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It had been a
while since I combined the Meerdael and Overijse BLOSO routes, so why
not today? Last time I did those I strayed a bit from the routes to a
102k distance and just over a 1030 heightmeters. Today I started out
with the idea of trying to go for an average of 20 kph. The weather was
sunny with overcast patches and even some raindrops. Great for biking !
The first part of the Meerdael routes - I usually start on the Green -
up to Sint Joris Weert went very easy and when I had about 26.5K on th ecounter I took
the short interconnection towards Sint Agatha Rode and the 'Twee Valleien
Route'. Just 30K when I came upon the Overijse trails and some 34K
later I was back in Sint Agatha Rode. Interconnect back to Sint Joris Weert again and continue on the Meerdael Bloso's.
My legs started to feel the
constant succession of mean little hills and my neck muscles were
straining from the jolts I got on the downhills. I took them pretty
fast since the trails were absolutely amazing - dry but not dusty,
moist but not muddy - just ideal for mountain biking. Back on the
Meerdael BLOSO's I stopped to take some water from one of the springs
near the Kluis, the toughest bit of the ride was yet to come - the Blue trail in
Nethen.
Soon I was dropping under the 20kph average mark because the uphills became longer
and the downhills were too short to recuperate or make good any time lost on the uphills. But once I was in Hamme
Mille things started to flatten out a bit and I could stay on the big
ring most of the time, making good the lost time and upping the average
back over 20kph. It cost me a lot of effort though and I had to dig
deep mentally to stay on the track instead of taking a shortcut home.
My ass was starting to hurt too near the end of the ride, making it
increasingly difficult to remain seated. But the body is a wonderful machine, and
with some incentive from the brain it can achieve great things. Near
the end I was well over my projected average but I would be lying if I
said I wasn't pleased to be at the end of the ride. The bike performed
flawlessly, as it has been for almost 6 years now. I only need to get
the ceramic rims on my 2001 Crossmaxxes replaced, the ceramic coating
is going/gone.
Ride Stats : 96K and 970 heightmeters in 4h43mins
6264/57570
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