Destruction of the LummaLoop

First mtb ride in a while today, first solo ride in even longer, first ride on MY lummaloop in a couple months.  A couple consecutive days of dry weather created pretty tasty trail conditions, not too muddy but packed and a little tacky.  Perfect for ripping around on the single speed.

Much to my dismay the tree-clearing work seems to have been turned up to eleven, and there were huge sections of trail or double track that were wiped out by tractors going in and out. 

don't adjust your screen, that's the belgian sky.  no sign of contrast anywhere

I've heard that there are some pretty heavy legal blocks to cutting trees; I've heard stories of stiff tree-cutting fines and I know that after heavy windstorms, property owners get a small window of reprieve to clear "dangerous foliage".  However what's been going on in Lummen for the last year is different, it's systematic clearing.  Furthermore, they seem to be driving army tanks or 18-wheel transport trailers through here, making the trails in many places unrideable, and just plain ugly.

Sign of the times?  I don't know what kind of representation this forest gets, but as one of the only significant stand of trees in the area, it's a shame to see it treated like this, especially considering the amount of recreational use it sees.

Progress, I guess that's what they call it.  So there are some small amendments to my loop now, suffice it to say.  Let's hope they leave well enough alone and let the forest recover.

What you might see on the trail in BE

They have their own style here, you have to respect it.  It's just not like anywhere else.  XC racing rigs are king but you'll see the darndest contraptions...

Yes, this is a pink and purple Giant from perhaps the jurassic period.  Note the matching quilled stem in pink.  Note also that he passed and dropped me.

Why get a riser bar when you can add 20 centimeters of spacers?

I like to call this one the un-riser bar.

Alex and Luc kick my butt

Possibly my last toertocht in Belgium for a while, the Linkhout edition.  A 4-star tocht, so they say.  Linkhout is a division of my town Lummen so I could easily ride the bike there in the morning...the bike that I finished assembling 30 minutes before departure.  Can't make it too easy.

After weeks of crappy weather the belgians were out in force on a reasonably sunny, and not too muddy, sunday.  The trails around Lummen are pretty well known and these tochts are always popular.
Alex was pimped out with new waterproof pants and his 11-euro aldi jacket.
You know it's going to be a good toertocht when they are giving out jager shots at the start!
I learned my lesson on the Lummen tocht - hard, frozen trails and lots of flat sections = no fun on the single speed.  So today I saddled up on the 29er.  Nice big 2.3" tires just to scare away the belgians.
Here Luc adjusts his riding garments.  Despite working at Ridley for 4-5 years, Luc still has one bike - the universal cross bike.  A simple tire change transforms his steed from toertocht destroyer to group road ride attacker.
Halfway point!
Some thirsty belgians out there...
Here are two of them.  Getting some warm and salty soup on a frozen day of riding is pretty deeply satisfying.
Fluorescent green sports drink, anyone?
And afterwards, into the soccer field bar (start/finish of the event) for a cup of soup and maybe something to drink.  All in all, an excellent ride!