Last Sunday I did a ride I had been willing to do for a while. My goal was to head north and to follow the Vltava river as much as possible. As always, I planned my ride ahead on Mapy.cz, from Prague centre to Mělník. On Mapy the ride was approximately 96 km but I ended up doing just over 100 km. However, I must be honest and disclose that I added a little loop in Mělník as I was not too tired and I wanted to complete my first ever 3-digit ride on a mountain bike!
So, I started in Prague centre and then it is pretty easy, the cycling route follows the river up to the zoo and then further up north towards Kralupy nad Vltavou (red marked trail). In Kralupy nad Vltavou I took the bridge to get to the other side of the river to keep following the red marked trail. Just after Kralupy nad Vltavou the trail is very close to the river and it was very nice. Then, after a few kilometres, the path gets away from the river to get into the forest. The first part after this left turn is not doable on the bike. The climb is too steep and the trail too bad to cycle it. I had to carry my bike on my shoulder but I do not mind doing so and it is only for maybe 200 metres. Quite steep though! Then, again, it is easy to just follow the red marked trail towards Říp Mountain or Říp Hill. I guess it is more a hill than a mountain!
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| My new favorite energy balls! I will post the recipe soon. |
The ride towards Říp Mountain was very nice. There were some portions on the road but not many and most of the ride was actually across fields. The weather was sunny but not too hot. Birds were singing and it was very enjoyable. When I got to the Říp Mountain I wanted to get to the top to be able to enjoy the view. So I took left to follow the blue marked trail to the top. DO NOT!... The climb to the top on the blue marked trail is definitively not doable on the bike. Very steep. Big rocks. There is no way to climb on the bike to the top. I had to carry my bike on my shoulder. I did it but it was tough and I had to stop a few times. So, I guess the best option to climb to the top on a bike is actually to ride around the Říp Mountain first and to get to the top by the other side (the north side). Not an easy climb, as again it is quite steep, but doable as it is on a road ish. The view from the top was definitively worth the pain to get there though. Beautiful, especially on such a sunny day.
From the Říp
Mountain I followed the blue marked trail to the river in Vědomice. In Vědomice
I got to the bridge and just before the bridge I took the road that goes to the
river on the left. Once at the river I took right and followed the cycling
route 2 up to Mělník. Most of the cycling route 2 is alongside the river and it
is very nice. It was however rather busy on such a sunny day.
The finish
line was by the castle in Mělník to get a burger from Němý Medvěd -
Microbrewery & Beer Bar. This in itself was definitively worth the ride!!!
Excellent burger, highly recommended! There were many cyclists in the centre of
Mělník, so I reckon it is a popular destination.
In Mělník, I
took the train back to Prague. I really enjoy these Czech trains. It is very
cheap compared to France and it is very easy to get the train with a bike.
Altogether
I enjoyed this ride. Despite its length it was not very difficult despite the
few steep climbs.
That’s all
for now.
Take care
and enjoy your rides.
Vincent
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