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Recent Rides

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  Natural Preserve Zámky – Winter walks
  A short walk for winter weather. A sunny afternoon would be an ideal situation for this walk. You can start at a small parking lot in front of the animal cemetery if you arrive by car, or at point 5 (Zámky) if you arrive by bus. You can read about the animal cemetery or theContinue reading “Natural Preserve Zámky – Winter walks”
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  Přemyšlení
  A rather short ride in Prague neighborhoods and along the Vltava river. You can start at the parking in front of the Písecká brána, the gate from the medieval times’ fortification of Prague. This historical site was recently renovated and is now hosting a cozy coffee shop. After crossing Letná park you may look atContinue reading “Přemyšlení”
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  Mirošov, Brdy
  This was one of the nicest rides in Brdy. Well, most of the rides in Brdy are pretty pleasant, even in winter. But sometimes you can get into tricky situations even here… We started in Mirošov and took a little detour through Dobřív, where you can visit the unique technical rarity – vodní hamr (water-poweredContinue reading “Mirošov, Brdy”
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  Únětice
  An interesting short loop with a break for lunch at the Únětice brewery. We rode it earlier and we would not recommend this for the ride today with the fresh snow on the ground. Especially the part from 4 to 5 that was steep down and slippery already then… Rather walk your bike down unlessContinue reading “Únětice”
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  Kvilda Loop – Šumava
  This was one of our favorite rides in Šumava. Starting from Kvilda, going through Modrava, along Modravský potok to the top of Šumava and along the border to Knížecí Pláně. Starting from the parking in Kvilda you can join the yellow tourist mark basically following the asphalt road. It is a much bumpier ride, butContinue reading “Kvilda Loop – Šumava”
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  Šumava – Strážný
  Another ride through German side of Šumava.  This time “halb und halb”, half on the Czech side, half in Germany. This time only a short path was really steep uphill but in the end a nice reward of a long ride downhill. A very short part of this trip is on the side of aContinue reading “Šumava – Strážný”
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  Železná Ruda – Šumava
  We have explored Šumava quite thoroughly (see our earlier blogs), but we never crossed to the German side. And, of course, it would not be Šumava but Bayerisher Wald. So, we had to do it. We started from Železná Ruda, the village just on the border with Germany, famous for the large population of beavers,Continue reading “Železná Ruda – Šumava”
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  Chotouň
  We returned here to check how this ride will be in the autumn and not in the winter when ice covered the slopes… And we modified the previous ride which started from Jílové. Start was at the small parking lot at Chotouň, usually busy during the ski season, but the temperature climbed to almost 20Continue reading “Chotouň”
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  The new Černý’s Piece in Prague
  Of course, we had to go there as soon as they put the head on the top of the largest statue in Prague. Taller than Žižka on Vítkov, but not taller than Stalin used to be before it was blown up… We believe that we visited all of Černý’s creations over the years, so weContinue reading “The new Černý’s Piece in Prague”
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  Luková Ghost Church
  We visited the “ghost church” in Luková five years ago and we were wondering whether it still stands since it seemed like it was ready to fall apart. And it seemed like the countryside around Žlutice was ready to be visited by our bikes. The first surprise was visible already from far away – theContinue reading “Luková Ghost Church”
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  Třebíč
  If you would follow us to this UNESCO town, you should as well ride through the “town biking circle”. It is a rather short trip, but it would show you both old and modern parts of the town as well as the surrounding nature trails. The list of interesting points to visit in Třebíč isContinue reading “Třebíč”
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  Dalešice
  While you are visiting Třebíč, the UNESCO world heritage site, you may also consider a ride along the Dalešická přehrada, one of the best places for boating and all kinds of water sports in Czechia. The dam of this lake is the highest in Czechia and the second highest in Europe. Water from the lakeContinue reading “Dalešice”
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  Tábor Planá Soběslav
  Ride along (sometimes very close to) the river Lužnice with the visit to the town of Soběslav and Tábor. We started this loop ride on the street “Na Černé” in Planá nad Lužnicí where you can find good parking spots along the road everywhere. Our main reason for starting there was to visit our friends,Continue reading “Tábor Planá Soběslav”
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  Along River Through Forest To Beach, Stará Boleslav
  We finally optimized the route to our favorite swimming hole “Lhota”. The only disappointment in this loop starting at Stará Boleslav is a poor quality of several stretches of the official “Labská cyklostezka” surface. This cyklostezka was built with the help of funds from European union, but obviously some contractors did not make a veryContinue reading “Along River Through Forest To Beach, Stará Boleslav”
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  Brdy Loop from Kytín
  It is this time of the year again when you can stop almost anywhere to pick and taste the blackberries or yellow or red mirabelles. This loop through Brdy will give you many opportunities to binge on these fruits. We started this ride in the tiny parking lot in Kytín, next to the brewery-restaurant Kytín.Continue reading “Brdy Loop from Kytín”
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  Stromovka and Letní Letná – Prague
  When we come back to Prague, the first ride leads us to Stromovka or Královská obora (Royal game preserve), the park which was not founded but greatly improved by Rudolf II, the Holy Roman Emperor, in 16th century. Riding through this park is very pleasant, especially in the summer evenings with sun setting over majesticContinue reading “Stromovka and Letní Letná – Prague”
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  Chico to Dailey Lake – Testing Bike
  When we saw this strange E-bike for rent in Chico Hot Springs, we had to test it. So, we took it for a little ride. At first, it was a funny feeling sitting so low and not having a chance to switch gears, but after a while, we appreciate the comfort of the seat, especiallyContinue reading “Chico to Dailey Lake – Testing Bike”
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  Nýrsko, Šumava
  Sometimes even the best plans don’t work. The plan was the second map below. However, when we arrived at Nýrsko, we realized that charging our batteries did not work. So, what now? We are not in the shape that we would be able to do 841 m elevation gain without a little help of ourContinue reading “Nýrsko, Šumava”
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  Two rides in Hrubý Jeseník, Moravia-Silesia
  For the exploration of Hrubý Jeseník, we selected the village Branná as our base. Our accommodation was in the castle Kolštejn (founded in 1325). The castle has a mix of gothic styles but is chateau-like primarily. It had gone through at least 14 different owners in 600 or so years. Both nights we had dinnerContinue reading “Two rides in Hrubý Jeseník, Moravia-Silesia”
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  Modřany – Dolní Břežany
  This ride is obviously one of the earlier ones that we did not report yet. You can tell by the pictures of ripe “mirabelky”, which you can find everywhere around here in the summer. Rather a short loop which can be done easily after work in the evening in about an hour. If you willContinue reading “Modřany – Dolní Břežany”
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  Boží Dar – Abertamy
  We visited Boží Dar earlier and decided to make another trip to the top of Krušné hory. The surroundings of Boží Dar are beautiful in any season and this was a little later in the year. We think that May or June is an optimal time given its popularity. Boží Dar is very busy inContinue reading “Boží Dar – Abertamy”
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  Hradec Králové
  Can you tell at what time the title picture was taken? Probably not, but I can tell you that we had a good time. This ride from Hradec Kralove to Jaromer was very easy and uneventful. The highlight of this ride was a geocache hidden high in the tree which had to be lovered downContinue reading “Hradec Králové”
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  Varvažov – Orlík dam
  We arrived at Varvažov in the late afternoon, so we did have time for only a short ride around. The goal was to see the castle Zvíkov from across the Orlík reservoir, the largest hydroelectric dam in Czechia. The plan to follow the red tourist mark, called Sedláčkova stezka, was not realistic. At point 4Continue reading “Varvažov – Orlík dam”
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  Žerotín – Riding on Top
  This ride can be also called “How many hop fields can you see”. From the elevation profile, you see that you will be going up and down sharply several times. But it will really feel like you are riding on the top of the ridge all the time. You should be ready to ride overContinue reading “Žerotín – Riding on Top”
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  Mysterious Stone Arrays of Kounov
  You probably know everything there is to know about Stonehenge, but I am almost certain that you’ve never heard about the Mysterious stone arrays of Kounov in Czech Republic. According to one of the theories, these arrays could have been used for the same purpose as the structures of Stonehenge. You will be able to exploreContinue reading “Mysterious Stone Arrays of Kounov”
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  Jenštejn Loop
  This was a simple ride through open fields and along the river. We started in Jenštejn, a little village with a castle ruin. Jenštejn was founded in 1336, but in 1600 was abandoned and never repaired. If you are lucky, you may see the professional model airplane show at point 2. And if you areContinue reading “Jenštejn Loop”
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  Labské Pískovce and Sněžník
  Even though this ride is on the border with Germany, it is not much more than an hour’s drive from Prague. We started at the small village Sněžník, which is ready for a lot of tourists coming from both sides of the border. Parking is abundant at the starting point, but if you don’t wantContinue reading “Labské Pískovce and Sněžník”
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  Karlova Ves – Crazy ride
  We decided to explore the last piece of Křivoklátsko area which was missing from our collection. And from the map, it seemed like a nice short ride with a little questionable piece, which could have been easily avoided. In our experience, when the map says “Entry of bicycles prohibited” it does not mean anything inContinue reading “Karlova Ves – Crazy ride”
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  Kralupy – Klecany Loop
  Let’s start this trip in Kralupy at the place of a very unusual statue. Yes, it is the statue of a fictional character, Czech national hero, The good soldier Švejk, and no, it is not an unusual part of the display. The unusual part you may miss is on the ground next to the benchContinue reading “Kralupy – Klecany Loop”
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  Písty Flower Forest
  At this time of the year, it is kind of hard to believe that you can visit endless fields of flowers in full bloom. But, you have to know where to go. A little forest next to the tiny village of Písty is the place to go. And the middle of March is the timeContinue reading “Písty Flower Forest”
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  Bohnice Valleys
  After exploring Bohnice area on foot during the winter, we decided to put together the loop which would cover most of this interesting area. In this report we included two parts that you may consider biking with great care and in parts only walk your bike. Especially on the busy weekend days… We usually startContinue reading “Bohnice Valleys”
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  Pravda Ruin – Domoušice – Winter Walk
  Nice walk with a little climb up and down to the castle ruin Pravda (Truth). This ruin is one of the largest we have seen around here. And it was relatively very short-lived – founded in the 15th century and abandoned in the 16th – after it was burned down by the Swede army. YouContinue reading “Pravda Ruin – Domoušice – Winter Walk”
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  Zámky and Bohnice, Winter Walk
  We decided to explore the area between Bohnické and Drahanské valley in detail. And going through some of the natural features required to leave the bikes at home. This time we started at the tiny parking lot next to the pet cemetery in Bohnice. A visit to the pet cemetery is definitely worth the trip.Continue reading “Zámky and Bohnice, Winter Walk”
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  Empty Český Krumlov
  We heard that Český Krumlov was suffering from neglect by tourists of all kinds. Basically, the reporter said that the town was completely empty. Therefore, it was necessary to check whether it was not some “fake news”, and we had to go there to see it with our own eyes. After the quick walk throughContinue reading “Empty Český Krumlov”
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  Drahanské Valley – Winter walk
  We walk and rode through this area many times. So it was a simple choice when we had a little window with predicted sunshine (based on the amazing application windy.com) to go here and walk this loop. You can drive to Čimice and park at the street K Mlýnu, or you can go by busContinue reading “Drahanské Valley – Winter walk”
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  Nymburk to Libice
  The last day of the year 2021 was extremely warm and even sunny. And because we biked on the first day of the year, we certainly had to be on our bikes on the last day as well. We decided to stay on the paved roads as many forest roads might be pretty muddy. TheContinue reading “Nymburk to Libice”
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  Dobřív Brdy
  This is the ride from earlier this year, which we for some reason did not report. The highlight of this trip was vodní hamr Dobřív (at point 2), which is part of the West Bohemian Museum in Pilsen. It is actually the largest and most important monument of its kind in the Czech Republic. AndContinue reading “Dobřív Brdy”
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  Blansko – Macocha
  Very nice ride through Moravský kras (Moravian Karst). This area is a protected landscape to the north of Brno. It encompasses a number of notable geological features, including roughly 1100 caverns and gorges and covers an area of roughly 92 km². We started from the town of Blansko and after climbing up through a pleasantContinue reading “Blansko – Macocha”
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  Gdansk – All the way to Russian border
  Even though there was not exactly beach weather, we went to ride along the one of the longest beaches we ever saw. Well, from the look on the map we expected riding with a nice view of the beach… However, we were for most of the time probably about 30 meters from the beach, butContinue reading “Gdansk – All the way to Russian border”
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  Gdansk, Poland
  We decided to expand our biking operation to Poland. And of course, we had to visit the picturesque town of Gdansk. Biking here is extremely simple, as there is no elevation gain to speak of. The only thing may be a wind, which was pretty cold, as it was the end of October. We wantedContinue reading “Gdansk, Poland”
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  Nižbor to Křivoklát
  Well, this is a new blog about the ride from last year. This means that some of the observations may have possibly changed. This was a quite challenging and enjoyable ride, so we thought that it may deserve a spot here. We started from Nižbor again. You can use a large parking lot at theContinue reading “Nižbor to Křivoklát”
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  Stradonice Nižbor – Winter Walk
  Even though we did this walk in the winter, it may be nice at any time of the year. The only part which is tricky when it is slippery (rain or snow) is the very sharp descent from the Stradonické oppidum to point 6. That part is definitely not passable with bicycles! The best placeContinue reading “Stradonice Nižbor – Winter Walk”
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  Karlštejn
  Very short ride around the most visited and historically important castle Karlštejn. This castle was founded by Karel IV, the Holly Roman Emperor, the king who changed the history of the country in many ways. Castle served as a treasure vault for the Czech Crown Jewels. Its appearance is quite unique and there are speculationContinue reading “Karlštejn”
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  Dubá, Kokořínsko
  A beautiful ride through the sandstone formations. If you start your loop in the town of Dubá, then you will have to ride a little bit on the pretty busy road 260. If you want to avoid this, you can park in points 2, 3, or 4. The ride from 4 to 10 is aContinue reading “Dubá, Kokořínsko”
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  Ládví, Prague
  There are still little rides in Prague that we did not completely documented. This one is a combination of perfect bike paths and challenging struggles. We start again from Letná, where finding parking is easy. After riding through Stromovka, you cross the new bridge over Vltava and continue straight to go around the botanical garden.Continue reading “Ládví, Prague”
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  Znojmo
  There are four national parks in Czechia – Krkonoše, Šumava, Českosaské Švýcarsko (Bohemian Switzerland), and Podyjí. We have biked the first three and Podyjí was still missing in our collection. We set our base at Znojmo, nice town close to the border with Austria. Parking in the center of Znojmo was not difficult and anyContinue reading “Znojmo”
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  Brno
  Once we were in southern Moravia to explore the last national park of Czechia, Podyjí, we had to stop in Brno. We stayed overnight here and enjoyed the taste of the nightlife in this Moravian metropolis. The main square “Náměstí svobody” (Liberty square) was really alive on this Saturday night with the political parties tryingContinue reading “Brno”
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  Davle – Jílové circle
  We like this area and we started a couple of our hikes in Davle before we were completely turned into E-bikers. We had our regular bikes before, but this area seemed too challenging for us. However with E-MTB nothing seems out of reach anymore. However, for this particular ride we would not recommend a regularContinue reading “Davle – Jílové circle”
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  Nové Hutě – Šumava
  As soon as we could, we returned to Šumava without hordes of tourists. Our base was an AirBnB at paní Lenka place in Nové Hutě. The problem in Nové Hutě is the lack of willing workers and therefore no open restaurants. Well, not exactly. If the sign in front of restaurant says “Food and drinksContinue reading “Nové Hutě – Šumava”
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  Litoměřice
  We planned a different ride than what we actually did. But what we present here is actually rideable. Sometimes what you see on the map is so much different than the reality. And this is the greatest advantage if somebody, like us, really checked the whole proposed route. Some of the pictures below shows theContinue reading “Litoměřice”
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  Mšec and Nové Strašecí
  Very relaxing trip through the “hop country”. Convenient point to start the loop is a large parking space in Mšec. We have chosen that village for a nostalgic reasons: Michal worked in Mšec during his high school studies on the “hop picking brigade”. What was happening during these brigades was very well depicted in aContinue reading “Mšec and Nové Strašecí”
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  Bušohrad or “You may not see any bikers”
  If you are tired of riding along “cyklostezky” along with hundreds of your fellow bikers, you may consider this ride. You may not meet anybody, during the workday it is almost guranteed. Besides 1 km on the road just before the end of a trip, you will be on forest roads, none of which isContinue reading “Bušohrad or “You may not see any bikers””
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  Hlavenec and Lake Lhota
  This ride can be called “Mirabelky circle” (“Yellow plum circle”). This is the time when mirabelky (or špendlíky in Czech) are ripe and unbelievably plentiful. They are found everywhere along the roads and paths. And apparently nobody is picking them. It is true that they have relatively large ratio of pit to the meat, butContinue reading “Hlavenec and Lake Lhota”
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  Brdy loop ride
  This time we wanted to ride our favorite stretch of Brdy circle in the opposite direction then earlier. When you start from very convenient parking at the Mníšek castle, you may be tempted to take your refreshment in the bakery/sweet shop Jarolímek even before you jump on your bike. At the beginning you will rideContinue reading “Brdy loop ride”
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  Around Lhota Lake
  We have been to this area several times in summer and in the winter. It is especially rewarding in the summer hot days. We discovered the recreational Lhota lake where you can swim and lay in the sand. We always carried (although not necessary) our bathing suits and towels on the summer rides just inContinue reading “Around Lhota Lake”
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  Two rides around Český Krumlov
  Český Krumlov is one of the most popular destinations in Czech Republic. For that reason we recommend not going there in the high tourist season. But just in case you will go there, May or June may be perfect. If you want to splurge on accommodation, you can stay in a fancy hotel “Růže” (Rose)Continue reading “Two rides around Český Krumlov”
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  Liběchov Kokořín Houska
  This was one of our longer summer rides through Kokořínsko, a very scenic area with a lot of sandstone formations. Sandstone was an ideal material for the local artist Václav Levý, who created many sculptures while he worked on the castle Liběchov. We started the route at the castle and followed part of the circleContinue reading “Liběchov Kokořín Houska”
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  Brdy, Jince and Plešivec
  Our goal on this ride from the last year was to get to the top of Plešivec peak (hill) in the Brdy Mountain range just about an hour drive from Prague. Most of the Brdy range is covered by forests, and it is one of the largest contiguously forested areas in the interior of theContinue reading “Brdy, Jince and Plešivec”
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  Around Antelope Butte, Montana
  Did we ever say that we will report only about rides in Czech Republic? Well, if we did, then we will break this rule now. This ride is a little away from there – in Montana… It is a loop around the hill in Paradise Valley starting in Livingston. Maybe we can rename our blogContinue reading “Around Antelope Butte, Montana”
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  Příchovice – Jizera Mountains
  This area is near and dear to Michal’s heart and is where the family mountain cottage is located. In the middle of a ski slope in the protected area of Paseky is where we stayed for a few days to really get a feel for our new electric bikes. The goal of this ride wasContinue reading “Příchovice – Jizera Mountains”
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  Rožmitál pod Třemšínem
  Brdy is probably our favorite destination. It is not far from Prague and there are so many possibilities for a nice not crowded ride. This time we started from Rožmitál pod Třemšínem, a small town at the western edge of Brdy. If you never heard about Jakub Jan Ryba, it probably means that you didContinue reading “Rožmitál pod Třemšínem”
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  Short ride around Hostivař lake
  Police is really checking whether you would be leaving Prague district. That was a reason to turn back at point 13. Újezd u Průhonic is still Prague, Průhonice village is not. So after the restriction will be lifted, you can extend the trip to go around the Průhonice park and through that village. If youContinue reading “Short ride around Hostivař lake”
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  Around Prague Botanical Garden and ZOO
  Quite a short ride in Prague will take you through the largest park Stromovka, across the new bridge over Vltava and around botanical garden and ZOO, which are right now closed to the public. Reasonable starting point is the lot behind Písecká brána, where the parking is free for the weekends. Ride is simple mixContinue reading “Around Prague Botanical Garden and ZOO”
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  Mšeno – Mácha’s Path
  This is the ride from the July last year and it can serve as an example that just following GPX file is not a good idea. Do not try this route without reading our comments. You can easily ride similar circle around Mšeno without getting into troubles we experienced. But it is our motto: “RatherContinue reading “Mšeno – Mácha’s Path”
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  Bezděz to Houska
  This trip would be much better if there would be no snow and ice on the ground. So, do not follow us right away, wait for at least a week. However, if you are impatient and want to go right now, you can easily avoid the tricky parts and use only the good roads. ThisContinue reading “Bezděz to Houska”
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  Ski slope Chotouň
  You may not know that there is a ski slope in Chotouň only 10 km from the Prague border. Even though it was about 10 degrees C, the slope was still in good shape with packed snow. However, no skiers were allowed due to the quarantine. And that was the reason why the parking lotContinue reading “Ski slope Chotouň”
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  Třeboň
  As the snow melts, we are looking forward to warmer biking, hiking, canoeing and maybe you are too. A little less than 2 hours from Prague you can reach the city of Třeboň. This area is flat and full of ponds famous for the production of carp. Most of those ponds were built in theContinue reading “Třeboň”
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  Kunžak – Česká Kanada
  This ride we did quite a while ago, but since this week was pretty lousy weather with up to -15 C and we did not feel like riding. This just means we have time to write about some historical rides. One of them was in the area around Kunžak which is called Česká Kanada. TheContinue reading “Kunžak – Česká Kanada”
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  Veltrusy – Říp – Mělník Circle
  This was one of the longer trips of the summer of 2020. We started from the parking lot in Veltrusy and planned to visit the castle (national cultural heritage site) on the way back. The plan was to follow the red tourist mark “Poutní cesta Blaník – Říp“. This pilgrimage route is connecting two ofContinue reading “Veltrusy – Říp – Mělník Circle”
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  Lužec – Mělník Circle
  We returned to this area to check the new bridge for bikers over Vltava river in the village of Lužec. Last year we took the boat across the river at the same place and the operator told us that we are almost the last people going by boat since the bridge will be opening soon.Continue reading “Lužec – Mělník Circle”
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  Benátky nad Jizerou
  This would be a nice ride if the path would be covered with snow or just mud. However, combination with icy patches made this trip a little treacherous. We had been involuntarily “debiked” several times and came back to the car with a lot of extra mud everywhere. Starting point we found at the villageContinue reading “Benátky nad Jizerou”
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  Brdy in Winter
  We started from the same parking lot as our ride in the summer. It was a nice day, but still pretty cold, so we did just a little loop. It was also quite icy, with fresh snow on several stretches, we did not take any steep slopes, but rather stayed on the top of theContinue reading “Brdy in Winter”
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  Some Winter Walks
  Even though we are addicted to E-biking, really cold weather gave us the chance to go through some places where it would be really hard or even impossible to bike. So, we decided to share the maps of our walks with you, just in case you would like to explore the same places. Třebenice: The firstContinue reading “Some Winter Walks”
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  Klánovice
  A very quick decision this morning to go for a short ride in the neighborhood led us to the town of Klánovice with its well-known natural park. Even though we did just a quick ride through this nice forest, we realized that this area may provide an opportunity for a long ride without actually repeatingContinue reading “Klánovice”
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  Lázně Toušeň and Káraný
  Nice ride to test our new winter gear – gloves, hoods, and shoe covers (see above). And we like to say – yes, they were needed! Parking close to the town center is convenient and not very crowded even in the summer when we did our ride from here the first time. As there isContinue reading “Lázně Toušeň and Káraný”
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  Amerika Kanada and Mexiko
  In the cold and wet weather, this was only for dedicated e-bikers like us. The problem was wet mud from the start up to point 5. At point 4 you will have to climb down a very short but steep and slippery part and another one a little bit further. After point 5 it wasContinue reading “Amerika Kanada and Mexiko”
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  Dolní Břežany
  Dolní Břežany is a village just next to the city limits of Prague. It seems to be an up and coming prosperous area with a lot of very modern and comfortable neighborhoods. Dolní Břežany is the location of world importance due to two super modern laser centers (HiLASE and ELI beamlines) which were funded byContinue reading “Dolní Břežany”
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  Testing Bikes on Snow and Krčský Les
  Finally snow arrived in Prague on the first of December and we could not resist going out and test e-bikes on the fresh snow-covered roads in Letná park. Yes, e-bikes behave a little differently mostly because they are heavier. So, no maps for that little trip, just a couple of pictures. However, only two daysContinue reading “Testing Bikes on Snow and Krčský Les”
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  Liblice
  On this very cold day (3°C) in November, we started our ride from a small parking lot next to  Liblice castle. This castle hotel, owned by the Czech Academy of Sciences, is an absolute winner of the Hotel of the Year competition for 2020. It was recently renovated into the original splendor and it isContinue reading “Liblice”
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  Vítkov
  This very comfortable Prague city ride is for any type of weather, however, clear skies will allow you to enjoy several nice viewpoints. I remember ten years ago biking in Prague was considered quite dangerous, but this route really shows how you can stay on dedicated bike paths without interacting with city traffic. After startingContinue reading “Vítkov”
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  Stará Boleslav – Hlavenec – Lhota
  Although this trip is still unique in the actual mapped route, we have been to this area several times in summer. Especially when we discovered the recreational Lhota lake to swim and lay in the sand during the hot days. We always carried (although not necessary) our bathing suits and towels on the summer ridesContinue reading “Stará Boleslav – Hlavenec – Lhota”
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  Mníšek pod Brdy
  This ride starts from the parking lot in front of Mníšek castle. Occasionally medieval battle reenactments are played here… Mníšek is a great starting point to go into the Brdy mountain range for hiking or biking.  However, we started in the opposite direction to visit the crossing at St. Venceslas under Pleš mountain where weContinue reading “Mníšek pod Brdy”
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  Letná to Šárka
  From our house to one of our favorite parks in Prague, Šárka. A comfortable ride which can be done either as one trip, or it can be split into two pieces. It will guide you through the map via figure eight, so if you are not sure whether you want to do the whole thing,Continue reading “Letná to Šárka”
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  Radotín Circle
  A warm November day seemed ideal for just an easy afternoon ride through the autumn forest. It went through the forest, but it was not easy. The first difficult part was a straight uphill trudge on a path used by horseback riders just where the red tourist mark turns to the right from the road.Continue reading “Radotín Circle”
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  Modřany Prague- Točná
  Modřany is a suburb of Prague, south of the city center. The area is full of history and has a few educational trails to hike and read along the way. One such educational trail is called Stezka Svobody (Freedom Trail) which starts and ends in Točná and has 22 stops over 12.5 kilometers. Although weContinue reading “Modřany Prague- Točná”
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  Bohnice – Pet cemetery
  All Saints Day is a perfect time to bike through the Bohnice area and visit the Pet Cemetery or Pietní Park. It is not accepting new “customers” because it has been full for years. Even so, there were lit candles and fresh flowers on pet’s graves that had deceased years ago. The pet owners wereContinue reading “Bohnice – Pet cemetery”
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  Zbiroh, Křivoklátsko
  Zbiroh is a small town in the Plzen region about an hour from Prague. Even though Zbiroh castle is not on our Top 88 Castles in Czech Republic book it does stand out prominently on the hill above the town. The famous painter, Alfons Mucha, lived in the East Wing with his family from 1912-28. Continue reading “Zbiroh, Křivoklátsko”
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  Jílové to Týnec
  A blue sky in Autumn should never be wasted, especially to see the changing colors of the leaves. I’ve never been to the US, East Coast to in fall, but can imagine the beauty may compare to what we rode through in this area. Due to its picturesque setting, the village of Jílové is aContinue reading “Jílové to Týnec”
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  Obecnice – Brdy
  With daylight savings and cooler autumn weather, we are going back to shorter trips from Prague and into the Brdy mountains as there are still so many different routes to explore. Most of the Brdy mountains is covered by forest, and it is one of the largest contiguously forested areas in the interior of theContinue reading “Obecnice – Brdy”
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  Štěchovice and Slapy
  We started this ride in the village of Štěchovice about 30 km from Prague. This area is very pretty as Vltava river cuts through the hillside taking plenty of sharp turns and we highly recommend this for hikers as well. Our trip included views of two major dams (Štěchovicka and Slapska) which are quite impressive.Continue reading “Štěchovice and Slapy”
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  Kladno
  Not far from Prague is Kladno which is somewhat of a commuter town for those who do not live in Prague. Kladno is known as the historical birthplace of heavy industry (steel and mining) and for the past 20 years, Kladno is one of the world’s four Lego manufacturing sites. Its also the birthplace ofContinue reading “Kladno”
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  Central Bohemia Nature Park
  The Central Bohemia Nature Park has an area of ​​4,575 hectare and starts at the southern edge of Prague (near Zbraslav) and goes through forest areas through Závist, Zvolská homola and Zahořanské údolí to Petrov. Through the Zahrádka forest, it reaches the right bank of the Sázava River and continues through Medníky around Krňany along theContinue reading “Central Bohemia Nature Park”
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  Loučeň and Dětenice
  Although we didn’t visit the Loučeň Chateau in the village of Loučeň, it seems we need to go back to see the chateau which is surrounded by a large English park and has recently been enriched by a unique European feature – a set of 12 labyrinths and mazes. However, we did find a perfectContinue reading “Loučeň and Dětenice”
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  Jetřichovice – Czech Switzerland
  This was one of the top ten rides this year! This area is one of the four national parks in Czech Republic and borders with Germany. It is known as Bohemian Switzerland National Park (Národní park České Švýcarsko) on the Czech side and Saxon Switzerland National Park on the German side. This is a greatContinue reading “Jetřichovice – Czech Switzerland”
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  Manětín
  Grateful for another autumn day we decided we should explore more of the interior regions of Czech Republic. The drive itself was worth it as it went through more agricultural areas than urban. The region is covered with hops fields and you can stop in the town of Krušovice (https://krusovice.cz/en/historie) to try their beer whichContinue reading “Manětín”
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  Zbečno – Central Bohemia
  One of the more well known castles to visit not far from Prague is Křivoklát, but if you don’t make a lot more time for some hiking or biking you will miss the beautiful Křivoklátsko, a landscape protected area. Because it was the hunting grounds for the kings and princes since the Middle Ages itContinue reading “Zbečno – Central Bohemia”
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  Stříbrná Skalice
  When the autumn days are nice, Czechs refer to it as ‘babí léto’ which means grandmother’s summer. It is what we know as ‘indian summer’ and this first day of October was definitely a nice day. This trip is only a 45 minute drive south east from Prague and near the Sázava river. There wereContinue reading “Stříbrná Skalice”
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  Železné Hory – Seč
  Železné Hory or Iron Mountains is about two hours east of Prague and not too far from the more touristy town of Kutná Hora (known for its old silver mines).  These mountains are not particularly high which made our ride quite easy and relaxed through the forests.  We did this ride in September when mostContinue reading “Železné Hory – Seč”
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  Šumava – Černé jezero
  Feeling fortunate for the extended summer weather into September we made another trip back to Šumava National Park.  Although its only a 2 ½ hour drive from Prague it seems more efficient to spend the night there to make the most of the warm days. This time we stayed at the northern end of theContinue reading “Šumava – Černé jezero”
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  Šumava – Prášily
  On the way to the start of our trip in Prášily and not far from the hotel where we stayed in Železná Ruda is an area taken over by beavers (bobr in Czech). If you are interested in the Eurasian beaver’s civil engineering you can get a unique view of little towns full of beaverContinue reading “Šumava – Prášily”
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  Jevany, Central Bohemia
  This ride was one of the easy ones and quite uneventful – with the exception of very close encounter of Polly’s bike with the car making very sharp turn uphill. Luckily brakes on both sides worked well. She claims it was her lucky feather. The town of Jevany and the forests above the ponds areContinue reading “Jevany, Central Bohemia”
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  Beroun – Žebrák
  Many of our bike trips are fairly close to Prague and Beroun is no exception. This town is only a quick 30 minute drive from the center and easily reached by train as well. Beroun has everything it takes to make it a nice visit even without biking.  In former times it used to beContinue reading “Beroun – Žebrák”
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  Kbely, Prague
  Sometimes choosing the destination first and then planning the route around is the best. This time we decided to have lunch at the Kbelsky Pivovar (http://kbelskypivovar.cz/) in Prague 19. Unlike the previous Únětice brewery we visited which was founded as early as 1557. The Kbelsky brewery is very modern and new (opened in 2019).  TheyContinue reading “Kbely, Prague”
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  Prague parks and Únětice
  We don’t usually start a bike ride from our house given we live in the center of Prague and really hate the traffic but we wanted to go for lunch in Únětice brewery. It turned out to be a 45 km ride through a surprising number of different parks of Prague and surroundings. This rideContinue reading “Prague parks and Únětice”
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  Radotín and Berounka – Central Bohemia
  Well, if you want to start your bike ride on an appropriate place, then start at the Ski and Bike Centrum Radotín (http://www.skiservis.cz/). They will let you park at their parking lot and you should definitely visit their warehouse (especially if you want to drop a lot of money on the next bike of yours)Continue reading “Radotín and Berounka – Central Bohemia”
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  Konopiště, Central Bohemia
  Konopiště is about an hour drive from Prague and is one of my favorite castles. The castle is a four-winged, three-story castle located in the village of Konopiště, which is now a part of the town of Benešov. It has become famous as the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to theContinue reading “Konopiště, Central Bohemia”