Last week saw temperatures as high as 19 degrees C but when I rode out this morning it was -2 degrees C and there were light snow flurries hurried along on an icy cold northeasterly wind. I decided to stay in the forest as much as possible and went for the 3 Meerdael BLOSO routes. Starting out on the Green, making my way on to the Blue, then tackling the Red , back on the Blue again and finishing my ride on the remainder of the Green. At first the ride was fast, the forest trails were not too wet and seemed a little frozen over. I opted for an alternative route along the E40 and avoided the small, muddy trails as much as possible. Along the Zoete Waters up to the Chapel of Steenbergen and then up the long climb to the Herculesdreef. Into Sint Joris Weert along the Speelbergstraat and straight up to the forest again following the Polderstraat. A couple of extra climbs in the Kluis area and then an alternative route down to the Savenel Wall. Long climb here and when I arrived on the Walendreef things had become a little muddier. Due to forestry works, passing tractors and jeep had left deep ruts and those ruts were filled with mud and water. On to the crossroads with the Red and then following that route past the edge of the forest and down to the Warande Ponds for an extra loop. Crossing the Naamsesteenweg I decided against the long passage in the fields of Valduc and stayed inside the forest perimeter instead. Picking up on the Red trail again at the eastern edge of the forest. Braving the wind that was blowing from the northeast straight into the forest I made my way to the Mollendaal forest, crossing the Sint Joris Weert straat and once again staying inside the forest instead of following the Red trail to Bierbeek. A loop down and up to the Mollendaal cabin and then I decided to follow the Sint Joris Weert straat to the Naamsesteenweg. Crossing over the bridge and following the Naamsesteenweg until I reached the Walendreef. Following past the Prosperdreef that I came to the crossing with the Grez road where I left the Red trail and continued on the Blue once more. My left hand began to lose its feeling in my middle and ringfinger by now and I hurried along into Vaalbeek and on the Green route for a last loop through Heverleebos until I reached the Sapellenbos where I took a right into Blanden. Despite the cold and the wind I had a good, solid ride. The snow flurries became intenser near the end of the ride, making me more cautious on the tarmac and cobble sections . But all went well and I managed to keep the rubber side down.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 55.5K and 615 heightmeters (Garmin) in 02h57mins

Arriving home I changed into less warm gear for a cooldown/Warmup ride on the Tacx Satori. Cooldown for the leg muscles, but warmup for most of the rest of my body. Especially the aforementioned 2 fingers on my left hand were giving me some pain while they recovered from being numbed by the cold. I managed 40 minutes during which time I was able to keep a good pace on low resistance.

Ride Stats : 29.5K in 00h41mins

3006/7370