MTB Balkan

MTB Učka – Vojak – Deda – st.Anton – Kraj

Country: Croatia
 Mountain: Učka
Length: 47,5 km
Elevation gain: 1592 m
Maximum elevation:  1396 m
Technical difficulty: 4/5
Download GPS Track: Ucka_Vojak_Deda_st.Anton_Kraj_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 31.10.2020.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

Last year I went on Mala Učka and rode with Ivan, Gojsi and Hrvoje. We chose one of the easier descents that Učka mountain has to offer. This time I came back with friends. We were accompanied with crew (Matko, Dule and Luka) from Rijeka who shuttled to Poklon. We started from Ika (There is a parking lot behind Konzum market) and from there went uphill on paved road. I was relieved that we pedaled to Vojak by asphalt road because I haven’t rode bike for 3 weeks, and one week had a flu, so I lost my form.  This lost of form cost me later very dear on long descent.

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MTB Lošinj – Balvanida trail

Country: Croatia
Island: Lošinj
Length: 14 km
Elevation gain: 350 m
Maximum elevation:  233 m
Technical difficulty: 4/5
Download GPS Track: Balvanida trail_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 27.06.2020.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

I’ve got this gpx file of Balvanida trail from a my friend Goran. He told me that I’ ll like this trail, but not because of descent. At first, I didn’t understand him, but later, everything was clear.

I parked my car above hotel Aurora. There is a parking lot and I found some space. From there I followed road that leads to start of DH Lošinj cup race. On the way I found some hiking trail that is 95% rideable and more fun than road. Even though it was very hot summer day, the route is short, and not too physically demanding. Ascent part goes on the ridge of the island. After about 6.5 kilometers I arrived on start of Balvanida trail. It is classical karst trail, not too steep. The rocks however are not loose so riding is safer than usual and you can gain speed very easily even though the trail is almoust flat. (watch out on hikers, specially during summer season, so drive carefully)

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MTB Ćićarija – Žbevnica

Country: Croatia
Mountain: Ćićarija/Žbevnica peak
Length: 31 km
Elevation gain: 1238m
Maximum elevation:  1014 m
Technical difficulty: 3/5
Download GPS Track: MTB Ćićarija_Žbevnica_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 22.06.2019.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

Žbevnica is highlighted peak on western side of Ćićarija mountain, and also the last peak in west of Croatia higher than 1000 meters. I visited Ćićarija for the first time in 2016 with my friend Petar who run 100 miles of Istria few times and knows this region very well (and he is from Istria). Even though we cycled then mostly on unpaved road with very few singletrack trails I liked Žbevnica peak because of its long grass and opened sights in all directions. It reminds me on Hahlić in so many ways.
This year I decided to go back to Ćićarija, but I wanted to include more singletrack in the route. I asked local guys for some insights and I’ve got gpx track from Goran who helped me with some advices and gave me few pointers. He warned us that track could be overgrown with vegetation on some parts, and it was, but not enough to change our mind not to ride it.

We rode this track two days after Stol, which is very hard route, the kind of route that you enjoy to ride, and like to remeber it, but also kind of ride that makes you hate your bike for at least two days.

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