Tag Archives: cycling

2023 outdoors statistics

If you don’t want to simply read the text and see the captivating pictures, they’re right there for you to explore. Choose between my monthly selection of pictures or the daily ones, which are mostly untitled.

It’s mind-blowing that I haven’t contributed a single post to this illustrious platform in the past two whole years! But fear not, my dear audience, for I shall grace you with some information about my fascinating outdoor escapades in the magnificent year of 2023. Get ready to be floored by the brilliance of it all.

Oh boy, what a year it was! I mean, talk about numbers and achievements galore! Get this, I logged a mind-boggling 200,000 km on total rides Strava. Yeah, that’s right, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND! And hold on tight, because I also conquered a jaw-dropping 2 million meters of elevation gain. I practically climbed Mount Everest twice! But wait, there’s more, I made my 100th-century ride during the highly anticipated summer season. 

Oh, and let’s not forget about my thrilling adventure in the world of PostGIS queries. Because, you know, who doesn’t love a good old data hunt?  Turns out, I uncovered a hidden gem of a village in Luxembourg called Dorscheid. How dare it elude my travel radar for so long! And wait for it… I also discovered a mythical section known as Scheerbach. It’s so elusive that its area measures a whopping 11,228 square meters.

All in all, I can proudly say that I’ve conquered the world of numbers and geographical mysteries.

Figures for 2023 provided by Veloviewer:

VeloViewer infographic for 2023

Another year of mediocre cycling accomplishments. Who needs to beat their total distance, max ride distance, max ride elevation, or number of centuries when they can proudly announce that they’ve surpassed their record of elevation gain in the groundbreaking year of 2023? Also,  I managed to avoid getting even a single flat tire while I was out riding, but I replaced three wheels! 

Below, you will find the picture of the activity map near Luxembourg for 2023. 

2023 activity map near Luxembourg

According to wandrer.earth, I got 3201.83 new unique kilometres, and the Squadrats progress is shown below.

Squadrats yard (equivalent to VeloViewer's tiles)
Squadrats yardinho (like VeloViewer's tiles, but 64 times more dense)

PostGIS query to display visited municipalities during 2023

I’ve had the absolute pleasure of gracing all the Luxembourg communes with my presence countless times. And hey, let’s not forget the excitement of venturing across the border to explore all the juicy municipalities on the other side. Well, except for dear old Mont Saint-Martin.

The absolute highlight was on the scorching day of July 11, when the heat was hardly bearable, with scorching heat and suffocating humidity! And of course, to balance things out, we had the pleasure of experiencing the bone-chilling cold on August 31, with a freezing shower that almost turned me into an ice sculpture! I couldn’t help but shiver in pure ecstasy aaaall the way back home.

Oh, just a tiny little thing I managed to accomplish… I mean, it’s not like it’s a big deal or anything, but I casually hopped on my bike one day and conquered all the highest peaks in each of the Benelux countries. Who needs a car or a helicopter when you can pedal your way to the top?

Oh, how I had grand plans to conquer the world with my VeloViewer cluster! But alas, I failed miserably to even reach Saarbrucken, let alone Sarreguemines. As for expanding my biggest square to encompass all of Luxembourg, well, I managed to tick off a few tiny corners, so that’s something, right?

Now, as I ponder the upcoming year, I must confess I haven’t bothered solidifying any goals just yet. I mean, who needs goals when there are countless ideas just waiting to sprout like beautiful flowers in the warm embrace of longer days?

Velosummer 2021 garmin layer

Find the highlighted Vëlosummer 2021 routes on your Garmin device; the layer includes all routes and links. Get the file here (if needed, right click and Save Link As…), and copy velosummer.img to the folder Garmin on your device. Tested on a Garmin Edge 1000 and 1030plus.

If you’re using a recent firmware, make sure that you are using the Classic” map theme (and not high contrast or mountain biking).

After work ride to the furthermost domestic train station 😀😀. 11000 km ✔️

https://www.strava.com/activities/2507179833

I’m still not tired of those Ardennes landscape. Witnessed a stunning sunset near Troine. Documented photos are available on this Twitter thread. 

Very interesting clouds (West view)
Very interesting clouds (West view) (July 5, 2019)

Very interesting clouds (South view)
Very interesting clouds (South view) (July 5, 2019)

Traditional photo stop place near Eischen
Traditional photo stop place near Eischen (July 5, 2019)

Horse in Schweich (Beckerich)
Horse in Schweich (Beckerich) (July 5, 2019)

Friends of Jhangeli
Friends of Jhangeli (July 5, 2019)

Third class train carriage
Third class train carriage (July 5, 2019)

PC 17 North of Redange
PC 17 North of Redange (July 5, 2019)

PC 17 near Koetschette
PC 17 near Koetschette (July 5, 2019)

PC 18 near Rambrouch
PC 18 near Rambrouch (July 5, 2019)

A locality I haven't been to before
A locality I haven’t been to before (July 5, 2019)

Fountain in Bigonville
Fountain in Bigonville (July 5, 2019)

Upper-Sûre Natural Park near Pont-Misère
Upper-Sûre Natural Park near Pont-Misère (July 5, 2019)

Sauer from Pont-Misère
Sauer from Pont-Misère (July 5, 2019)

Sauer valley near Boulaide
Sauer valley near Boulaide (July 5, 2019)

On the edge to Belgium
On the edge to Belgium (July 5, 2019)

Wëntger Gënzentour near Oberwampach
Wëntger Gënzentour near Oberwampach (July 5, 2019)

Sunset on the Belgium border near Hinterhasselt
Sunset on the Belgium border near Hinterhasselt (July 5, 2019)

Sunset colours near Troine
Sunset colours near Troine (July 5, 2019)

Sky porn after sunset near Troine
Sky porn after sunset near Troine (July 5, 2019)

Troisvierges train station
Troisvierges train station (July 5, 2019): Commuted from Mamer to Troisvierges to catch the train back to town

Caught the last train of the day
Caught the last train of the day (July 5, 2019): If I missed it, I would have to wait until the first one at 2:35 AM

After work bike tour

https://www.strava.com/activities/2499142198

A “traditional” 100+ km loop ride from Luxembourg, but before a reward to this van parked on the cycleway.

GCUM and on the phone
GCUM and on the phone (July 2, 2019)

Bock Casemates and Neumünster Abbey
Bock Casemates and Neumünster Abbey (July 2, 2019)

Bech tunnel
Bech tunnel (July 2, 2019)

PC2's canyon
PC2’s canyon (July 2, 2019)

Sauer river
Sauer river (July 2, 2019)

L 6 road near Wallendorf
L 6 road near Wallendorf (July 2, 2019)

You have been warned
You have been warned (July 2, 2019)

Demolition  of the agricultural center in Mersch
Demolition of the agricultural center in Mersch (July 2, 2019)

June 2019 statistics

VeloViewer Wheel for June 2019

A few other pictures taken during June:

The Eisch river
The Eisch river (June 6, 2019)

Hollenfels castle
Hollenfels castle (June 6, 2019)

Hunnebur waterfall
Hunnebur waterfall (June 6, 2019)

5th U.S. Infantry Division memorial
5th U.S. Infantry Division memorial (June 2, 2019)

The Sûre river
The Sûre river (June 2, 2019)

Accidental meeting with a fox
Accidental meeting with a fox (June 14, 2019)

De-construction
De-construction (June 28, 2019)

The Mamerdal canyon
The Mamerdal canyon (June 5, 2019)

Traditional photo stop near Eischen
Traditional photo stop near Eischen (June 28, 2019)

Wooden bridge in Mullerthal
Wooden bridge in Mullerthal (June 23, 2019)

 

See more pictures on the gallery.

Hot wheels: Cologne to Koblenz under hard sun (☀️🌡️💨)

https://www.strava.com/activities/2493746975

Left with 5 litres of “eau de Cologne” and drank it before arriving at destination so I had to refill on the way. Feeling of freshness when it was only 30 degrees; also the breeze was welcome. Fortunately the cycleway was full of families so it was another reason to take it easy. Lunch break and quick visit of Bonn (saw the HARIBO shop, good that it was closed 🤣). Met several cyclists doing long distance trip and discussed with one who was on his way to the Black Sea.

Refections on Adenauer Weiher, Cologne
Refections on Adenauer Weiher, Cologne (June 30, 2019)

Hohenzollernbrücke, Köln
Hohenzollernbrücke, Köln (June 30, 2019)

At Cologne's cathedral
At Cologne’s cathedral (June 30, 2019)

Rhine beach, Cologne
Rhine beach, Cologne (June 30, 2019)

Temperature
Temperature (June 30, 2019)

Industriestraße, Godorf
Industriestraße, Godorf (June 30, 2019)

Werk Wesseling industry
Werk Wesseling industry (June 30, 2019)

Ludwig Van Beethoven statue in Bonn
Ludwig Van Beethoven statue in Bonn (June 30, 2019)

Meal in Bonn
Meal in Bonn (June 30, 2019)

Sign is full of thematic cycling routes
Sign is full of thematic cycling routes (June 30, 2019)

The Rhine in Mehlem
The Rhine in Mehlem (June 30, 2019)

The Rhine near Remagen
The Rhine near Remagen (June 30, 2019)

A long trip to the Black Sea
A long trip to the Black Sea (June 30, 2019)

Bollwerk, Andernach
Bollwerk, Andernach (June 30, 2019)

The Rhine route near Kaltenengers
The Rhine route near Kaltenengers (June 30, 2019)

The Rhine near Kaltenengers
The Rhine near Kaltenengers (June 30, 2019)

On the way back, I did a stopover in Trier:

Porta Nigra, Trier
Porta Nigra, Trier (June 30, 2019)

Wilhelm-Brücke, Trier
Wilhelm-Brücke, Trier (June 30, 2019)

Alter Moselkran, Trier
Alter Moselkran, Trier (June 30, 2019)

Is it the most expensive per kilometre train journey in Europe?
Is it the most expensive per kilometre train journey in Europe? (June 30, 2019)

Bike in the train
Bike in the train (June 30, 2019)

 

Ëlwen – Monschau – Köln via themed cycle routes (☀️🌡️♨️🌬️)

https://www.strava.com/activities/2491144888

Bike tour on a hot day, even on the summit of the Venn and the Eifel national Park. 65 km on unpaved ways. Several drink/water shopping on the way. Great landscapes. Wasn’t sure if I would make it to Cologne.

Bikes in the train
Bikes in the train (June 29, 2019)

I see bikes
I see bikes (June 29, 2019)

South end of Vennbahn
South end of Vennbahn (June 29, 2019)

Vennbahn near Troisvierges
Vennbahn near Troisvierges (June 29, 2019)

Cycling directions near Troisvierges
Cycling directions near Troisvierges (June 29, 2019)

A short climb near Troisvierges
A short climb near Troisvierges (June 29, 2019)

Vennbahn near Troisvierges
Vennbahn near Troisvierges (June 29, 2019)

Vennbahn near Goedange
Vennbahn near Goedange (June 29, 2019)

Luxembourg/Belgium border on Vennbahn
Luxembourg/Belgium border on Vennbahn (June 29, 2019)

Roadworks on Vennbahn
Roadworks on Vennbahn (June 29, 2019): Diversion map

Just paved segment of Vennbahn
Just paved segment of Vennbahn (June 29, 2019)

The Our river
The Our river (June 29, 2019)

The only part of Vennbahn in Rhineland-Palatinate
The only part of Vennbahn in Rhineland-Palatinate (June 29, 2019)

A swim or a horse ride? Yes!!
A swim or a horse ride? Yes!! (June 29, 2019)

km 100 on Vennbahn
km 100 on Vennbahn (June 29, 2019)

MTB Park map in St. Vith
MTB Park map in St. Vith (June 29, 2019)

3 countries ride event banner
3 countries ride event banner (June 29, 2019)

Vennbahn information board in St. Vith
Vennbahn information board in St. Vith (June 29, 2019)

Vennbahn information board in St. Vith
Vennbahn information board in St. Vith (June 29, 2019)

Cycling distances in St. Vith
Cycling distances in St. Vith (June 29, 2019)

Scooting holiday
Scooting holiday (June 29, 2019)

Old bridge
Old bridge (June 29, 2019)

Picknick and info-TV viewpoint
Picknick and info-TV viewpoint (June 29, 2019)

Vennbahn information board in Bütgenbach
Vennbahn information board in Bütgenbach (June 29, 2019)

RAVeL fork in Bütgenbach
RAVeL fork in Bütgenbach (June 29, 2019)

km 0 on RAVeL
km 0 on RAVeL (June 29, 2019)

Vennbahn near Bütgenbach
Vennbahn near Bütgenbach (June 29, 2019)

Monschau
Monschau (June 29, 2019)

Monschau
Monschau (June 29, 2019)

Monschau
Monschau (June 29, 2019)

Rurtalweg
Rurtalweg (June 29, 2019)

No fishing
No fishing (June 29, 2019)

NSG Rurtal mit den Felsbildungen der Uhusley nature reserve
NSG Rurtal mit den Felsbildungen der Uhusley nature reserve (June 29, 2019)

Nodal cycling network map in Simmerath
Nodal cycling network map in Simmerath (June 29, 2019)

Cycling directions in Simmerath
Cycling directions in Simmerath (June 29, 2019)

Eifel-Höhen-Route information board in Simmerath
Eifel-Höhen-Route information board in Simmerath (June 29, 2019)

Rurtalsperre reservoir
Rurtalsperre reservoir (June 29, 2019)

Boat on Rurtalsperre
Boat on Rurtalsperre (June 29, 2019)

Eifel National Park sign
Eifel National Park sign (June 29, 2019)

Kayak and boats
Kayak and boats (June 29, 2019)

RurUfer-Radweg
RurUfer-Radweg (June 29, 2019)

RurUfer-Radweg
RurUfer-Radweg (June 29, 2019)

Rurtalsperre from RurUfer-Radweg
Rurtalsperre from RurUfer-Radweg (June 29, 2019)

Animation in Zülpich park
Animation in Zülpich park (June 29, 2019)

Cycling directions in Bergerhausen
Cycling directions in Bergerhausen (June 29, 2019)

Burg Bergerhausen
Burg Bergerhausen (June 29, 2019)

Afternoon bike tour (🇱🇺🇫🇷🇩🇪)

https://www.strava.com/activities/2475417016

Warm with a breeze and mobile office on the back. Busy cycleways but empty roads. 102 km in Luxembourg, 11 km in France and 53 km in Germany. When I arrived home, I thought I could just repeat it.

Eagle monument in Dalheim
Eagle monument in Dalheim (June 23, 2019)

Jhangely meorial
Jhangely meorial (June 23, 2019)

Flag
Flag (June 23, 2019)

International border
International border (June 23, 2019)

Cycling route along the Moselle river
Cycling route along the Moselle river (June 23, 2019)

Château des Ducs de Lorraine
Château des Ducs de Lorraine (June 23, 2019)

Schengen Agreement
Schengen Agreement (June 23, 2019)

Vineyards near Palzem
Vineyards near Palzem (June 23, 2019)

Welcome to Rhineland-Palatinate
Welcome to Rhineland-Palatinate (June 23, 2019)

Cycling in three countries
Cycling in three countries (June 23, 2019)

Cycling directions near Ralingen
Cycling directions near Ralingen (June 23, 2019)

The Wine Gate
The Wine Gate (June 23, 2019)

Sauer river
Sauer river (June 23, 2019)

Wooden bridge in Mullerthal
Wooden bridge in Mullerthal (June 23, 2019)

The Mullerthal Canyon on PC 2
The Mullerthal Canyon on PC 2 (June 23, 2019)

Oak processionary caterpillars found in the area
Oak processionary caterpillars found in the area (June 23, 2019)

Flower
Flower (June 23, 2019)

Sky
Sky (June 23, 2019)

Moselle-Saar-Hunsrück-Moselle Tour

https://www.strava.com/activities/2453082002

Route: followed the Mosel-Radweg, Saar-Radweg, Hunsrück-Radweg (which was also shared with Rheinland-Pfalz Radroute and Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg) to Morbach then followed the Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel Radweg to Neumagen-Dhron, went back to the Mosel-Radweg and to Trier from Schweich via Ruwer (because the Mosel-Radweg near Ehrang is not pleasant).

25 km on unpaved tracks; where tracks were all maintained except on some parts of the Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel Radweg where it was quite bumpy.

It was hot and soggy at the beginning, but with the altitude gain and the forest it got cooler. Had (late) lunch in ALDI Hermeskeil and dinner in Trier before catching the train back.

All ways lead to Saarburg
All ways lead to Saarburg (June 15, 2019)

The Saar cycling route
The Saar cycling route (June 15, 2019)

Hunsrück-Radweg near Irsch
Hunsrück-Radweg near Irsch (June 15, 2019)

Train in Reinsfeld
Train in Reinsfeld (June 15, 2019)

Fire bridage experience museum in Hermeskeil
Fire bridage experience museum in Hermeskeil (June 15, 2019)

Hunsrück-Radweg near Hermeskeil
Hunsrück-Radweg near Hermeskeil (June 15, 2019)

Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park (June 15, 2019)

Bad pavement
Bad pavement (June 15, 2019)

In the hills of Hunsrück-Radweg
In the hills of Hunsrück-Radweg (June 15, 2019)

Cycling directions near Neuhütten
Cycling directions near Neuhütten (June 15, 2019)

Trees in Hunsrück-Hochwald
Trees in Hunsrück-Hochwald (June 15, 2019)

Hunsrück-Radweg information board near Hilscheid
Hunsrück-Radweg information board near Hilscheid (June 15, 2019)

Hunsrück-Radweg cycling directions near Erbeskopf
Hunsrück-Radweg cycling directions near Erbeskopf (June 15, 2019)

National park sign
National park sign (June 15, 2019)

Track in Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
Track in Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park (June 15, 2019)

Gravel track on Hunsrück-Radweg near Allenbach
Gravel track on Hunsrück-Radweg near Allenbach (June 15, 2019)

Cycle path
Cycle path (June 15, 2019)

Gutenthal sign
Gutenthal sign (June 15, 2019)

Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg
Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg (June 15, 2019)

Steps on Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg
Steps on Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg (June 15, 2019)

Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg
Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg (June 15, 2019)

Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg
Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel-Radweg (June 15, 2019)

Boar and bear
Boar and bear (June 15, 2019)

Vineyards in Mosel-Radweg
Vineyards in Mosel-Radweg (June 15, 2019)

Vineyards in Mosel-Radweg
Vineyards in Mosel-Radweg (June 15, 2019)

Trier-Ruwer-Hochwald-Saar bike tour

https://www.strava.com/activities/2437775141

Bike tour around Trier on cycling routes. Tough wind during the 50 first km! No wonder why everybody was riding the other direction ;-). Several segments unpaved. Beautiful scenery.

Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg near Schillingen
Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg near Schillingen (June 9, 2019)

Cycing directions near Hentern
Cycing directions near Hentern (June 9, 2019)

Bridge over Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg with a direction to a eat, drink and sleep
Bridge over Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg with a direction to a eat, drink and sleep (June 9, 2019)

Cyclists in Zerf
Cyclists in Zerf (June 9, 2019)

Hunrück-Radweg & Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg information boards in Zerf
Hunrück-Radweg & Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg information boards in Zerf (June 9, 2019)

Ride slowly
Ride slowly (June 9, 2019)

Bike touring
Bike touring (June 9, 2019)

Sprinter
Sprinter (June 9, 2019)

Bike, bench and train
Bike, bench and train (June 9, 2019)

Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg  information board near Kell am See
Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg information board near Kell am See (June 9, 2019)

Vending machine at Biergarten along the cycleway in Reinsfeld
Vending machine at Biergarten along the cycleway in Reinsfeld (June 9, 2019)

Old railway became a cycleway
Old railway became a cycleway (June 9, 2019)

Historic train in Reinsfeld
Historic train in Reinsfeld (June 9, 2019)

Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg information board near Reinsfeld
Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg information board near Reinsfeld (June 9, 2019)

Boule-Platz in Reinsfeld
Boule-Platz in Reinsfeld (June 9, 2019)

Primstal-Radweg entering Saarland
Primstal-Radweg entering Saarland (June 9, 2019)

Zigzag in the valley
Zigzag in the valley (June 9, 2019)

An original bike parking
An original bike parking (June 9, 2019)

Gravel track
Gravel track (June 9, 2019)

Dagstuhl Castle
Dagstuhl Castle (June 9, 2019)

Cycling infrastructure in Wadern
Cycling infrastructure in Wadern (June 9, 2019)

Trees and fields
Trees and fields (June 9, 2019)

The village of Weiskirchen
The village of Weiskirchen (June 9, 2019)

Official cycling route Saarland-Radweg!
Official cycling route Saarland-Radweg! (June 9, 2019)

Saarland-Radweg near Losheim am See
Saarland-Radweg near Losheim am See (June 9, 2019)

Two bikes
Two bikes (June 9, 2019)

Losheim am See Railway Museum
Losheim am See Railway Museum (June 9, 2019)

Mettlach station and factory
Mettlach station and factory (June 9, 2019)

Villeroy & Boch headquarters in Mettlach
Villeroy & Boch headquarters in Mettlach (June 9, 2019)

Along the Saar
Along the Saar (June 9, 2019)

Along the Saar
Along the Saar (June 9, 2019)

Self-service shop
Self-service shop (June 9, 2019)

Cycling directions near Taben-Rodt
Cycling directions near Taben-Rodt (June 9, 2019)

Welcome to Rhineland Palatinate
Welcome to Rhineland Palatinate (June 9, 2019)

Saarburg
Saarburg (June 9, 2019)

Welcome to Irsch
Welcome to Irsch (June 9, 2019)

The Saar in Kanzem
The Saar in Kanzem (June 9, 2019)