LANGDORP

For those who have spent any time riding in Flanders, the name Langdorp is usually associated with some of the best mountain biking north of Wallonie. So that means, when it's toertocht time, there are going to be WAY TOO MANY riders on the trails. Such was the case recently when Peter T and I met up in Aarschot for the Langdorp Toertocht.

Peter looking sharp in his new embrocation kit


Its reputation is pretty well deserved; there are plenty of fun pieces of singletrack. And if you didn't know the area, and didn't do an organized ride like this, you'd have a hell of a time figuring out a loop. So we paid our 3.5 euros and clipped in. I was on the singlespeed, fat and out of shape. Peter was on his fancy new niner race bike, pretty much in shape. So there was a disparity there.

But, there were a lot of people. And flemish mountain bikers, especially those who ride in the winter, don't go downhill very well, or very fast. So we weren't able to give'r like we would have normally...give'ner


I've done quite a few tochts now but I'm still constantly amused by what passes for a mountain bike here in Flanders. The Magura HS-33 brake still rules supreme. But whatever. As long as it has two wheels. I've certainly made a fool of myself on the north shore on more than one occasion.


One highlight was my first crash in months. It's almost impossible to crash in northern Belgium. But I was doing something stupid on a steep-ish descent that was all soft sand. Felt good to hit the ground.


Yeah, another good ride. I think we did 40k, and were pretty spent by the end. Fun trails, albeit totally overcrowded. It could be an argument for coming earlier next time? Or just learning the loops on one's own.

A hot room full of sweaty bodies