Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: chocjohn9 on 02 October, 2018, 08:03:40 pm

Title: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: chocjohn9 on 02 October, 2018, 08:03:40 pm
Hello.
Want to do PBP but the UK calendar doesn't work?
Want to see two or three countries and experience a couple of different languages, cultures and food all in a 300 or 400km ride?
Did Borders of Belgium and got hooked?
Belgium rides are for you!

London to Brussels on the Eurostar is a piece of cake and/or there are some from Oostende or the far west of Belgium. They are closer than you think  ;D

Here goes -
Zaterdag 10-11-2018 Oudenburg 200 km

Zaterdag 15-12-2018 Assebroek 200 km

Zaterdag 5-1-2019 Wachtebeke 200 km

Samedi 2-2-2019 La Louvière 200 km

Zaterdag 23-2-2019 Herentals 200 km

Samedi 2-3-2019 Duo: Anderlecht & Tournai 200 km

Samedi 9-3-2019 Duo: Mouscron & Oudenburg 200 km

Zondag 10-3-2019 Leuven 200 km

Zaterdag 16-3-2019 Oostende 200 km

Zaterdag 23-3-2019 Tervuren 200 km

Samedi 30-3-2019 Villance 200 km

Samedi 6-4-2019 Tournai 200 km

Zaterdag 6-4-2019 Herentals 300 km

Samedi 13-4-2019 Villance 300 km

Zondag 14-4-2019 Leuven 300 km

Samedi 20-4-2019 Anderlecht 300 km

Maandag 22-4-2019 Bellem 300 km

Samedi 27-4-2019 Antoing 200 km

Zaterdag 27-4-2019 Herentals 400 km

Woensdag 1-5-2019 Oostende 300 km

Vendredi 3-5-2019 Villance 400 km

Zaterdag 4-5-2019 Lier 200 km

Samedi 11-5-2019 Tournai 300 km

Zaterdag 11-5-2019 Oudenburg 400 km

Zaterdag 18-5-2019 Leuven 400 km

Zaterdag 25-5-2019 Lier 300 km

Samedi 25-5-2019 Tournai 400 km

Zaterdag 25-5-2019 Oostende 400 km

Donderdag 30-5-3019 Oosteeklo 300 km

Jeudi 30-5-2019 Villance 600 km

Samedi 1-6-2019 Anderlecht 600 km

Zaterdag 8-6-2019 Oostende 600 km

Maandag 10-6-2019 Vlamertinge 200 km

Zaterdag 15-6-2019 Lier 400 km

Samedi 22-6-2019 Tournai 600 km

Zaterdag 22-6-2019 Groot-Bijgaarden 600 km

Zaterdag 29-6-2019 Lier 600 km

Woensdag 3-7-2018 Herentals 1200 km

Zaterdag 20-7-2019 Oostende 200 km

Zaterdag 27-7-2019 Sint-Truiden 200 km

Zaterdag 3-8-2019 Oudenburg 600 km

Zaterdag 10-8-2019 Oostende 200 km

Dimanche 18-8-2019 Paris - Brest – Paris 1200 km
Lundi 19-8-2019 Paris - Brest - Paris
Mardi 20-8-2019 Paris - Brest - Paris
Mercredi 21-8-2019 Paris - Brest - Paris
Jeudi 22-8-2019 Paris - Brest - Paris

Samedi 7-9-2019 La Louvière 200 km

Zondag 15-9-2019 Oudenburg 200 km

Zaterdag 21-9-2019 Ternat 200 km

Samedi 5-10-2019 Anderlecht 200 km

zaterdag12-10-2019 Assebroek 200 km

zondag 27-10-2019 Leuven 200 km
 

 
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Smeth on 02 October, 2018, 10:24:41 pm
+1 to that. Friendly riders, embarrassingly good English speakers, easy trains from Brussels and don't forget to just sip the 12% dark beer. If its a long one just remember shop and restaurant late opening times are very limited. Carry grub and water. Forget 24hr garages.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: telstarbox on 02 October, 2018, 10:59:57 pm
Interested, assuming we're still allowed to cross the channel from April onwards...
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivan on 03 October, 2018, 11:48:18 am
Carry grub and water.

For water, the cemetery tap trick works here as well though, usually next to the wheelie bins in my experience.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Brad on 03 October, 2018, 01:11:07 pm
Is there a good place to find out more info on the routes etc? I could be tempted by the 400k from Oostende for PBP qualification but their website is just a list of starts and distances from what I can work out.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 03 October, 2018, 01:26:32 pm
Is there a good place to find out more info on the routes etc? I could be tempted by the 400k from Oostende for PBP qualification but their website is just a list of starts and distances from what I can work out.

That data will come out soonish IIRC. Eventually the calendar will link to a page per ride with a list of controls and usually nearer the time a link to a GPX.

The 600 from Groot-Bijgarden is Brussels-Paris-Brussels.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Dave_C on 03 October, 2018, 01:29:55 pm
Carry grub and water.

For water, the cemetery tap trick works here as well though, usually next to the wheelie bins in my experience.

Between Lille and Hoyget nearly every house had an outside tap at the fron of the house, but every one we tried were turned off inside!

The calendar appears to work for me now, at least I can see the rides.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 03 October, 2018, 01:39:09 pm
Carry grub and water.

For water, the cemetery tap trick works here as well though, usually next to the wheelie bins in my experience.

Between Lille and Hoyget nearly every house had an outside tap at the fron of the house, but every one we tried were turned off inside!

The calendar appears to work for me now, at least I can see the rides.

On one of the Dutch rides that went through Belgium, I had to use a tap on the front of a house. I was lucky that the first one I tried was turned on, not all of them are.

Be aware that on some new builds, the outside tap may not be drinking water as some of them use a rainwater harvesting system, found that the hardway.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 03 October, 2018, 01:43:06 pm
The only Ostend brevet I've done (300km) was mostly riding in France. That was a long time ago though.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 03 October, 2018, 01:55:18 pm
The only Ostend brevet I've done (300km) was mostly riding in France. That was a long time ago though.

Seems to be the norm for a lot of the Benelux and Western German brevets to leave their country of origin, in the case of the Maastricht brevets, often in the first 10km... There's a nice 300 from Maastricht that goes all the way to the French border and back.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Brad on 03 October, 2018, 02:12:55 pm
Thanks for the info, I will keep an eye out for more detail.

Many taps we came across on BOB needed some sort of lock value, I assume something like this https://www.bes.co.uk/lockshield-gate-valve-key?ref=gs&photo=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0dHdBRDEARIsAHjZYYDXk68MMyvUKlFbUokKp_cHaL0PwhRVckNC6aMml2Df0LsMHFbriW4aAk8xEALw_wcB
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 03 October, 2018, 02:17:18 pm
Thanks for the info, I will keep an eye out for more detail.

Many taps we came across on BOB needed some sort of lock value, I assume something like this https://www.bes.co.uk/lockshield-gate-valve-key?ref=gs&photo=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0dHdBRDEARIsAHjZYYDXk68MMyvUKlFbUokKp_cHaL0PwhRVckNC6aMml2Df0LsMHFbriW4aAk8xEALw_wcB

Aye, this seems to be quite common in many countries. I found the same in Scandinavia, including many scandi gas stations. You can get keys with 4 of different square ends, that fit most sizes, you can also get them in heavy duty plastic, which is a bit lighter to carry. Mine lives in my bike tool bag on the top tube of the bike.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 03 October, 2018, 09:08:40 pm
The only Ostend brevet I've done (300km) was mostly riding in France. That was a long time ago though.

Seems to be the norm for a lot of the Benelux and Western German brevets to leave their country of origin, in the case of the Maastricht brevets, often in the first 10km... There's a nice 300 from Maastricht that goes all the way to the French border and back.

J

First 10k? You probably mistook the internal Belgian border for the national border ;). On the 300 it was more like 5k after the start.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: mattc on 03 October, 2018, 10:26:57 pm
Zaterdag 29-6-2019 Lier 600 km

Woensdag 3-7-2018 Herentals 1200 km

Zaterdag 20-7-2019 Oostende 200 km
Is that a typo?

(I think I rode it in 2013, so odd-number years seems to make sense ... ? )
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: mmmmartin on 04 October, 2018, 12:37:24 am
About water: just knock on a door and wave an empty water bottle. You will be greeted as a conquering hero and they'll fill the bottle from the tap indoors. Forget the standard UK cycling stance of being a persecuted minority: in Belgium they think you are the bee's knees. It's a different world. And, unlike, say Scotland, there is no language problem.....
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 04 October, 2018, 06:41:23 am
About water: just knock on a door and wave an empty water bottle. You will be greeted as a conquering hero and they'll fill the bottle from the tap indoors. Forget the standard UK cycling stance of being a persecuted minority: in Belgium they think you are the bee's knees. It's a different world. And, unlike, say Scotland, there is no language problem.....

This does not match my experience of cycling in Belgium. I suffer more abuse, and more close passes, in Belgium than anywhere else.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: L CC on 04 October, 2018, 08:36:03 am
About water: just knock on a door and wave an empty water bottle. You will be greeted as a conquering hero and they'll fill the bottle from the tap indoors. Forget the standard UK cycling stance of being a persecuted minority: in Belgium they think you are the bee's knees. It's a different world. And, unlike, say Scotland, there is no language problem.....

This does not match my experience of cycling in Belgium. I suffer more abuse, and more close passes, in Belgium than anywhere else.

J
There speaks a rider who has never ridden in the East Riding. Or Derbyshire.

I wasn't a huge fan of Belgian riding- drivers seem nicer in France. And some of their roads have surfaces.
My only regret in moving Ooop North is how much further / more expensive it is to get to our European neighbours.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 04 October, 2018, 09:04:30 am

This does not match my experience of cycling in Belgium. I suffer more abuse, and more close passes, in Belgium than anywhere else.

J
There speaks a rider who has never ridden in the East Riding. Or Derbyshire.

I wasn't a huge fan of Belgian riding- drivers seem nicer in France. And some of their roads have surfaces.
My only regret in moving Ooop North is how much further / more expensive it is to get to our European neighbours.
[/quote]

No, but I have ridden in London+SE, Ireland (Inc Dublin), Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden.

For abuse from Drivers Belgium comes first, followed by Germany. In terms of cycle law, France is the worst.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 04 October, 2018, 09:15:51 am
My list is Australia, Belgium, Canada, Equador, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, UK and USA. Belgium isn't top of the list for unpleasant drivers (though they aren't the bottom either), by any measure.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Rohnny on 04 October, 2018, 11:10:26 am
Zaterdag 29-6-2019 Lier 600 km

Woensdag 3-7-2018 Herentals 1200 km

Zaterdag 20-7-2019 Oostende 200 km
Is that a typo?

(I think I rode it in 2013, so odd-number years seems to make sense ... ? )
Must be a typo.
The Herentals 1200 is a yearly event.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivan on 04 October, 2018, 11:20:46 am
About water: just knock on a door and wave an empty water bottle. You will be greeted as a conquering hero and they'll fill the bottle from the tap indoors. Forget the standard UK cycling stance of being a persecuted minority: in Belgium they think you are the bee's knees. It's a different world. And, unlike, say Scotland, there is no language problem.....

Even at 3am?
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Bobby on 04 October, 2018, 09:00:23 pm
This does not match my experience of cycling in Belgium. I suffer more abuse, and more close passes, in Belgium than anywhere else.

I’ve only done one Belgium ride, but that 1000km contained (by far) the best bike-car interactions i’ve ever had on the road.  Honestly, it felt like riding on closed roads such was the space given by the drivers.  On one section approaching a give-way to join a more major road, the van on the main road stopped the line of traffic and waved me across! 

There was one section in the south where 3 boy-racer type cars did a near pass at speed, but that was it & they were not as close as a typical pass in Oxfordshire...

So, YMMV , but one day I will be back to ride in Belgium because it was a great experience made up of great riders, amazing car drivers, fantastic food, and wonderful beer!  The occasional section of cobblestone is actually preferable to my local roads that seem unsurfaced in parts!  (Ok, I didn’t like the cobblestones or lack of eating places after dark, but the rest was ace).
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Rohnny on 04 October, 2018, 10:44:58 pm
About water: just knock on a door and wave an empty water bottle. You will be greeted as a conquering hero and they'll fill the bottle from the tap indoors. Forget the standard UK cycling stance of being a persecuted minority: in Belgium they think you are the bee's knees. It's a different world. And, unlike, say Scotland, there is no language problem.....

Even at 3am?

In the "Borders of Belgium"-thread I warned and gave tips about the limited options to find food and water during the first night.
...
indeed there is a huge gap between De Panne and Houyet. There are no 24h petrol stations along the route that I know of. 24h stations are rare in Belgium. There are some along the mayor highways, but unreachable by bike. So my advise is to buy what you need whenever you can. There is a petrol station in De Panne, you cross Ieper (171K) and Roubaix (207K). By morning you arrive in Cerfontaine (340K) where a patrol station and a Carrefour can be good places to buy food and drinks.
Keep in mind that the possibility for shopping in the South of Belgium is scarce. That is why I directed the route via towns like Paliseul (SPAR shop), Bertrix, Neufchateau, ...
But hey, BOB is not club Med  :)

Maybe I don't drink enough (water) while riding but I can do 130K with 2 water bottles. Easy. Even 170K (Ieper - would be my eating stop - to Cerfontaine) shouldn't be a problem.

Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 04 October, 2018, 11:05:00 pm
130km would be 3-4 bidons for me, even at night.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 04 October, 2018, 11:21:18 pm
130km would be 3-4 bidons for me, even at night.

Would be 1-2L for me, depending on temperature. The bottles I use vary between 600ml and 1000ml, so it's hard to quantify in terms of bottles.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 04 October, 2018, 11:25:49 pm
My bidons are 750-800ml each and I'm not interested in using bigger ones.

I reckon it is a bit crap to send folk out for 6-ish hours straight with no opportunity to get water.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Smeth on 05 October, 2018, 08:24:27 am
My bidons are 750-800ml each and I'm not interested in using bigger ones.

I reckon it is a bit crap to send folk out for 6-ish hours straight with no opportunity to get water.


I reckon it is a bit crap to send folk out for 6-ish hours straight with no opportunity to get water.

Great info and advice from Rohnny on BoB. My little group topped up at Roubaix two full bottles each and the 130k September night ride (broken by a kip on a railway platform) didn't dent the water supplies that much. We didn't have to look for taps. At one point opening your mouth resulted  in an ample influx.

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Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Rohnny on 05 October, 2018, 09:12:46 am
My bidons are 750-800ml each and I'm not interested in using bigger ones.

I reckon it is a bit crap to send folk out for 6-ish hours straight with no opportunity to get water.

If I know there is a 130K gap with no or limited possibilities to get water and I want/need to drink more than 2 bottles, I would buy extra water before entering that section. The same with the food supply. I would make sure I have enough to get through each section.

Maybe I need to cancel the 2 manned controls with food and beds so each participant knows he/she has to rely on their own judgement to get water/food/beds.
Or I need to find much more volunteers to run the event so I can set up controls every 50K. And charge 1 euro for every water bottle (because the entry fee for a BRM 1000 is limited at 10 euro by the national organisation. Only extra's may be charged).
As I said before: it is not club med.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 05 October, 2018, 09:21:20 am
At the back of my rackpack I can usually stash a 1.5 liter bottle. Plus 3 0.75l bottles in the bottlecages. 4.25l should be enough for 130k. Even on a hot day. Riding a full 24 hours that would then in total be 12.75l for 24 hours.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 05 October, 2018, 09:21:46 am
You can do whatever you want to do. I still think it is a bit crap.

Some organisers of events I've ridden note on the routesheet that water is available at 'these locations that aren't obvious when riding past' or slightly off-route or the route is adjusted to go past taps or they stash water along the route (noted on the routesheet) or even have a secret control out of a car, with water.

Your national organisation is also a bit crap if it doesn't recognise that longer rides tend to have higher costs. 'One size fits all' is a bit silly at the extremes.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: bairn again on 05 October, 2018, 09:52:50 am
My bidons are 750-800ml each and I'm not interested in using bigger ones.

I reckon it is a bit crap to send folk out for 6-ish hours straight with no opportunity to get water.

If I know there is a 130K gap with no or limited possibilities to get water and I want/need to drink more than 2 bottles, I would buy extra water before entering that section. The same with the food supply. I would make sure I have enough to get through each section.

Maybe I need to cancel the 2 manned controls with food and beds so each participant knows he/she has to rely on their own judgement to get water/food/beds.
Or I need to find much more volunteers to run the event so I can set up controls every 50K. And charge 1 euro for every water bottle (because the entry fee for a BRM 1000 is limited at 10 euro by the national organisation. Only extra's may be charged).
As I said before: it is not club med.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 05 October, 2018, 10:35:16 am

Usefully timed email today, NS, the Dutch railways, have announced that they are installing a water tap in every station. This gives another useful place to top up with water when our for a ride.

I've found that installing OSMand on my phone, and turning on the water tap POI layer, makes it easy to find water taps when out, not all taps are on there, and not all taps on there are working, but it's better than nothing.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 05 October, 2018, 11:32:21 am

Usefully timed email today, NS, the Dutch railways, have announced that they are installing a water tap in every station. This gives another useful place to top up with water when our for a ride.

I've found that installing OSMand on my phone, and turning on the water tap POI layer, makes it easy to find water taps when out, not all taps are on there, and not all taps on there are working, but it's better than nothing.

J

That's also what I was thinking about when the NS announced the new watertaps plan. It'll make overnight cycling a lot easier.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: chocjohn9 on 05 October, 2018, 09:43:40 pm
Checked the original sheet and yes, it's a typo - the list runs from now all the way through 2019. The 1200kms is in 2019. Apologies.

Other stuff -
No need to pre-register. Turn up and pay on the day
200kms €5
300kms €6
400kms €7
600kms €8
1000kms €10

The routes are outlined a few months in advance and the detail - GPS and paper route sheet - put on each page about 3-4 weeks before the day.

I think that's it. You can go back to the water bottle discussion now.

Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Bairdy on 06 October, 2018, 10:04:23 am
I'll be looking into riding a 400 or 600 in Belgium next year.

British cyclists complaining about bad attitudes towards cyclists in Belgium?  ;D
I rode BoB in 2016 and never had a single issue in Belgium, in fact from memory a lot of the route was eerily quiet.
I had one driver get pissed off with me for riding on the road when there was a cycle path I could have used but I'd missed the opportunity to join it. (that was when the route went into Germany for a while).

I don't remember water being such a big issue either. I filled my two bottles and bought a 500ml one when I knew opportunities for water would be scarce (as advised by Rohnny).
It's a brilliant event organised by a team of only three people who put on two sleep controls, two bag drops and provide very good food. Yes it's tough, but the organisation and the advise given by them is brilliant.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: aidan.f on 07 October, 2018, 12:30:44 am
I know how much effort is involved in a 600K with ONE  feed/bag / sleep stop at 330k open for only 12 hours. Two late on in the event is a magnificent volunteer effort. We were fully briefed about facilities.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: giropaul on 07 October, 2018, 07:00:13 am
I'll be looking into riding a 400 or 600 in Belgium next year.

British cyclists complaining about bad attitudes towards cyclists in Belgium?  ;D
I rode BoB in 2016 and never had a single issue in Belgium, in fact from memory a lot of the route was eerily quiet.
I had one driver get pissed off with me for riding on the road when there was a cycle path I could have used but I'd missed the opportunity to join it. (that was when the route went into Germany for

I’ve ridden a fair bit in Belgium, and find it extraordinary how well car and lorry drivers respect cyclists, and give way to them ( which is usually the requirement)

There can be some grumpiness if the cyclist is using the road where there is a cycle path unless you are in a group with ride marshals, and a car with a big red triangle on the roof following.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 06 November, 2018, 06:25:53 pm

Have just booked a bed in a Youth Hostel for the nights either side of the 200 in December. I'm trying for RRtY, and can't make the Dutch 200, so have to have a go at this one.

I'm pondering the 200 in early January, but the closest affordable hotel is 19km away. Making for a 240km day. In January. Not to mention means leaving hotel at 0630 to get to the start in time... If I don't make this ride, then I have to complete the Frank Simons Memorial ride at end of Jan to keep my RRtY going.

Anyone else doing the Belgian winter rides?

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 06 November, 2018, 07:07:52 pm

Have just booked a bed in a Youth Hostel for the nights either side of the 200 in December. I'm trying for RRtY, and can't make the Dutch 200, so have to have a go at this one.

I'm pondering the 200 in early January, but the closest affordable hotel is 19km away. Making for a 240km day. In January. Not to mention means leaving hotel at 0630 to get to the start in time... If I don't make this ride, then I have to complete the Frank Simons Memorial ride at end of Jan to keep my RRtY going.

Anyone else doing the Belgian winter rides?

J

I've done the Wachtebeke events a few times with a start in Ghent. One of the hostels there is very accomodating, I could even make my own breakfast at silly o'clock before riding to the start.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: grams on 06 November, 2018, 09:14:16 pm
Have just booked a bed in a Youth Hostel for the nights either side of the 200 in December.

I was talking to a mate today about doing this. Have you found a bike-friendly hostel?
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 06 November, 2018, 09:36:29 pm
Have just booked a bed in a Youth Hostel for the nights either side of the 200 in December.

I was talking to a mate today about doing this. Have you found a bike-friendly hostel?

For another brevet I stayed at St. Christopher's Inn, they do have a reasonable safe bikestorage (their own bikes are stored there). At another hostel, Charlie Rockets, I could park my bike in a storage room.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: slugbait on 07 November, 2018, 09:13:16 am

[..]
Anyone else doing the Belgian winter rides?


Weather permitting, I am planning to do the 200 in January (maybe combining it with a small cycling holiday since I still need to visit the Westvleteren brewery at some point). But it will be a last moment decision.

There seems to be a reasonably priced B&B, Finis Terrae, just outside Lokeren (approx. 8km from Wachtebeke).
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 07 November, 2018, 09:17:05 pm
Weather permitting, I am planning to do the 200 in January (maybe combining it with a small cycling holiday since I still need to visit the Westvleteren brewery at some point). But it will be a last moment decision.

There seems to be a reasonably priced B&B, Finis Terrae, just outside Lokeren (approx. 8km from Wachtebeke).


Finis Terrae want payment now, which given the weather means I may not make the ride (i.e. snow), is quite a financial risk.

I've booked a twin room at the Ibis Budget in Ghent, it's a 19km ride to the start. It's the cheapest option available, and I can cancel up until midday on the 4th. I've booked it for 2 nights.

It's a twin room, so if there is someone else on here who wants the second bed and doesn't mind sharing with a weird Brit, drop me a message.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: slugbait on 07 November, 2018, 09:25:31 pm
Finis Terrae want payment now, which given the weather means I may not make the ride (i.e. snow), is quite a financial risk.

I've booked a twin room at the Ibis Budget in Ghent, it's a 19km ride to the start. It's the cheapest option available, and I can cancel up until midday on the 4th. I've booked it for 2 nights.

It's a twin room, so if there is someone else on here who wants the second bed and doesn't mind sharing with a weird Brit, drop me a message.

J

Strange, I can book without paying immediately (and cancel for free until December 28).
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 07 November, 2018, 09:34:28 pm
Strange, I can book without paying immediately (and cancel for free until December 28).

I was using Booking.com.

28th is still not close enough to the event to know if the weather is going to really scupper things.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: slugbait on 08 November, 2018, 07:22:37 am

I was using Booking.com.

28th is still not close enough to the event to know if the weather is going to really scupper things.

Also using Booking.com... It appears that they treat people differently. And I've got enough faith in the weather forecast to make a decison on the 28th.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: farfetched on 11 November, 2018, 09:03:17 pm
Yesterday was the 200km BRM from Oudenburg, following the WW I battle front around Ypres and west Flanders. Its a fantastic route past some of the monuments and cemeteries including a stop at the Menin gate. With it being anniversary weekend it was very busy, especially Ypres and tynecot cemetery.

Anyway to cut a long story very short I had mechanical problems and had to cut it short after 70km and a visit to a bike store... My gear is definitely not up to the rigours of the Flemish roads and bike paths. I got back to the arrivee in Oudenburg after about 130km to find another Dutch Randonneur having a beer with the organiser, similar fate to myself, although he had ran out of inner tubes too. I guess that's 2 - 0 to Belgium   :facepalm:

I'll probably be back, apparently the 400km in May next year will follow part of this route and also some of the French Frontline too.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: grams on 21 November, 2018, 11:15:46 pm
Me and a friend are committed to coming on the December 15th ride. Belgium is nice and warm in December, right?
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 24 November, 2018, 08:20:48 am
My work schedule gives me 15 and 16 off, so I'll be there. I'll probably staying at some sort of hostel before and after the ride.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 10 December, 2018, 06:20:56 pm

Weather is looking... Interesting for Saturday. It's gonna be cold, the question is is it going to also be wet, or snowy, or icey, or all of them...

Anyone other than Ivo, Grams, and myself planning to ride?

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: slugbait on 11 December, 2018, 07:30:22 am
Not riding this event, but I am currently studying the weather forecast. My reading is that it will be a cold start, followed by a warm front pushing in (with the usual sleet/rain). Since there is no frost in the ground, it seems unlikely that it is going to get very slippery. (As I'm located a bit further north and east, I'm still hoping for a dry saturday.)

The route for the audax on January 5 has been published (see https://winterrandonneur.weebly.com/de-pannenkoek.html (https://winterrandonneur.weebly.com/de-pannenkoek.html)). It looks like a nice ride through the Dutch part of Flanders. I'm curious since it is the only part of the Netherlands that I've never visited. It is a bit confusing though that the GPX-file seems to run in a different direction than the route sheet...
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: paulk on 11 December, 2018, 12:56:20 pm
I'm planning to ride this one. Have to leave home quite early, it is about 2 hours driving to the start. The weatherforecast looks ok, maybe a bit chilly.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 12 December, 2018, 10:54:20 am
Indeed a bit chilly. It'll be my first ride in proper winter gear this winter
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: grams on 12 December, 2018, 01:34:42 pm
Should we be worried about ice?
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 12 December, 2018, 08:04:42 pm
Should we be worried about ice?

This is something I'm wondering myself. Forecast suggests no rain in Bruge in the day before the ride, and along the ride. Which suggests that ice shouldn't be a problem. However, it doesn't take an awful lot of ice to ruin one's day.

My winter tyres (Conti Top Contact Winter, see thread in knowledge for info), have arrived, but I'm still unsure if I will put them on for the weekend or not. Cycling home from work today my fingers were cold, I think It may be time to dig out the proper winter mitts...

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 12 December, 2018, 10:07:12 pm
Should we be worried about ice?

Indeed no rain forcasted for the next few days so the roads should be dry when it starts freezing. The winddirection is south-east, which is quite good for this route.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 13 December, 2018, 11:04:36 pm
Should we be worried about ice?

yr.no and Buienradar don't quite agree on their forecast. The Dutch have snow arriving no earlier than ~2300. The Norwegians say it will start to precipitate around ~1900. Two prolongued periods of sub zero tonight, and tomorrow night (I don't have data for before that to hand), means the ground may be cold enough for what falls out the sky to freeze. Maybe. I don't know what sort of roads the route is taking, or how well salted they are. I think this puts conditions in the territory of "interesting". Faster riders should be fine. Lantern Rouge may have to keep spare underwear handy...

Grams, do introduce yourself at the start. I'm the Brit with the red Genesis bike covered in bike packing luggage and tri bars.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 14 December, 2018, 07:15:41 am
Should we be worried about ice?

yr.no and Buienradar don't quite agree on their forecast. The Dutch have snow arriving no earlier than ~2300. The Norwegians say it will start to precipitate around ~1900. Two prolongued periods of sub zero tonight, and tomorrow night (I don't have data for before that to hand), means the ground may be cold enough for what falls out the sky to freeze. Maybe. I don't know what sort of roads the route is taking, or how well salted they are. I think this puts conditions in the territory of "interesting". Faster riders should be fine. Lantern Rouge may have to keep spare underwear handy...

Grams, do introduce yourself at the start. I'm the Brit with the red Genesis bike covered in bike packing luggage and tri bars.

J

Weeronline predicts snow in the early evening, later turning into rain. Temperatures keep on rising throughout saturday/sundaynight.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: grams on 15 December, 2018, 08:32:28 am
Big cockup. Too much faffing getting ready, arrived at start at 8:10. No one there. We’re riding but I don’t think we’re going to do the whole thing.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: grams on 15 December, 2018, 06:12:37 pm
My friend abanadoned after 23 km and rode another 40 km back to the start. I decided coming all the way here and riding such a small portion of the route was silly, so pressed on to the first control but couldn’t see myself finishing and was getting very cold, so rode to Gent for the train back.

Judging by QG’s tweets she must have arrived in Nazareth around the time I was leaving. No idea how that happened. Did you stop somewhere I could have overtaken without seeing you / your bike?
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 15 December, 2018, 10:01:47 pm

Don't think so. But the first control wasn't actually on the route the GPX took, but instead about 100m down a side street. I took a slightly weird route there.

I finished. In time. After crashing on the ice a second time, I decided to find a route solely on gritted main roads. After crashing the 3rd time. I recalibrated on what to consider a main road, and only took roads with a N number. I made it back, in time, via all 3 controls. Battered, bruised, and with my shoes quite literally covered in ice. Now, nearly 2 hours after finishing, I've regained feeling in 9.5 toes. That was type 3 fun...

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: farfetched on 15 December, 2018, 10:28:16 pm
I've just driven from Calais to Eindhoven close to the last 40km of the route, it was raining*, windy and the temp meter in the car said 0c... My wife muttered "bet you're glad you didn't enter that one!" ... For once I agreed with her ;D

* That rain could have been sleet.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 15 December, 2018, 11:02:56 pm
I've just driven from Calais to Eindhoven close to the last 40km of the route, it was raining*, windy and the temp meter in the car said 0c... My wife muttered "bet you're glad you didn't enter that one!" ... For once I agreed with her ;D

* That rain could have been sleet.

I think at various points I got snow, sleet, and rain. But after about 30mins it kinda all got blurry as my glasses kept misting up. My Wahoo registered a low of -6°C. A new PB for cycling...

If anyone sees the big toe in my left foot, please tell it I'd really appreciate if it would respond to communication...

Just rolled over in the hostel bed and found a new bruise. Ow.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 16 December, 2018, 09:42:29 pm
I've just driven from Calais to Eindhoven close to the last 40km of the route, it was raining*, windy and the temp meter in the car said 0c... My wife muttered "bet you're glad you didn't enter that one!" ... For once I agreed with her ;D

* That rain could have been sleet.

It was sleet.
Upon arrivel both my helmet and the helmet of the other two riders in my group were covered in ice. For the last 20k I had limited vision as the right lense of my glasses had frozen over.
Only once I had a minor skid though, managed to correct it. This while we followed the very lany original route.
With the benefit of hindsight the lengthy lunchstop in Kortrijk wasn't a good idea.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: grams on 17 December, 2018, 11:05:52 am
Don't think so. But the first control wasn't actually on the route the GPX took, but instead about 100m down a side street. I took a slightly weird route there.

Going by Strava Flyby I was within maybe a minute of catching up with you at one point, and then I missed you when you were looking for the control in Nazareth.

Well done to everyone who finished.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 18 December, 2018, 10:12:11 pm
Some other reports have arrived on the Bruges 200, prompting a French randonneur on the French forum to write the following: "Un BRM 200 à cette période de l'année dans les Flandres, il n' y a vraiment que les Flandriens pour ne douter de rien! Bravo! car il faut oser affronter les conditions hivernales."
Whereby the honorary title of Flandrien is not limited to those speaking Flemish.

Daniel did a write-up in French: https://danicaurandonneur.blogspot.com/2018/12/brm-200-assebroek-bruges.html?fbclid=IwAR0EnrpGZ6zbXvlgQu9wLg9v7FJFMwl6MV_xMS3nJvJC3kQw9Nv0zooy9Mk

My photo's are available on https://fotoalbum.dds.nl/ivo_m/brm200brugge2018?DDS=n43m6k153kpq3fqtr8u1fnioo6
Antonio uploaded his photo's to https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOt5l3XJ3iIEfrQkttpv51K2wlwLreY--fn2gTPaQnQaDuNNlwJc8G3sFsgLNVEWw?key=SWRTSWxUSVBtTEFuZndWbjVRT1lLMktTTWlHNlln

Neither photo's nor riderports from the fast groups.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 18 December, 2018, 11:08:12 pm
Some other reports have arrived on the Bruges 200, prompting a French randonneur on the French forum to write the following: "Un BRM 200 à cette période de l'année dans les Flandres, il n' y a vraiment que les Flandriens pour ne douter de rien! Bravo! car il faut oser affronter les conditions hivernales."
Whereby the honorary title of Flandrien is not limited to those speaking Flemish.

Daniel did a write-up in French: https://danicaurandonneur.blogspot.com/2018/12/brm-200-assebroek-bruges.html?fbclid=IwAR0EnrpGZ6zbXvlgQu9wLg9v7FJFMwl6MV_xMS3nJvJC3kQw9Nv0zooy9Mk

My photo's are available on https://fotoalbum.dds.nl/ivo_m/brm200brugge2018?DDS=n43m6k153kpq3fqtr8u1fnioo6
Antonio uploaded his photo's to https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOt5l3XJ3iIEfrQkttpv51K2wlwLreY--fn2gTPaQnQaDuNNlwJc8G3sFsgLNVEWw?key=SWRTSWxUSVBtTEFuZndWbjVRT1lLMktTTWlHNlln

Neither photo's nor riderports from the fast groups.

The car in the Ditch in that second album was being pulled out when I went through, the tow truck plus car were blocking the whole road and the cycle lane. Was a sod to get round.

I have no memory of the section in the woods from your photos. The bit with concrete panels in a line of trees. How far from the start was that?

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 19 December, 2018, 07:25:02 am
Some other reports have arrived on the Bruges 200, prompting a French randonneur on the French forum to write the following: "Un BRM 200 à cette période de l'année dans les Flandres, il n' y a vraiment que les Flandriens pour ne douter de rien! Bravo! car il faut oser affronter les conditions hivernales."
Whereby the honorary title of Flandrien is not limited to those speaking Flemish.

Daniel did a write-up in French: https://danicaurandonneur.blogspot.com/2018/12/brm-200-assebroek-bruges.html?fbclid=IwAR0EnrpGZ6zbXvlgQu9wLg9v7FJFMwl6MV_xMS3nJvJC3kQw9Nv0zooy9Mk

My photo's are available on https://fotoalbum.dds.nl/ivo_m/brm200brugge2018?DDS=n43m6k153kpq3fqtr8u1fnioo6
Antonio uploaded his photo's to https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOt5l3XJ3iIEfrQkttpv51K2wlwLreY--fn2gTPaQnQaDuNNlwJc8G3sFsgLNVEWw?key=SWRTSWxUSVBtTEFuZndWbjVRT1lLMktTTWlHNlln

Neither photo's nor riderports from the fast groups.

The car in the Ditch in that second album was being pulled out when I went through, the tow truck plus car were blocking the whole road and the cycle lane. Was a sod to get round.

I have no memory of the section in the woods from your photos. The bit with concrete panels in a line of trees. How far from the start was that?

J

The dragonsteeth was on sunday, on the coastline. Old German defence lines.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 19 December, 2018, 09:22:14 am

The car in the Ditch in that second album was being pulled out when I went through, the tow truck plus car were blocking the whole road and the cycle lane. Was a sod to get round.

I have no memory of the section in the woods from your photos. The bit with concrete panels in a line of trees. How far from the start was that?

J

The dragonsteeth was on sunday, on the coastline. Old German defence lines.
[/quote]

No, this bit:

https://fotoalbum.dds.nl/ivo_m/brm200brugge2018/IMGP9894.jpg

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 19 December, 2018, 06:46:38 pm

The car in the Ditch in that second album was being pulled out when I went through, the tow truck plus car were blocking the whole road and the cycle lane. Was a sod to get round.

I have no memory of the section in the woods from your photos. The bit with concrete panels in a line of trees. How far from the start was that?

J

The dragonsteeth was on sunday, on the coastline. Old German defence lines.

No, this bit:

https://fotoalbum.dds.nl/ivo_m/brm200brugge2018/IMGP9894.jpg

J
[/quote]

That must have been about 30-40km into the ride, a while before the ferry.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 03 January, 2019, 01:57:38 pm

My physio has persuaded me that riding this weekend would be Bad™. So I'm gonna have to cancel :(

Hopefully I'll be fit for the Bunnik ride in 3 weeks. Just hoping it's not an ice slick.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: slugbait on 03 January, 2019, 04:41:56 pm

My physio has persuaded me that riding this weekend would be Bad™. So I'm gonna have to cancel :(


That's why you should never go to a doctor. They'll only tell you things you don't want to hear ;)

I'm slowly on my way to Wachtebeke, turning it into a short cycle holiday. Today I cycled from 's Hertogenbosch to Bergen op Zoom (a surprisingly pleasant ride for the time of year). Tomorrow I'll do the rest. That should be an interesting ride through the harbor of Antwerp.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: mattc on 03 January, 2019, 07:15:06 pm
Do any of you folks follow Belgian Cyclocross? One of my "to do" list trips is to go and watch some; do any audaxes - in particular next winter - start near to any races in space/time?
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 03 January, 2019, 07:21:17 pm
Do any of you folks follow Belgian Cyclocross? One of my "to do" list trips is to go and watch some; do any audaxes - in particular next winter - start near to any races in space/time?

Depends how you define "near". Belgium and the Netherlands are a small country, everywhere is basically an hour or 2 from anywhere else. So even if you have an Audax on the Saturday in Flanders, you can easily get to a cyclocross event in Limberg, or anywhere else in time.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: slugbait on 03 January, 2019, 07:58:56 pm
Do any of you folks follow Belgian Cyclocross? One of my "to do" list trips is to go and watch some; do any audaxes - in particular next winter - start near to any races in space/time?

Does it have to be in Belgium? This season in the Netherlands, there is a 200 in Bunnik on the 26th of January and a cross in Hoogerheide on the 27th. Hoogerheide is the training ground for the van der Poel clan and close enough to the border with Belgium that all the crazy supporters will show up. Train time between the two places is one and half hour. But in general, as quixoticqeek mentioned, small country so it's never far away.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: mattc on 06 January, 2019, 07:24:23 pm
I have nothing against Dutch CX  :-*  It's just that I know Flanders is the "heartland" - but happy to stray over the border!

This will be something to plan for next winter.

(the other likely option is a more pedestrian tourist trip - in which case I have more of Netherlands still to see than Flanders ... )
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: farfetched on 06 January, 2019, 07:56:06 pm
First of all you're right... The Flemish events are more enjoyable, but as has been pointed out you won't be disappointed at Hoogerheide or valkenburg in NL which are both just over the border and are usually world cup events with a top class field. At the moment it's a bit dull as vd poel usually wins if he turns up.

When the Belgian /  Dutch Randonneur calender is published just check it against the 'veldrit' calendar at       https://www.veldritkrant.be/kalender    You can usually see which town or location it is.

Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: chocjohn9 on 22 February, 2019, 05:38:12 pm
Is anyone riding Herentals tomorrow?
The road works around the start place seem to be a bit messy, but I plan on being there.
I'll be riding my new blue Thorn Mercury Rohloff  :)
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: Ivo on 22 February, 2019, 06:36:35 pm
The Maastricht event is full for tomorrow, so if anyone hasn't decided yet, there's space in Herentals but not in Maastricht.
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: quixoticgeek on 12 June, 2019, 10:55:33 pm

I was planning to do the Brussels - Paris - Brussels 600 from Groot Bijgarden next weekend (22/23rd), but am not going to make it.

I have a hotel booked for the night before a few hundred metres from the start, as well as a room at the Ibis Budget that is the turn around control, I can cancel them both for free for a few more days, but thought I'd offer them here first. If anyone would like to make use of either or both of these bookings at cost price (I'll post an edit when I get home and check the price), drop me a PM before Sunday Evening. I'll cancel the bookings Monday if noone else wants them.

J
Title: Re: Belgium rides 2019
Post by: chocjohn9 on 14 June, 2019, 08:53:18 am
Brussels - Paris - Brussels 600 from Groot Bijgarden next weekend (22/23rd)

I'll be there. A late but necessary one for PBP.....
Anyone else?