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BIKING in POLAND


miranda  
30 Aug 2008 /  #1
hello everyone.

I started biking again this season, although I started a bit late. I was wondering if there are any biking trails in Poland since I myself don't remember any.

The last trip I took in Poland was with my students in Kiąż Wielki (55 km form Kraków) and we did 100 km in one day.

We left in the morning and returned in the evening. We used the available maps of the region (with marked elevations), which were very helpful. We rode on roads, through the woods and villages, had time for the bon fire and sausages and a beer in town and still made it back. It was the longest one I took so far.

Today I am attempting to ride 60 km along Lake Ontario, but it would be most likely on the bicycle trail.
The website I use for determining the path is the following one: bikely.com which has bike routes from all over the world.

Happy biking to those who love to spin.

I will post the report in a couple of days.
Poor Edward 10 | 154  
30 Aug 2008 /  #2
Hazar for you Miranda, have fun :)
OP miranda  
30 Aug 2008 /  #3
thank you Edward. It should be a nice ride since it is flat and scenic. I will be stopping along the way for a cup of java or water, or ice-cream and then continue to Hamilton where my relatives and friends are waiting. They were a little bit surprised that I am not taking public transport *they know I am a bit of a risk taker*, but the weather report is good, so I will hopefully make it in 3-4 hours.

I still owe you a PM - I didn't forget:)
esek_tmp  
30 Aug 2008 /  #4
and a beer in town and still made it back.

that was very smart... just keep in mind that in Poland you can loose your driving license while biking after a beer.
Poor Edward 10 | 154  
30 Aug 2008 /  #5
No worries, I in Krakow at the minute which is super Im alone so Im seeking refuge with ya'll for a bit.
OP miranda  
30 Aug 2008 /  #6
that was very smart... just keep in mind that in Poland you can loose your driving license while biking after a beer.

thanks Esek for the warning. That was years ago and we took time before we got back on the bike. Besides, when you are biking you sweat a lot so I don't think one beer really makes a differance. I didn't loose my driving license, so I was lucky. We biked in really remote areas, with no people, not to mention police in sight.

No worries, I in Krakow at the minute which is super Im alone so Im seeking refuge with ya'll for a bit.

you are? This is great!!! Are you having a good time? Write a separate report when you return. Is is true that Krakow is not that busy anymore with tourists?
Poor Edward 10 | 154  
30 Aug 2008 /  #7
Is is true that Krakow is not that busy anymore with tourists?

:P I hate having them around, they're ruining my Polish experience with their english and they're fuckin idiot tourist bull ****.

you are? This is great!!! Are you having a good time?

I a :) Its a bit surreal but I want to see real Poland. Yeah its great here Ive any photos and many tales to tell, so a post is a must.
esek_tmp  
30 Aug 2008 /  #8
thanks Esek for the warning.

No prob,

Besides, when you are biking you sweat a lot so I don't think one beer really makes a differance.

Well, but you know how it is... summer, it's hot, you're tired... it's supprising what one beer could do in these conditions.
Kowalski 7 | 621  
30 Aug 2008 /  #9
miranda, hello! here's your web source to update yourself on biking in Poland
rowery.org.pl/rowery.htm
dcchris 8 | 432  
30 Aug 2008 /  #10
there are perhaps surprisingly quite a few bicycle paths in warsaw and after some guessing and following people around I figured out that many of them actually connect
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
30 Aug 2008 /  #11
I have just been on a four hour walk up the mountains (back garden) and there are loads of hikes and bike paths through forests and meadows just south of Krakow.

It was over cast today, so it was perfect weather for it. It is wonderful.
Part of my losing weight strategy, since I gave up smoking 6 months ago, I put on weight, I did not mind cause I was giving up but now's the time.

I should buy a bike but I want to buy a good camera, I broke my last one and I do hate to spend money on anything except for travelling.
telefonitika  
30 Aug 2008 /  #12
I have just been on a four hour walk up the mountains (back garden)

now thats what you call a back garden :)
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
30 Aug 2008 /  #13
Yes, I absolutely love it! miles and miles of forest and mountains, all the way to Slovakia, I think.
My house is the last on a cul de sac. and it is just forest all the way from here and mountain after mountain.
I want to go hiking with a tent and some food soon.
Seanus 15 | 19,674  
30 Aug 2008 /  #14
I was out today on my Mongoose. The countryside here is so nice. U can ride freely and soak up the sights. There are many nice little shops u can unearth and enjoy. The forests are well maintained and bear free, lol.

One of Poland's strong points is designating cycling routes
OP miranda  
1 Sep 2008 /  #15
I made it!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I am back and I am alive. I made over 70 k, maybe 80 and I was tired when I finally reached my destination. Nothing hurts since I kept steady pace and I really didn't think I would make it but it happened. The last 20 km were quite tiring but I still had a beer and a good dinner with my family after I arrived.

My family gave me a ride back to Toronto and I though that it was a good idea.

Time to find another route. There is nothing better than a little bit of a challenge. LOL

Happy biking !!!!
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
1 Sep 2008 /  #16
There is nothing better than a little bit of a challenge.

Cool, have you any photographs? I would love to see. If not perhaps next time?.
Great stuff!
OP miranda  
1 Sep 2008 /  #17
have you any photographs?

well, I still using a film camera, so I will try to post some next week.

The views were great but I kind of had to concentrate on making it, since it was a really long distance. I still cannot believe the distance and it took me 5.5 hours with 4 stops for coffee and energy drinks ( I found out those are the key).
Vincent 9 | 899  
1 Sep 2008 /  #18
I made over 70 k, maybe 80 and I was tired when I finally reached my destination

Well done miranda, that is a great achievement. Hope you do manage, to post some photos, would love to see that lovely Canadian landscape :)
OP miranda  
7 Sep 2008 /  #19
would love to see that lovely Canadian landscape :)

would but even though the biking path is along the lake shore,most of it was biking glorious Lakeshore Blvd, which was not glorious at all with all the traffic and speed bikers passing me by on their slick bikes, wearing colorful helmets, which I found mostly distracting. So no pics, since I was more concentrated on making the distance and looking for a store which would sell energy drinks.

Oh, nice avatar Vince:)
Vincent 9 | 899  
7 Sep 2008 /  #20
along the lake shore,most of it was biking glorious Lakeshore Blvd, which was not glorious at all with all the traffic and speed bikers passing me by on their slick bikes,

Well miranda, looks like you will just have to do that trip again next week, and this time stop and take some nice photo's of that beatiful landscape.:)) we need photo's....we need photo's :))
OP miranda  
7 Sep 2008 /  #21
we need photo's....we need photo's :))

shucks, I am not biking that route again Vince:).
Vincent 9 | 899  
7 Sep 2008 /  #22
"spoil sport" miranda, but next time, share with us please:)
outintheyard 27 | 517  
9 Sep 2008 /  #23
Who would like to give their opinion on the most favorite places to cycle or bike?
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
9 Sep 2008 /  #24
All around the Beskid mountains, there are treks and cycle paths on the way from Krakow to Zakopane. I'd be well up for something like that.
outintheyard 27 | 517  
9 Sep 2008 /  #25
Could I pick up a bike in the area somewhere?
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
9 Sep 2008 /  #26
Definitely, all kinds of bikes in shops here, no problem.
There is a place called "Chełm" that has a ski lift and it runs all year round so in summer people throw their bikes on get a lift up the mountain (about 20 minutes) through the forest and cycle back down, there are ramps in the forest too. And cushions on some of the trees just in case. more importantly there is a bar restaurant at the top with great views. There's no place like Chełm, (pronounced like home)
outintheyard 27 | 517  
11 Sep 2008 /  #27
cushions on some of the trees

Are the cussions some of the foreigners who did not make it? This sounds like a nice place. This Chelm And no bottle throwers is good.
OP miranda  
11 Sep 2008 /  #28
This sounds like a nice place.

Biking in Poland is very safe. I did a 100 km trip with my students in one day and we had a blast. We biked though various places, including forests, villages and some of the biking was done on a highway ( which I would not recommend), but over all it was a nice and peaceful trip. One of my students got a flat tire and he was helped by a villager. There is no need to fear anything really.
Rakky 9 | 217  
11 Sep 2008 /  #29
All around the Beskid mountains, there are treks and cycle paths on the way from Krakow to Zakopane. I'd be well up for something like that.

Ooh, boy, does that sound good! Too bad I live in the US.
Does anyone cycle anywhere in Gorlice County? Specifically - south from Gorlice, through the hills to Wysowa?
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
11 Sep 2008 /  #30
This sounds like a nice place.

It is I recommend it to anyone. I will try to get more comprehendable information and maps (in English).

Ooh, boy, does that sound good! Too bad I live in the US.

Come over it is a free world, if you can afford it but things are cheap here in comparison to America.
I don't know about paths in Gorlice but there ought to be in that neck of the woods.

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