Big Bad Log

I had a spot of trouble, some saddle soreness had taken hold, and I decided to stay onroad and see how it would go. The weather was fine when I rode out , around 11am , it was warm but there was quite a bit of wind. I decided to wear an 3/4 Assos Roubaix trousers and also wear a long sleeved jersey and a bodywarmer instead of the thermal vest I wore up till now. I'm glad I decided to don the bodywarmer because the wind was indeed blowing very strong on the higher plateaus and with the sun disappearing more and more during the ride the chill factor made it a lot colder than the 12-13 degrees C it was. In Bierbeek I picked up on the old Ludo Dierckxsens track. Turning clockwise in a big loop towards Beauvechain and La Bruyere I started to feel the wind more and more. The high plateaus between Pietrebais and Sart Risbart had me suffer. I was glad that the twisty road provided from time to time a bit of sidewind, or even wind in the back, because it was also mainly uphill until I reached Gistoux. There I turned to the North and things were looking better wind-wise. I included a little climb into the Rue du Moulin d'Inchebroux, with an 18% section only to make an 180 degree turn at the top, eat a banana and enjoy the overview over Chaumont Gistoux. The track than lead me towards Bonlez where I had to tackle another steep climb leading towards the 'Chemin de Tout-Vent' - whats in a name - and then crosse the Wavre-Perwez road. A quick descent into Dion Le Mont and then back along the N243 for a bit before turning to the right towards Dion Valmont and Doiceau. Archennes and Florival followed and upon riding towards Ottenburg I decided to incorporate a bit of extra climbs. So I rode up the Wijmingenstraat, down the Bergstraat and then continued along the Florivalstraat all the way to Ottenburg. Turning left into the Tommestraat and left again down the Langeheidestraat to reach the Florivalstraat again. I then turned left into the Veeweidestraat and a bit further left again into the Burgemeesterstraat for another climb. It has started to drizzle by now so I decided to make my way over Sint Agatha Rode towards Sint Joris Weert. Here I did again a couple of extra climbs.Up into the Polderstraat, turn left into the Oude Nethense baan and down the Speelbergstraat. Right and upwards in the Hollestraat, left into the Oude Nethensebaan again only to drop down along the Heidestraat towards the Leuvensebaan. A last climb back up along the Kasteelstraat towards the Oude Nethensebaan again and then I followed that down towards the Leuvensebaan again. The drizzle had turned into light rain now so I decided to call it a day and return to Blanden alongside the Zoete Waters. In all a very nice ride, and in view of the forecast rain for tonight and tomorrow at least a certainty. For tomorrow I'm not sure what to do. I would have loved to do the excellent SVK 24e Vriendentocht but with the forecast and the wet offroad conditions I think I will give it a pass. Ultimately I will decide tomorrow morning.

Ride Stats : 76K and 705/689 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h32mins

1688/13840