Big Bad Log

Today I wanted to do something in and around Meerdael Forest and riding the Zoenk TT seemed to be a good option. Thanks to my friend Roger I had the GPS track of this ride so I only had to follow that. I started my lap at the English Cemetery at the edge of Heverlee Forest. The first couple of kilometers were rather easy, riding into the Meerdael Forest and slowly making my way towards Hamme Mille and Nethen. In Nethen things got a bit more hilly with initially a descent along a steep singletrack, then a bit of tarmac leading towards a steep climb with a step at the end. A singletrack looping through a stretch of forest and then a steep downhill again into Nethen. After that the trail turns towards Bossut. I was thinking they left out 'quite a bit of hills' here, but I would have to come back to that opinion later. The trail now meandered down into Archennes , or not quite since I had to climb up towards the football field first. A very nice section this one. Descending onto the tarmac road towards Grez only to turn into a cobbly road leading towards the railroad track. Here there was a spot of trouble since the singletrack alongside the railroad track has been broadened into a dirt road. Furthermore, the last section leading towards Gastuche has been blocked by workings. So a little stretch of road following the N250 towards Wavre. But then I turned away from this busy road towards the Bois de Laurensart. Obviously the steep climb near The Tomme could not be skipped. I made it but it cost me some trouble. The trail then leads towards Ottenburg where a very nice section , with some masterfully connected trails, tries to sap even more strenght out of my tiring legs. You have to imagine riding this track in February, when it is usually wet and muddy. Now the trail conditions were magnificent and even then it is not for the meek.

The trail then sets towards Pecrot where the organisers incorporated another killer section. Up and down the slope 2 times, connected by the famous railroad singletrack. Very tough section, again. After that, the trail mellows out a bit into La Malaise and then drops into Pecrot again . A nice loop along the Beaumont area, with another steep climb, this time on tarmac and cobbles, leading towards a little pink chapel. Then a fast descent into Nethen. Along camping La Hetraie and another steep climb up towards Sint Joris Weert. Tricky steps downhill here followed by a steep climb on tarmac. Now the worst has passed. The trail gently loops into Vaalbeek and then into the Heverlee forest before closing the loop at the War Cemetery again. A nice 62K and around 850 heightmeters. My legs were a little tired from yesterday and with the constant climbing and descending of today I was pleased to see the end of the ride. Very satisfying though and a nice track to ride any time of the year.

Ride Stats : 70K and 890/914 heightmeters in 3h55mins
GPS Map:

1999/16965