis ici" - "Because I am here". He told me I could make a detour over Les Claines and that was obviously my plan. When I reached the road again I saw the reason he blocked the road. There was a house on fire and the firemen were still working. Hmm, he might just have mentioned that instead of his cryptic answer.
Still, I continued and in Nethen I climbed the Chavee du Wez, a 16% small tarmac road. This went surprisingly good except for the 0.0 on my speedometer. I think I will have to replace the sensors' battery. From Nethen I rode towards Pecrot and then Ottenburg. Descending to Terlanen I decided I did not want to do the 19% Moskesberg so I made a long detour over Tombeek. Back in Terlanen I took a left and tackled the Holstheide. This hill had just received a new layer of asphalt so it rolled pretty well. Into Huldenberg and then the 17% Smeysberg lay before me, grinning and awaiting my efforts. I had to stand up a couple of times but I made the steep hill without difficulties. From the top of the Smeysberg I then rode down into Sint Agatha Rode, and then continued towards Neerijse and following the Sint Jansberg Steenweg I came in Egenhoven. From here I rode towards Heverlee and then to the Expressweg passing next to the Army barracks.
The sun was out intermittently and ther still was a very notice-able wind but conditions were more or less perfect for a long bike-ride. I passed the entrants of the Meerdael Classic a couple of times and from what I could see the trail looks to be much the same as it was last year. So it didn't feel like I was missing out on much, except a 6-hour mountainbike ride.
Bike Stats : 76K and 650/685 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h56mins
5340/52065
|
