MTB Balkan

MTB Psunj: Pakrac – Omanovac – Brezovo polje

Country: Croatia
 Mountain: Psunj, Brezovo polje peak
Length: 41 km
Elevation gain: 1248 m
Maximum elevation:  985 m
Technical difficulty: 3/5
Download GPS Track: MTB Psunj Pakrac Omanovac-Brezovo Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 16.06.2019.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

After Medvednica, Psunj and Brezovo polje peak is place I climbed most often with bike. But now, I can’t remember when was the last time I rode on Brezovo polje. While visiting my parents in Nova Gradiška, I decided to bring my bike to see Brezovo polje. For the first time, start will be from Pakrac. 10 years ago, near Omanovac was famous trail called Konjska staza (Horse trail), but nowdays, this path is jammed, and local bikers advised me not to go there. Even though that trail (Konjska staza) was on my bucket list for a long time, I woudn’t enjoy the ride if I had to carry bike through fallen threes.

So, as it goes, I’ve got contact from a friend of a friend and messaged Santo to guide me through northern part of Psunj. Even though Santo had triathlon that day (had to swim on a race) and had some private obligations, he was kind enough to reschedule and find some time to show me local trails. We were short on time and started from Omanovac ( I drew gpx that starts from Pakrac) and avoided ascent on paved road from Pakrac to Omanovac. Ride to Brezovo polje is combination of unpaved road and singletrack. Along the way you can see old threes, woodcutters do not enter this area because surrounding is mined.

(more…)

Continue ReadingMTB Psunj: Pakrac – Omanovac – Brezovo polje

MTB Krk Baška – Obzova

Country: Croatia
Region: Island Krk/Obzova peak
Length: 32,5 km
Elevation gain: 980 m
Maximum elevation:  569 m
Technical difficulty: 4/5
Download GPS Track: Krk Obzova Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 02.03.2019.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

Obzova is the highest peak on island Krk and the trail that leads to the peak is one of the most interesting I rode in last few years. Route starts near beach in Baška. Baška is resort town situated on southern part of island and is famous for its old town, churches and long beautiful beach which is sadly overcrowded during summer.  We didn’t have such problems because we decided to visit Baška in March.
As I said, our route starts near beach and follows paved road to the graveyard. Paved road ends there, and starts carrigeway that leads through pine forest to the famous Moon plateau which offers impressive landscapes made of karst and stone deserts which look like moon surface. There is mtb race (4islands) that is held on this island, and big part of the race is similar to this route, but the race then goes to Punat, and this route continues to Obzova, and then descends back to Baška. Ride is not suitable for hardtail bike.

This was my first serious ride on the new bike, and first real test, so I was a little bit impatient to see how will the bike respond. Even though 130 mm suspension fork worked well, 150 mm or more would be better.

(more…)

Continue ReadingMTB Krk Baška – Obzova

MTB Medvednica Leustek – 9

Country: Croatia
Mountain: Medvednica
Length: 35 km
Elevation gain: 880 m
Maximum elevation:  1010 m
Technical difficulty: 2/5
Download GPS Track: MTB Medvednica Leustek – 9_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 19.02.2019.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

Leustek trail is very popular MTB uphill access path to peak Sljeme. It is also very popular hiking path so it’s forbidden to ride this trail downhill. There is a tacit agreement between hikers and mountain bikers not to ride downhill this path, so it is very important for everyone who read this text to follow this simple rule. Trail number 9  that starts at Risnjak hut and ends in Mikulići is also very popular with hikers, so if you really want to enjoy, avoid riding this trail downhill during weekends. There are many downhill trails on Medvednica, so you can choose another downhill path.

Leustek – 9 circular route was mine favorite route last few years. But now, because of very high traffic, and because woodcutters massacred singletrack parts on trail 9 I use those trails mostly for uphill.

(more…)

Continue ReadingMTB Medvednica Leustek – 9