Today looked like a perfect day for a longer offroad ride. Since temperatures will rise tomorrow and wednesday might see thunderstorms, today was the day. I took the Moots out for a spin around the O2 Bikers 'taalgrens' roadbook. Having ridden this before I knew what I wanted to do. Ride the beginning through Meerdael Forest and Nethen, then in Pietrebais decide whether I should ride further or not, cut through to the returning track and pick it up again in the neighborhood of the Ferme de Wahenge.
I wore a Troy Lee Design Moto enduro trousers over my 3/4th Assos jerseys to keep the horseflies away. This enduro trouser is thicker than normal trousers and is by design very light and airy. I had no troubles with it . It performed like it should and kept all nasties away from my upper legs.
Even though I left at 8.30AM by the time I reached Pietrebais, some 2 hours later, I begann to feel the heat when I was in the open. And there is a lot of open in this ride. The start is nice and cool in the forest, but then it alternates through light and shade in the Nethen fields and hollow roads. A long patch in the fields connecting to Pietrebais where I took a little break in front of the church.

I decided to follow the track to where it crosses the N91 near Happeau. From there I made my way towards the N240, crossing it near Melin. I saw some track on my GPS that turned out to be a non-track and I had to cross a field in order to hook up with the rutty track I wanted to avoid. Still, I then reached the ferme de Wahenge and was on my way again for another hour in the open fields. I was glad I saw Meerdael Forest again and quickly road through I to emerge near Haasrode. A last stretch over tarmac brought me home just past noon. Not bad for a ride in these temperatures and I was glad I met my goal for today.

Ride Stats : 65K and 530/590 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h39mins

5474/57535