Heuvelland

In the weekend there can be time to make some longer rides. This day the weather was perfect again to go for some hills. Last time i did to much and rode in crsmps after some climbs, but it seems it helped me being prepared for this run better.
I started easy, not aiming for a good average (25 kmh or more that would be) and passed Weustenrade on one of my main tracks toward the bigger hills along Kasteel Hoensbroek. After 10 km it was warming up to come to Klimmen via the Kerkveldweg and Randsdaal via the Schalenbosweg. The first steeper climb is the Koulenberg up to Walem. After a longer downhill tagging after a Prius that just was not riding fast, i saw that the track was leading me towards the Keutenberg. The famous climb is not long but very steep for a short part, i wasn't up to it last year. After the climb attempt in 2013 i couldn't recover at all from it for the rest of the ride. This year i am feeling good, even passing someone on the way up. The 25 cog is helping keeping more rythm here. Another positive thing i get from riding the aquila with the campagnolo rig.

View from Walem towards Wijlre and Vijlen

I need to cross some gravel to get to a downhill (that would be a good climb one day) back to Valkenburg i did the equal famous Cauberg as next hill. A filled Valkenburg city and some cyclers on the hill in front and behind me makes me feel like being part of a large sporting community. This climb also feels well and i tackle the down of the brakkeberg to gain height again on the geulemerberg. So soon after the Cauberg i guess i can't be that fast up here. Then down again with good views towards Maastricht i cross the cityborder to the north.

By the typical windmill i turn east again with the long climb of the Bronckweg. I don't go fast but up it goes, and at least faster than last time. Via Berg and a small down and up over Keunestraat i ride a quiet street otwards Margraten along klein Welsden. Past and over the long down i reach Gulpen. Now some real climbing again on the Gulperberg from the westside. After a nice picture down on the eastside towards Partij.

View from Gulperberg towards Wijlre and Eys

Here i choose not to tackle the Eyserbosweg, but instead i go for the Kruisberg in Wahlwiller. I can reach the top but it doesn't feel easy anymore. Down in Eys i need to get over the hill to get to Heerlen so i choose the long Eyserweg. It doesn't go fast anymore for a longer time now, but i feel good to do all those climbs without any training.

Downhill towards Heerlen is easy and i try to figure out how to get home to reach 70+ km. then a phonecall from home that we don't have a can of tuna for the homemade pizza, so in my nice cycling outfit in a loaded supermarket is somehow awkward and funny at the same time.
At the last part i get tagged by s schoolboy on a citybike who makes my sprint but he overtakes me with 30+km/h. Not bad but i can talk myself out of it because of cramps in the upper leg. Easy going untill home. what a ride! some nice indexed hills and an ok average. And the lovely Heuvelland to enjoy for hours! Hopefully more of this in 2014.