MTB Krk – Ridgeline: Obzova – Zminja – Veliki Hlam – Ljubimer – Bag

Country: Croatia
Region: Island Krk
Length: 20 km
Elevation gain: 650 m
Maximum elevation:  569 m
Technical difficulty: 5/5
Download GPS Track: Obzova_Zminja_Veliki Hlam_Ljubimer_Bag_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 13.03.2021
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

Few weeks before, we were riding on Krk, and then I sad that this was the best route you can find on island Krk, now after last ride my recent opinion need serious revision. This ride is better than any route we rode here in term of technical descents, panoramic views and endless singletracks.  We avoided ascent on asphalt road because I came a little bit later from Zagreb and I was visiting friends with my girlfriend for over a weekend, so I wanted to save up some time. Matko left his car in Baška, and I drove us and our bikes on Treskavac and left my car on parking lot. From there we continued on trail that leads to Obzova, Zminj, Veliki Hlam, Ljubimer and Bag. This time I wont describe path because it is similar to previous rides on Krk, you can look there for instructions.

The main difference from last ride from Bratinac is that this time on crossing for Bratinac and Ljubimer we went right following path that goes along old stone wall. We followd path on the left side of wall and even though it is technical demanding you can pedal almost all the way, depending on your physical condition and technical abilities.

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Krk: Obzova – Bratinac-Veliki Hlam – Batomalj

Country: Croatia
Region: Island Krk
Length: 26,2 km
Elevation gain: 808 m
Maximum elevation:  569 m
Technical difficulty: 4/5
Download GPS Track: Krk_Obzova_Bratinac_Batomalj_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 21.02.2021
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

For now, this is my favourite ride on island Krk. Even better than descent from Obzova to Draga Bašćanska.  This time we started from Batomalj. Due to my recent injury, I lost my form, so we avoided ascent on Moon plateau and immediately started to Obzova peak on paved road. Ascent is the same as our last ride on Obzova, but this time we didn’t follow trail that leads to Draga Bašćanska, we continued by trail that goes by the ridge towards to Velika Hlam peak. From there we went by this trail until we reached unpaved road.
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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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