Beautiful spring weather today, with temperatures above 20 degrees C. So I left work early for a ride on the Litespeed Obed. I picked in on the trail of last sundays' SVK ride. I got the track off the web and decided to see how far I would get before a) it got dark or b) I got tired or c) the Obed would make too much noise in its bottom bracket. It turned out that this was quite a nice ride, the first kilometers through Heverleebos were relatively easy and I could maintain a good pace. But when the track entered Meerdael Forest and came near Sint Joris Weert, things got serious very fast. By now the fine weather and the easy kilometers had warmed me up just fine and I started on a series of climbs and descents that would get me more and more southwards.

The Obed has developed quite a bit of play in its bottom bracket and I decided this would be its last ride until the bearings are changed. A rendez-vous to that effect has been made at Filip Sport for next week. When I was grinding up the steep hills near La Malaise and in Archennes, the noises coming out of that bottom bracket began to get me worried. The play lets the chain rub against the front derailleur cage and you just feel that the crank is not turning round. When I arrived in Bossut with just under 40K on my counters I paused and had a look at the remainder of the track. I was getting tired by now - the fast ride from yesterday was also still in my legs - and with another 35K to go on the loop I decided to call it a day and ride homewards. Into Meerdael Forest , past the Warande Ponds and then along the Prosperdreef. I could not resist making an extra loop though one of the forests' most beautiful little valleys and past the Tomme. Back to the Prosperdreef and I was nearly home, very pleased with the ride.