'....Belgium is something of a riding haven. It’s a hugely popular destination for cycling enthusiasts and on the whole seems to have more rider-friendly roads than France. Perhaps its popularity stems from the fact it’s so bloody flat, its highest point being an unimposing 694 metres. As far as mountains go, it has nothing compared to its more southern neighbours – except the snow and bitter cold of course. Nevertheless, it still has some extremely challenging climbs.
In fact, Belgium is home to pro-cycling's oldest, and arguably most gruelling one-day Classic, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Situated in the southeastern district of Wallonia, this 250 kilometre-plus race takes riders up and down a series of short, but steep hills and valleys. A bit like Luna Park’s Big Dipper, no sooner do you reach the bottom of one descent you’re climbing hard back up the next. In any case, we came to Belgium with a different agenda. Not to ride the bike so much. It was more about the beer, and of course, Bruges. Everyone has to visit Bruges at least once in their lifetime, but more on that topic later.
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| Mur de Huy 1.3km from Huy. Maximum Gradient: 17% |
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| Koppenberg 0.62km from Melden Max.Gradient: 21.4% |
In fact, Belgium is home to pro-cycling's oldest, and arguably most gruelling one-day Classic, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Situated in the southeastern district of Wallonia, this 250 kilometre-plus race takes riders up and down a series of short, but steep hills and valleys. A bit like Luna Park’s Big Dipper, no sooner do you reach the bottom of one descent you’re climbing hard back up the next. In any case, we came to Belgium with a different agenda. Not to ride the bike so much. It was more about the beer, and of course, Bruges. Everyone has to visit Bruges at least once in their lifetime, but more on that topic later.
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| Roz at the summit of Koppenberg |
I’m sure if I’d attempted the entire ride I would have felt differently, but I was really only here out of curiosity, simply to experience the climb. Being a Sunday, I was one of many riders tackling the 1.7 kilometres of graffiti-covered road. It was a pretty easy climb (with an average of 9.5%), except for two very steep sections of about fifty metres in length. The morning was one of brilliant sunshine and the nearby smell of barbecuing sausages. It doesn’t matter whether you’re puffing your guts out and dripping with sweat, barbecued meat and fried onions still has that alluring smell. I just had no saliva left to salivate. It reminded me all too much of the restaurant on top of Arthurs back home, where having climbed the mountain a few times, we scoff down a pastry or two, or scones with thick dollops of jam and cream. I resisted the temptation this time however, as I had more climbing to do – the Mur de Huy...'
Extract from Lycra, Lattes and the Long way Round
Books by Mark
Krieger:
‘Lycra, Lattes and the Long Way
Round’ is
available on Amazon,
Book
Depository, Barnes
and Noble, Kobo
Books
‘High Spain
Drifter’ is available on Amazon
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and Noble, Booktopia
and other online bookstores.
“The bicycle is the most civilized
conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish.
Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.”
