from past experience, there’s no ‘official’ camping but there are a few campsites in the area. It’s a tourist region…

Take note it’s been bloody wet over here recently!

Great to here some more Brits are coming to Belgium to race the marathons. Great events!
No RDHF for me this year but I’m planning on Houffa marathon end August

Houffalize has some lovely trails but it’s a bit out of Liege

Achouffe is also good and you can combine a visit with the brewery there ;-)

Recently rode in Luxembourg & that was also super. Mullerthal, not so far from German border so again a bit of a trip out of Liege area

http://www.filthytrails.be/EN/INDEX/index.php

Worth a play…

I had one for 160K km….
Was a really good car & pleasant to drive (though mine was manual)

depends on what you need of course. There isn’t huge amounts of space but no worse than the a V60 Volvo for example.

Build quality is typical BMW – mine had a hard life (company car – lack of respect from me :oops:) but handled it well

(I think its quite ugly still but I managed to get a much better deal than the equivalent 3 series touring at the time)

ps: even the sports seats aren’t fantastic

Saxon Mill in Warwick is nice, by the river and pretty straightforward from the arts centre

I had heard the same – it used to be harvester or similar horror but was taken over independently I think. Lovely building & very easy access from WAC.

I always liked these things. nice choice.

Feels faster than an MX-5?
pedal on the right is the go button….

prize money & medals is backdated only to October 11 last year>

It is her with the licence so she is the one fined…..

http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/the-uci-announces-disciplinary-commission-decision-the-case-femke-van-den-driessche/?utm_content=buffere3b1a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

So the sentence is announced…..

6 year ban & 18K euro fine (+ UCI legal costs)

where are you driving to in Belgium?
Traffic queues here can be quite ‘challenging’ if you have to cross Brussels or Antwerp
you may wish to factor in some extra time…..
(I commute via 75km of highway & this can take between 35mins – 2 hours depending of time of the day)

Make clear notes – lots of them…..

One important thing is not to try to do peoples work for them, but to make everyone involved be aware of their tasks & deadlines.
(& the sooner you do it the better)

There’s a fine line between keeping people involved & updated rather than hounding them.

Listen lots.

Things that have happened you cannot change. Lessons learnt is a good thing but keep looking forwards as this is the only part you can influence.

Belgium
Home of cycling :-)

I also rode the social version of the PR yesterday. Was fantastic.
Huge amount of foreign riders (Italians getting upset when you pass them too close when they were struggling on the cobbles)

I rode it with my Scale RC900. Seemed perfect except I needed a bigger chainring (1×11).
I’ve never passed so many road bikes before!

small world :) – I used to be the account manager to this OEM from one of the tyre manufacturers. Daren is a top man! greetings to him from Martin…

What year were you doing that role?

Jamie – can I ask the manufacturer? Do you know Darren? (if it’s the manufacturer I’m thinking of) :-)

sorry to say but its already at 34 and growing

Numerous suspect devices being reported around Brussels & also one at the prison in Bruges. Let’s hope they are just people being healthily cautious in reporting things.

@kja78 – same offer as Leffeboy (but no tandem) – I’m just a couple of km away if you are stuck

I work in Zaventem & am a very frequent traveler through this airport. My colleagues & I use it like a bus station due to our work.
So far not heard anything ‘negative’ news about my colleagues & have my fingers crossed.

Brussels is a very mixed up city with some real problem zones. The general political confusion in Belgium (due to the governmental complexity) probably helps these evil people stay off the radar or perhaps even contributes to their radicalization.

not riding it but will wander down with the kids (I live in the area) to enjoy the suffering of others ;)

Not sure if it counts but my bits that contact the ‘unfamiliar’ saddle on my posh bike are rather tender after 130km of off-road over the 2 days.
Lowering myself back onto the saddle on Sunday morning was done rather gently. 8O
Once the chrono started discomfort disappeared again fortunately.

Today is another story though & I guess I’ll be running rather than cycling this evening… :roll:

You’re quite right about using the 70km RVV route for capturing the hills.

If you want to ride north from Oudenaarde then it’s along the schelde jaagdpaad. (Towpath). It’s a normal road alongside the Schelde but closed to cars. There are always folks riding it. From Oudenaarde to Gent is 35km give or take.
Between those towns there isn’t much reason to stop to be honest.
West of Oudenaarde is also rather unexciting….

Perhaps a more pleasant ride would be to Geraardsbergen and to go up the Muur to the chapel?

Feeling kind of ashamed sitting here at home in Belgium….

It is 100% confirmed that there was a bike in her pitbox equipped with an electric motor driving through the crank.

Femke & family are not disputing this. Their only (very weak) defence is that story about it being one of her old bikes that is now the property of one of her training friends & that it was mixed up by accident.
(I don’t think anyone is believing this)

Belgian coach is sooooo angry about the whole case.
It’s gutting because Belgium have had a great champs of course.

Believe me; this girl (regardless of intent or knowledge) is finished here!

The boss from the Belgian cycle organisation (wielerbond) confirmed that UCI has advised that in this instance ‘team’ does not constitute Belgium but her direct entourage.

More rumour based is that they have been monitoring her since Koppenberg cross in November where she put in some very surprising spurts in the women’s elite race.

He is an absolute star

I’ve done lots of rallying / racing / motorbike enduro & moto-X and as a competitor all are heavenly :-)

As a spectator I have a slightly more oddball choice – Formula 1 Stockcar :-0

an online spectacle shop? who is going to do the measuring/fitting of the new glasses? Oh the irony……….

That’s just it…
They didn’t seemingly do anything.
I’m only a specs wearer & not an optician so if I’m overlooking something apologies to those in the trade

The rayban frames that I currently have feel identical to the ‘0ff the shelf’ ones in the shop

My prescription hasn’t changed in I don’t know how long so not sure what service they are providing

Honest question: if I’m over simplifying it tell me….

It’s just not that popular in NL

Here in Belgium yes, but even then it’s not shown in all pubs!

None I would imagine…..

I just use decathlon cheapo
Not a great tragedy when they get lost….

Has reversible tip for Schrader / Presta valves

(And it does exactly what it should unlike some mini pumps I’ve experienced)

Try it?

My director crossed the Lichtenbusch border close by Aachen yesterday afternoon / evening (Belgium into DL) and had around 20min delay. Similar story as French border – slowing down all cars & pulling out ‘random’ cars for checks

Crossed into NL and DE this afternoon and didn’t have to slow from 120kph for either border

Between france & Belg there is some small delay on the highway (coast road or via Lille)…
There are controls where they are slowing down all cars & pulling out ‘random’ vehicles for control
Maybe 30 mins delay at peak times. :(

Not sure on the East of Belgium but I’ll found out later as I’m just heading in that direction.

Writing from Brussels I wouldn’t worry about the terrorist threat any more than you feel worried being in London or any other major EU city….
Doesn’t bother me in the slightest. You have more chance of dying on the Belgian highways – now that does bother me.

Having said all that, I prefer the German Xmas markets (but don’t tell my neighbours) :)

Was a great weekend :)

Super to see VdP also back in action. Looks dangerous….

Sven was marvelous to watch. Seems to have found his sweet spot now the weather has turned to more typical Belgian conditions. It was shocking on the coast yesterday with snow / hail & bitterly cold wind.

He was smart to drop the pace of the penultimate lap by almost 30 secs and recover a bit for the final push in the mud.

Crowd reaction was massive! He was even on the radio this morning talking about his weekend:)

some dutch geezer

That’s little Lars ;-)
his thighs are as wide as they are long :)

why on earth would you question this?

He is the fastest guy out there (just) currently but Kevin Pauwels & Lars van der Haar are both getting wins also. I don’t think Wout gave the EU Champ to Lars based on his post-race reaction ;-)

Indeed it will be great to see Van der Poel back to form shortly. I imagine the 2nd half of the season he will be thrashing all-comers due to the fresher legs having missed the season until now.

I’m still rooting for the old man Nys to win something. I had the feeling the Gavere looked promising for a while :(
It’s far too dry over here in Belgium currently, so I’m hoping for some real mud soon for Nys to use his technical skills.

The led on mine goes red when battery is getting low

Not sure how long it will last once that happens

5.5k isn’t bad for OE tyres in my experience

Choose a good ‘sports-touring’ tyre and you can probably double that if you are gentle.

Eventually the same horrid wear pattern will return but that’s the joy of highway commuting.

I’d remove & refit the wheel they worked on….

Have they tightened it up without sequencing opposing bolts / nuts…

It’s a great drive (IMO)
Once you are used to the RWD any FWD car feels a bit ‘frustrated’ & short on traction on our frequently damp roads.

Focus is razor sharp at higher speeds but when lower speed acceleration is called for it just doesn’t match up to the BMW

Biggest downside to the 1 for me is the size, particularly rear seats & boot but if that’s not a problem then grab one while you can.
It’s probably going to be the last ever small RWD car…. :(

Roc D’Azur was great weather last year

I guess many of the races are now full but some will have places free & of course the riding is great anyway

In addition you get a great free MTB expo :)

Interesting to see

Looks quite narrow & also rather artificial perhaps

Maybe makes for good racing / TV coverage but I do prefer a course with more natural obstacles.