Cycling in Belgium, things to see and do?

[JustinF]

Following a successful week of staycation mountain biking in the UK last year, which involved a succession of campsites and trail centres across the country my 13 yr old wants to do something similar this year but road based.
I asked him where he'd like to go and out of the blue he chose Belgium, no idea where he got that from as he's not yet got into the whole classics and cycling culture thing, but well when a gift horse is given who am I to count it's dentures?

I'm looking to bookend the trip with either the Spa 24hr at the beginning of the summer hols or F1 at the end of the summer hols, and a trip to the Ring, so that's the weekends sorted I need to fill the 5 days in between.

Suggestions of places to visit please guys, on the list but in no particular order are Bruges, the Koppenberg, would like to include some educational history so Flanders war sites/memorials would be good.

We'll be using the same drive, camp, ride format as I used this year so routes don't have to string together and we'll not need to carry vast amounts on the bikes, over the 5 days of riding we're looking at 300-400km split into chunks of morning ride to a destination site 30-40km from base, lunch at site or close by with an hour or two off the bike before circling back to base.

[Cagey]

If you're planning on 'doing' The Koppenberg, stop off at Oudenaarde and visit the Tour of Flanders museum. I've not been personally (despite riding Flanders 2 years ago), but have heard plenty of positives from others.

Edit: www.crvv.be

Edited by Cagey on Thursday 5th February 20:41

[CoolC]

This will come in handy, it shows all the cycle routes in Belgium.

fietsrouteplanner.vlaanderen-fietsland.be

Their system is a little different to ours in that each junction is numbered and you ride frof junction to junction rather than follow one numbered route.

Also Zolder race circuit is open to cyclists on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

[scherzkeks]

Wallonia is very good for cycling generally speaking, but signage can be iffy and the road conditions often poor. The Ardennes offer some short but challenging climbs, if you want a break from the flatness. When off the bike, Ghent's city center is fantastic (prefer it to Bruges).

[option click]

Another iconic climb worth doing is the Muur van Geraardsbergen. Short, sharp and cobbled.

[Barchettaman]

swerni said:

Don't it's st.
The cycling infrastructure is poor and the drivers are crap.
You're much better off going to France where they love cyclist or Hollland where the infastructure is amazing.

I lived in Antwerp and Ghent during most of the 2012 autumn, and rode a lot through Belgium when working in Lille in 2007 and 2011.
This was not my experience. Plenty of dedicated cycle lanes - one long memorable ride along a converted tram track west of Antwerp springs to mind - and courteous drivers.
Plus absolutely unbelievably good beer.

[richardxjr]

I WISH my kids, 10 and 15 were so keen.

A week with a road bike ... got to be the Alps. Seriously, a French lad, 13 was putting us all to shame last year, he was riding with his dad and grandpa, fantastic. Long climbs but low gradient in the main, epic descents as reward, anyone can do it.

Stay in Bourg d'Oisans for fantastic atmosphere and cycling heaven really. Loads of 30-50k half days from base.

If you've got room take the mtbs too and have a day of uplifts @ 2Alpes. Good for families, less gnarrcore than Morzine etc.

About 10hrs from Calais. Driving into/under the peaks after Grenoble, knowing you'll be riding some of them, is awesome.


ETA If camping, go to Camping La Cascades, at the very foot of the Alpe D'Huez road.

Edited by richardxjr on Friday 6th February 09:49

[JustinF]

Thanks for the feedback, will have a good look at sites mentioned, the Zolder bit is a bonus!
Alps trip next year Richard, I need to build his confidence and having put some good mileage under his belt in a week and gone up a few short sharp climbs should have him minded to tackle anything, whilst I know how could do some Alps convincing him not so easy

[littleandy0410]

I guess it varies from town to town, but in my experience, cycling in Belgium is fantastic.

I cycled from Brampton, in Cambridgeshire, to Brugge, as part of a local charity ride with some friends last May. The majority of our route was on quiet rural roads, which were no more or less pleasant than the British equivalent, but in towns, there was generally a properly separated cycle path, which was clean and clear of debris, with a good surface. Then at roundabouts, motorists have to give way to the cycle lanes going round the outside of the roundabout.

Brugge is a lovely city, and I would like to go back with my family and explore a bit more. I would also like to visit the Atomium in Brussels. I visited it as a child, and remember it being quite a cool structure. Might appeal to your lad?

[80's Classic]

I can also recommend the Tour of Flanders museum in Oudenarde. There are a number of rides from the museum - all well sign posted. The route map is only about 5 euros. All the big Flanders climbs are nearby. There are showers in the museum too - a couple of Euros.

Never had any probs with traffic or bad roads in the area.

I'll be going there again in August when you can combine the riding with watching the Eneco Tour (now far more fan friendly than the Tour of Flanders).

[julianm]

Found this which might help - http://www.bikebelgium.com/beertourdetails.aspx
Don`t go & visit the lovely Merckx factory:
They`ve moved, as my lad discovered!