The weather was still pretty warm today and it even felt hot, as if the would be a thunderstorm later in the day. I rode out with the Litespeed because I wanted to do an easy mixed ride. Mixed rides - for the uninitiated - are rides where I mix on- and offroad trails. In general, I can go anywhere I want. For that I want a bike with at least front suspension. I had mounted the old XTR wheels I have been using in the winter on the Hilset and left the race cassette on them as well. The Nokian NBX Lites are on the skinny side in their 2.0 format but I didn't plan on doing any serious offroad sections so I left them on. With a 26 tooth small ring in front the race cassette still allows me to climb almost anything at an easy pace. I started out over Ottenburg and Wavre towards Rosieres and then went offroad towards Terlanen. Here I followed the renovated Bergstraat for a while before turning towards Overijse. Downhill in the Hertstraat and a little later I was easing along the bikepath next to the big road to Huldenberg. Following the Ijse for a while I felt a couple of raindrops falling , but nothing to woory about. I climbed over the crest of the Smeysberg and then dropped towards Sint Joris Weert. A small loop bringing me close to the Doode Beemde - which I didn't enter because I suspected it would stll be wet-ish - and then towards the Kouterbos and onwards towards Vaalbeek and Blanden. In all I had a very relaxing ride along some trails I don't frequent too often. And that is exactly the purpose of these mixed rides. Go where I usually don't dare to go when on the Hilset.

Ride Stats : 47K and 445/455 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h13mins

2292/22420