Due to the mechanical failure on the middle ring on the Hilset BBW , I had to take the Litespeed Obed today. I mounted the road wheels with the 12/25 cassette and the Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tyres and got underway. It had rained this morning so the roads were a little wet at the start of my ride. I rode through Meerdaal Forest along the Weertse Dreef and then made my way through Weert, Nethen, Archennes, Grez and Bonlez towards Chaumont-Gistoux. Here I took the big road to Perwez and along this road I began to feel the first signs of the wind blowing from the northwest. It was in my back now on the high plains and I could enjoy it until I turned left into Maleves. Sainte-Marie and Wastines were next and I turned into the Rue d'Enfer to follow smaller tarmac roads into the field. Bad idea, as it turned out, one of the roads had turned into a real canal, with 10cm water in it and I had no other option but to follow it for the next kilometer or so. I looked on my GPS and saw that I only could turn to the right and then left again to reach Opprebais. Into Opprebais I passed the windmill which has lost one of its arms to the winter storms. I got the wind now full in my face and my speed dropped to a meager 11kph on the long climb into the plains. Luckily I could turn to the right towards Incourt for a little bit of a breather. But in Incourt I turned left and into the wind again for a long haul towards Longueville. I had decided to grin and bear it and in Longueville I rode onwards through Heze and back into Grez. Turning left and I was on my was to Pietrebais. Onwards to La Bruyere and Beauvechain with the wind blowing hard from the left . Opvelp was next and then I turned into the wind again to reach Bierbeek. From here I was more or less sheltered by houses but this also meant that the wind could really play tricks on me by disappearing and the appearing again in full force to try and topple me over. My strenght was now beginning to fade and I was glad to reach Haasrode for the last couple of kilometers into Blanden. It was a good long ride but made very tough by the wind. The Obed performed great, the extra bonus of front suspension meant it was nicer on my neck and shoulder muscles than the BBW. The average temperature was an amazing 8 degrees C. Not bad for this time of the year.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 80K and 650 heightmeters (Garmin) in 3h50mins

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