Getting home quite late from work I rode out around 4.30PM. This meant I had around 30 minutes to complete a lap of my 8K training circuit in the Mollendaalbos before the light in the sky went out.
I had devised a plan to ride 3 big laps consisting of the 8K lap I usually do , and a 7K lap that cuts off a bit from the 8K lap, not passing through Blanden . It connects to the 8K lap at the end of the Alex Vermaelenstraat , just before the first of the steep climbs
So that makes 3 laps of 15K, give or take  a couple of 100 metres. The forest was dryer than it was yesterday and I got a good look at the trails before darkness fell and I had to lighten up my Lupine Tesla. With an average temperature of 8 degrees C it was a lot warmer than yesterday.
There were a lot of noises in the forest, mostly from owls chasing unseen prey. People sometimes ask me if I am not scared to ride in the forest at night. But I don't believe there is anything in there that can hurt me. Sure, there are a lot of noises and with a vivid imagination you can see all kinds of shapes shifting just beyond the beam of light that is projected in front of you.
But the real dangers are elsewhere. I could fall or I could get a flat tyre or a mechanical failure. My light could fail as well. The Lupine is intelligent in that it cuts the intensity of the beam when the battery powers down. I started out on its brightest setting and after it had turned itself down a notch , about one hour and a half after it was lit, I switched it on the lowest setting. This still allows for good speed but I cannot see that far ahead so going downhill fast is a bit of a risk. But by then I have seen all there is to be seen on the trail from previous passages. Branches don't move by themselves and I follow the same line almost automatically.
Still at the end of my last lap I could hear something jam into my rear derailleur. I tried to  remove it by back-pedaling but it seemed like it didn't want to move. When I stopped and felt my way around I noticed the derailler was pointing in the wrong direction, backwards instead of forwards. It must have hit a branch or something. I put it back in the right position and was able to complete the ride.
I need to have it looked at though because it looks like the tension on the lower hinge is gone. It passes all the gears and there is no play. It is an XTR after all , it can take some abuse and this particular one has been in service on this bike for more than 10 years.  
Anyway, the ride was a pleasant one and I will clean the bike tomorrow before taking it to Filip Sport to have the derailleur checked.  

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 47K and 465/525 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h37mins

11953/104025