Cycling trip to the Ardennes

Navigate through this beautiful nature

Together with 2 friends, I thought it would be a great idea to go on a cycling trip to the Ardennes. I’ve heard from others that the Ardennes can be quite challenging. Naturally, I wanted to experience it for myself. Since I mainly cycle on flat terrain, it seemed like a huge challenge to find out where my limits lie. I had recruited 2 other friends who, like me, are passionate about cycling and had never made such a trip before.

Preparation is key for a cycling trip to the Ardennes

A good preparation is essential for a cycling trip. You never know what might happen. Before departure, we made a list of essentials that would come in handy during our cycling adventure. Plenty of food for the ride, such as gels, protein bars, and sports drinks. Also, some extra inner tubes and outer tires, and perhaps most importantly: a bottle of whisky for the nerves (highly recommended). Additionally, the cycling clothing needed to be suitable for long distances.

We set off from Amsterdam on Friday afternoon. We had rented a van so we had enough space to take our bikes and gear with us. After a 4-hour drive, we arrived at our B&B in the French part of the Ardennes. A beautiful hilly environment, far from civilization.

The first route

After a good night’s rest, we had mapped out a route of about 60 kilometers so we could immediately hit the road and explore the surroundings. We started our round from Eteignières, a village not far from the Belgian border. What immediately struck me was how quiet the roads were. This was a big difference compared to the Netherlands. A good start, indeed.

After a short descent, our first climb followed on a dirt road (!). At first, we thought we had taken the wrong turn, but it turned out to be the right and only way up. After a few minutes of cycling, we had already drifted apart, each cycling at their own pace uphill. I remember thinking immediately: “how do other cyclists do this?” In hindsight, it turned out to be only about 600 meters, and we all made it to the top in one piece (although that 600 meters felt like 10 kilometers). This climb on rough terrain was a good test, and in retrospect, it was super cool to do.

The rest of the ride went smoothly with a few climbs and descents in a fantastic setting. After a ride of 62 kilometers, we returned to our B&B and it was time for a cold beer and a good meal.

The second round

For Saturday, we decided to go for a (for us) tough ride. We felt ready for a new challenge. We took our bus to drive to our starting point in Belgium, near the town of Couvin. From here, we had planned a route that led us over 3 major hills, each with a gradient of at least 9%, and a significant descent. Our starting point was also our endpoint, so we could easily leave our bus here.

Our tour started almost immediately with a huge descent, 12% and 7 kilometers long. This was my first encounter with such a long and steep descent. It felt very different from the descent of, for example, a Postbank, which I had also tackled before. After about 20 kilometers, the first steep climb of the day began. Over 6 kilometers with an average gradient of 11%. I had agreed with myself to start slowly and keep my heart rate as low as possible. After more than 300 meters, our group had already fallen apart again, and it was every man for himself. Fortunately, we all made it to the top, but exhausted.

The way back

After a short stop at the top, where we treated ourselves to some food, a long descent through the forest began. A beautiful environment, but due to the speed we were going (sometimes over 70 km/h), we had very little time to enjoy it. The road undulated uphill again, and every time I thought I was there, there was another steep section. Yet, I managed to reach the top every time without getting off the bike, and I felt fit enough to continue.

After a long descent through the forests of the Ardennes, we started the last climbs in the route over beautiful smooth cycle paths where we had encountered exactly 1 other cyclist throughout the entire route. Upon returning to our van, we all thought the same thing: “we’ll do this again soon.” We will definitely come back here again. Hope you will enjoy your cycling trip to the Ardennes. Curious to where to find all the different climbs? Check out this link for all climbs in the Ardennes.