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Riding
up to Houffalize this afternoon to stay there for the long Mountainbike
World Cup weekend. The weather was dry, not too warm but fine
nevertheless. Arriving at the Ol Fosse d'Outh hotel around 4.30 pm I
had ample time to check in and go out for a little ride. A quiet 'mise
en jambes' as the French would call it. Although quiet and easy is not
exactly what one would expect around Houffalize. The World Cup circus
had landed and the first training sessions, both for XC and 4X were
under way. On the road to La Roche the riders dropping down the 4X
track jumped over the tarmac to a finish. I had to walk my bike around
the finishing area to be able to continue my road towards La Roche. The
long climb into Mormont and to the plateau behind it were taken relaxed, on a low gear to save my legs. On the plateau I turned
left towards Nisramont. A downhill took me back to the river Ourthe.
I left
the Nisramont barrage for
another day and continued on the other border of the Ourthe for the
climb back out of its valley. When I reached the little village of
Nisramont I had 18K and already a solid 280 heightmeters on my
counters. So I turned my bike around and continued along the same way I
had come, back towards Houffalize. The 4X had finished and I only
encountered some XC riders, taking an easy training session on the
road, some alone, some in groups of up to 20 bikers. Back I the hotel I
changed my bikes' wheels for the knobby kind, since I am planning an
offroad ride tomorrow. I will try to combine 2 of the marked
routes.This little report was typed on the Ol'Fosse d'Outh rent-a-pc
internet connection. Not sure if I will be able to use it again
tomorrow. This evening all is pretty quiet here but I'm guessing it
will become more hectic by tomorrow. Signing off....
Ride Stats : 37.5K and 475/508 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h45mins
3121/27765
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