Hi from Hainaut - Belgian ride report

[Shawn G]

Friends,
A quick update on my move and the riding here. I arrived on June 1st and am still wondering when summer will get here. I've moved into my house, an old farmhouse built in 1735. The kids are still trying to wrap their heads around living in a house that is older than Mount Vernon. Luckily for me, the house was completely rennovated and modernized four years ago. Modern kitchen, plumbing, wiring and heating so I get the best of both worlds, living in a neat old place without the neat old house headaches.

I've had a fair chance to explore the local area by bike, and so far so good. Hainaut province is the poorest part of Belgium (and some say in all of western Europe) due to the collapse of the coal industry here several decades ago, so the roads tend to be pretty poorly maintained. Reminds me a lot of the roads where I grew up in Michigan (lots of cracks, potholes, etc.) but they're not caused by harsh winters here. The main roads tend to be traveled by drivers intent on driving too fast for the conditions, but the farm roads are great. Lightly traveled with beautiful "country" scenery dotted by church steeples and old chateaus every few miles. Cobbled roads are easy to find in this part of Belgium, many are still used daily as farm roads, but man are they a bear to ride on for long. A completely different dynamic than anything cobbled I ever rode on in the US. I can't imagine racing on them like they do in Paris-Roubaix or the Ronde. People are polite to cyclists here, but not overly friendly like they are in some parts of France or Italy I've ridden in. There is much less of a cycling culture in Hainaut than there is up north in Flanders. It's surprising how many more bikes you see once you cross the language border. Lots of recreational cyclists on the roads in the Flemish part of the country and lots more bike commuters too. Its really a part of the daily life there, much less so here.

Some random thoughts about riding here:

- Arm and knee warmers are the greatest pieces of cycling clothing...ever
- Cycling cap is a close 2nd
- Belgian farmers do not believe in chemical fertilizer and I am learning to ride while breathing through my nose vs. my mouth
- Rapha sportwool rocks
- TGV trains are REALLY fast when you see them at full speed from close up
- I love 25mm tires
- I have much less confidence in my carbon steerer tube than I did before I moved over here
- It is hard to believe that the legal speed limit on a single lane (still two-way though) farm track is 90 kph
- priority to the right is insane
- fresh waffles rock
- titanium is the greatest material for bike frame construction...period
- 36 spokes make a lot of sense
- I do not miss riding in the heat...68 degrees may be the perfect cycling temperature
- Rides with lots of short steep climbs followed by short steep descents are over-rated
- When the crops grow too high to allow one to see around a corner or bend, it's time to take a break from cycling and watch the Tour on TV
- Nutella may still be the best food ever, but it is under attack from ham, cheese and butter on a baguette with a glass of Chimay Rouge eaten at a road-side cafe

That's enough for now. I'll post some pics as soon as my computer with the software to download my camera arrives. I hope everyone is having a great and safe summer back in the states.

All the best,
Shawn G

[SteveP]

nice report, excellent opportunity to see something different.
summer was that day 4 weeks ago when it hit 70 degrees and only rained in the afternoon for 3 hours.

what are you doing there?

[Too Tall]

What an interesting report. If I speak for more than one please be so kind to make your reports on a regular basis....a few pics, regional food etc. What you and family are doing is admirable.

[taylorj]

We lived for two seasons racing in Belgium. (My husband raced, I was his "support" person in the races). The second year we lived also in Wallonia so none of my Flemish language skills helped. We were in Mont St. Guibert (near gembloux---wavre, hevillier). It's an interesting area in Belgium. If you can out and do some rides in Namur, it is lovely. We were able to ride to the finish of Fleche Wallone (mur de Huy). Enjoy your time there. Are you working/racing/vacation? Post regular reports. I imagine your French is good.

[Saab2000]

Friends,
I've moved into my house, an old farmhouse built in 1735. The kids are still trying to wrap their heads around living in a house that is older than Mount Vernon.

Try getting married in a church with that dates to 1492, when Switzerland was already 201 years old. :thrasher:

Enjoy riding and living in Europe! If things go according to plan, I'll be joining you back on that side of the pond sooner rather than later. :cheers:

[Shawn G]

Thanks to all for the kind thoughts. I'll do my best to keep the reports coming, definitely with pics when possible.

I am currently serving a term as a temporary bachelor, wife and kids arrive on 24 July, so I'm afraid my exposure to the local cuisine has been pretty limited (with the notable exception of sampling a fair number of Belgian beers). I expect the dining out will pick up when the family arrives (if I can afford it with the brutal exchage rate, today it is 1 Euro = $1.61, yikes!). I can report that the Belgians make a damn fine steak and frites though and the mussels are all they are cracked up to be. One thing I am pleased with is the array of options here. Lots of ethnic (Italian, Greek, Indian, Thai, etc.) close by in addition to traditional Belgian/French. A pleasant surprise and a welcome one after the usual Appleby's, Chilli's, etc. back in suburbia.

For those who are unaware (I used to post as Moosedryvr at the Serotta Forum), I am currently beginning a three year assignment (Air Force) in Belgium and will be flying for the NATO commander and other gov't VIPs in Europe. It is a sweet gig and I am lucky to have it. There are few ways I can think of that are a better way to make a living. There won't be much detail about my travels with work due to security concerns, etc. but I attach the pic below as an example of what a very good day at the office is like!

Thanks again for your interest, and thanks to Too Tall and the crew for running the site!!

A bientot,

Shawn G

[frenk]

My task in the army 3 weeks/year is to watch those exact planes (Swiss FA/18 and the other medieval stuff like Tigers and Mirages) and report them with a super high-tech 10-digits coding machine from year '82.

You can bet I would gladly switch tasks :hahaha: