Big Bad Log

Today I got on my bike to do an easy ride. The sun was out and it was quite warm on the roads. Offroad I could see there were a lot of deep puddles, but the sun was already drying things out fast. Tomorrow the forecast calls for sun as well, which makes riding through the mud a bit more bare-able. I passed by Filip Sport to get me some Windose gels to fuel my muscles during tomorrows' ride. I tried these out during last saturdays ride in Theux and they got me through with flying colors. Lets hope they will do the same tomorrow.

Went to Verviers this morning. I picked up my inscription package and got some goodies as well : a nice Rolini T-Shirt, a Q8 petrol IOU cheque for 5 and a set of mountainbike gloves. So that nearly constitutes the 20 inscription fee. Still I will not ride here tomorrow. To make a long story short, I had already pre-inscribed for the Verviers 45K race when I found out that Chimay had moved their Raid des Sources from August 15th to August 12th. This ride had been on August 15th for as long as I can remember so I was quite chocked to find out I got a luxury problem on August 12th.
Furthermore Chimay sports a new distance of 100K which I would like to try, having done the "classic" 65K over there 2 times already. My choice was further influenced by the amount of rain Verviers got last thursday compared to what the Chimay region had to endure. Verviers got TWICE as much. Another factor is that I don't get the opportunity to ride in the Chimay region that much. While I will probably be in the Theux region again next week.
Of course the Verviers race is only 45K and 1400 heightmeters as compared to the 100K and 1800 heightmeters Chimay offering but I don't mind the extra mileage, on the contrary. I felt from the beginning that Verviers should have offered a medium distance (say 60 to 70K) as well as the short and long distances . Verviers is more technical, hence a lot more dangerous in these wet condition. The reports from people who rode part of the Verviers trail today were talking about slippery and outright dangerous conditions. Lots of rocks and they were wet and slippery. Now from experience I know that Chimay also has a fair share of roots and stuff and they will be wet as well. For Chimay I do have to ride my car for 3 hours as opposed to the 2-hour return trip to Verviers.
It's always sad that you have to make a choice like this - I wish that they would have kept the Chimay ride on the 15th - but thats the way it is and I had to deal with it. The money issue (I "lose" 20 ) doesn't bother me that much, it's not a deciding factor for me. Tomorrow I will have to pay another 12, and this will probably get me another T-shirt and selected Chimay beers (which I don't drink - any takers?) , as well as 5 feed zones.

Ride Stats : 52K and 330 heightmeters in 2h10mins

7053/64770