“Since life is short and the world is wide, the sooner you start, exploring it, the better.” English novelist Simon Raven
Funny Cycling
Volume: Slovakia – Liptov
Celtic Open-Air Archaeological Museum Havránok
3-day cycle trip around Slovak region Liptov with beautiful nature and attractions
Jan Garaj 2013 Funny Cycling Volume Slovakia – Liptov
Table of Contents General informations...... 3 Introduction words...... 3 Cycling in Slovakia...... 4 Itinerary...... 6 Total map...... 13 Exploring of ride...... 14 Liptov cuisine ...... 18 Contacts...... 19 Information minimum...... 20 Requirements...... 22 Recommended equipment...... 22 Downloads...... 22 Suggested dates...... 23 About guide – Jan Garaj...... 24 Useful sources...... 25
Bike center Malinô Brdo
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General informations Goal mountain-bike experience with enjoying Slovak natural assets Type 3 days experience cycle-tourism trip Date some Friday, Saturday, Sunday during spring/summer/autumn season Turn-out minimum 6 clients, maximum depends on agreement Start point Ružomberok railway station Finish point Važec railway station Distance total 162km Accommodation 2x night in ***hotel Boarding 2x breakfast, 3x lunch, 2x dinner Restrictions, Difficulty is also for city bikers, suitable only for trekking or mountain bike. notes Insurance for dangerous/extreme sports is required. Minimum age is 15 years. Guide Jan Garaj, independent tour guide – see About guide section
Introduction words Hello everyone. My name is Jan. I'd like to welcome you all to Liptov region. I selected this region for our ride, because I know this area. I grown up here, so I know attractions and nature very well. I'd like to present my region for you in next 3 days. I hope that our ride will be successful with many experiences and with good feelings from Slovakia. Right now I'd like to take a minute to familiarize you with brief precautions. Firstly, I ask that you remain not drink alcohol during day. Please realize that it is against the law to get drunk driving. Also please use your safety helmet during bike ride. It's important to follow right drinking regimen. I recommend to drink water or another not sweets beverages. You can refill your bottles with water in places, which offers this service according to itinerary. For next 3 days we are team. If you have any relevant problem (condition, technical problem, water, etc) please inform me immediately. When I will be able resolve problem I'll do it. Maybe I'll change sometime our plane, but it will be only for you comfort, safety or experience. Now please check your technical state and settings of your bikes and let's go directly to Liptov.
Your guide Jan
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Cycling in Slovakia Nowadays Slovak cycling routes are 5400 kilometers long. Majority of them are designed and signed on standard asphalt road with low car traffic. Minority are separated from car roads. Generally Slovakia offers many interesting places for the cycling lovers. Let's go to see Slovakia.
The system of signs: The routes are signed as standard system of signs of Slovak hiking system.. The cycle-tourism sign system consists of painted signs of "C" shape and elements of cycle-tourism orientation, cycle-directions. Generally, the signs differ in types of bicycle: mountain bikes and road bikes. They vary in four colors: red ones are for long- distance cycle-roads, blue ones are for longer parallel cycling tracks, green ones for circuits and family cycling tracks, yellow ones for short tracks.
Cycle-tourism signs
Some Slovak cycling routes • International Danube cycling route (Dunajská cyklistická cesta) The routes lead mainly on tar river dikes and roads. First 17 kilometers before you entering Komárno town can only you ride by mountain bikes. Up to Gabčíkovo waterworks the route is along both banks of the river Danube and from Gabčíkovo the route continues only on the left bank. This route offers you to explore Bratislava, Šamorín and Komárno towns. The length of signed routes is around 200 km. • International Danube cycle route (Medzinárodná Dunajská cyklotrasa) The route goes through Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Thanks to this cycling track it's possible to know the capitals of three states. The length of the route from Vienna get Bratislava to Budapest is about 275 km long. • Malokarpatska cycle route (Malokarpatská cyklomagistrála) It goes through the bottom part of Male Karpaty, North it leads at Eastern foot and in South at Western foot of Male Karpaty. It starts in Nové Mesto nad Váhom and goes through Vrbové, Trstín, Buková, Rohožník, all the way to Vysoká pri Morave. The route is130 km long and can be done by road bikes. Cycling on it you can see many villages and enjoy the views of Male Karpaty peaks you can also visit several castles.
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• Vazska cycle route (Vážska cyklomagistrála) Is signed between Pieštany and Žilina. The route goes along both banks of the river Váh up to Nemšová, then to Žilina only on one bank of the river. The routes are led on common asphalt roads, river dikes and main road can be done on road bikes. The length of the routes is about 250 km. During road you can visit to following towns: Pieštany, Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Trenčín, Nemšová, Považská Bystrica, Púchov, Bytča and Žilina. There are many castles and chalets on the way. • Kysucka cycle route (Kysucká cyklomagistrála) The route connects the river Váh valley with Orava, it flows through the whole Kysuce area. It overcomes Javorníky, Kysucká Vrchovina and Oravské Beskydy massifs. It starts in Kotešová, then it goes through Turzovka, Čadca and Osčadnica. Then it passes over Vychylovka and Demänová parks. The route can be done by road bikes and it is 139 km long. • Circle around Polana (Okruh okolo Polany) 130 km long route leads along the circle of Polana peak. The most suitable starting and finishing point is Detva town. The route leads through mountain area of 1st and 2nd class roads. You can ride there only on mountain bikes and route is very pretentious. • Circle under Chopok hill (Okruh pod Chopkom) Demanding and nice circle for mountain bikes leads to Southern slopes of Chopok hill (Low Tatras). The starting point can be Podbrezová or Tale villages. The route is meant only for mountain bikes. It is 54 km long. • The cycling tracks in the Rocks of Sulov (Cyklotrasy v Súľovských skalách) In this attractive zone of the “Slovak Dolomites” there are 5 binding tracks for mountain bike, their length is about 40 km. • Special Liptov region and its cycling world We are pleased to invite you to enjoy wonderful Liptov region in the saddle of your bike. Liptov is a historical and geographical region in northern Slovakia with around 140,000 inhabitants. It's one of the most visited regions in Slovakia. It's surrounded by beautiful nature, especially by mountains High Tatras, West Tatras and Chočské vrchy from the north, Low Tatras from the south and Greater Fatra from the west. The longest Slovak river of Váh flows through Liptov and fills Liptovská Mara, the important water reservoir. There are two Slovak national parks with the highest level of protection in the territory of Liptov region, that are the Tatra National Park and the Low Tatras National Park. Liptov is famous also for thermal springs, spas and ski centers. Ski center Malinô Brdo and also Ski center Jasná are during summer seasons transformed into great bike centers. You are invited to experience one of them and also to enjoy authentic Liptov's mountains and nature by your bike.
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Your contribution is at your own risk. Use helmet, don't drink alcohol and ride safe in the interest of your health. In case of emergency call 112.
Itinerary Warning: any modifications of program depends on decision of guide! Following program, timetables are calculated for group of 6 bikers and for dry, summer weather. In case of rainy weather, please be very careful on mountains passages. Sightseeings and routes in this itinerary are our suggestions. Liptov region also offers more attractions in others Liptov's corners. Please visit local information Houses in Vlkolínec center for more suggestions.
Note: daily maps contain also byways (purple color) for case of power lack or bad weather.
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Day 1, from Ružomberok to Bešeňová Start time End time Duration Distance Uphill Downhill Services # Start place End place Description [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [km] [m] [m] on site toilets Ružomberok, Introduction, safety instructions, setting of bicycles. Familiarization with map drinking water 1 railway station 08:00 08:15 00:15 and current day plane. grocery store Ružomberok, Malinô Brdo, Transit over city streets to local relax place Hrabovo with water reservoir. 2 railway station Bike centrum 08:15 09:00 00:45 3,797 100 41 From Hrabovo lift by cableway to Bike Park Malinô Brdo. Renting downhill bikes, safety briefing and downhill ride ad libitum. Bike Malinô Brdo, track are available in levels: beginers,advanced, professional, sport toilets 3 Bike centrum 09:00 10:30 01:30 individ. individ. individ. professional. Uphill lift by cableway. drinking water Malinô Brdo, 4 Bike centrum Vlkolínec 10:30 10:45 00:15 2,958 200 326 Smooth mountain ride. Sight-seeing of UNESCO World Heritage, folk architecture reservations – toilets 5 Vlkolínec 10:45 11:45 01:00 Slovak village Vlkolínec. drinking water Pension 6 Vlkolínec Sidorovo 11:45 12:00 00:15 3,433 59 262 Downhill ride from Vlkolínec to valley for lunch. Pension toilets 7 Sidorovo 12:00 13:15 01:15 Lunch in cute restaurant Pension Sidorovo. drinking water Pension School stairs, 8 Sidorovo Ružomberok 13:15 13:45 00:30 7,440 53 95 Modest downhill to Ružomberok. School stairs, Ride around some city stairs, where cycle contest Ružomberské schody is 9 Ružomberok 13:45 14:00 00:15 2,500 50 50 rided. drinking water School stairs, Waterfall, Transit from Ružomberok to Lúčky with using bitumen and also 10 Ružomberok Lúčky 14:00 16:00 02:00 17,968 607 478 forest/mountain routes. Waterfall, toilets 11 Lúčky 16:00 16:15 00:15 Sight-seeing of natural asset: 13m high cascade Lúčky's waterfall. drinking water Waterfall, Hotel Summit, Modest downhill from Lúčky with stop at raw thermal spring in Kalameny. 12 Lúčky Bešeňová 16:15 17:00 00:45 9,483 100 203 Final stop is Bešeňová. Hotel Summit, toilets 13 Bešeňová 17:00 18:30 01:30 Hotel stop: parking, acommodation, dinner. drinking water toilets Thermal Park/ Free time in thermal spa center (the longest tobogan in Slovakia, more than drinking water 14 Bešeňová 18:30 7 pools, …) grocery store Start time End time Duration Distance Uphill Downhill Services # Start place End place Description [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [km] [m] [m] on site
Day 1 summary: 47,579 1169 1455
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Day 1, from Ružomberok to Bešeňová
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Day 2, from Bešeňová to Liptovský Ján Start time End time Duration Distance Uphill Downhill Services # Start place End place Description [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [km] [m] [m] on site toilets Thermal Park, Archeologic museum, Familiarization with map and current day plane. Stops at Bešeňová's mineral water 15 Bešeňová Havránok 08:30 09:30 01:00 15,360 434 333 travertines and at free mineral springs. Transit to Liptovská Mara. grocery store Archeologic museum, toilets 16 Havránok 09:30 10:30 01:00 Sight-seeing of celtic archeological museum Havránok. drinking water Archeologic museum, Sheepfarm 17 Havránok Pastierska 10:30 12:00 01:30 22,761 485 323 The longest stage in beutiful natural mountain valley – Bobrovecká dolina. Sheepfarm toilets 18 Pastierska 12:00 13:30 01:30 Lunch drinking water Sheepfarm Torture chamber, 19 Pastierska Liptovský Mikuláš 13:30 14:30 01:00 20,019 295 466 Mountain passage and downhill over Žiarska dolina to Liptovský Mikuláš. Torture chamber, toilets 20 Liptovský Mikuláš 14:30 14:30 00:00 Viewing of Jánošík's torture chamber. drinking water Torture chamber, Passage with superelevation nearly to 1000m. Reaching the highest point 21 Liptovský Mikuláš Liptovský Ján 14:30 16:30 02:00 14,258 999 948 of ride ~1500 AMSL. Hotel Máj, toilets 22 Liptovský Ján 16:30 17:00 00:30 Parking, accomodation. drinking water Bathing pool, toilets 23 Liptovský Ján 17:00 19:00 02:00 Free time and well-earned in thermal pools. drinking water Hotel Máj/obec 24 Liptovský Ján 19:00 Dinner, free time. Start time End time Duration Distance Uphill Downhill Services # Start place End place Description [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [km] [m] [m] on site Day 2 summary: 72,398 2213 2070
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Day 2, from Bešeňová to Liptovský Ján
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Day 3, from Liptovský Ján to Važec
Start time End time Duration Distance Uphill Downhill Services # Start place End place Description [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [km] [m] [m] on site Hotel Máj, Sheep museum, Familiarization with map and current day plane. Transit on toilets 25 Liptovský Ján Liptovský Hrádok 08:30 09:00 00:30 5,827 27 64 bitumen road to Liptovský Hrádok. drinking water Sheep museum, toilets 26 Liptovský Hrádok 09:00 09:30 00:30 Visiting of sheep-breeding museum. drinking water Sheep museum, Dalo's gallery, 27 Liptovský Hrádok Kráľovská Lehota 09:30 10:00 00:30 7,343 158 113 Modest transit to Kráľovská Lehota. Dalo's gallery, toilets 28 Kráľovská Lehota 10:00 10:30 00:30 Visit of Dalo's gallery of wood-carving. drinking water Dalo's gallery, Power plant Mountain passage to Upper power plant Čierny Váh with 29 Kráľovská Lehota Čierny Váh 10:30 11:45 01:15 13,557 682 185 panorama to Vysoké Tatry. Power plant Rest house Kriváň, 30 Čierny Váh Važec 11:45 12:45 01:00 13,756 406 754 Downhill to Važec. Rest house Kriváň, toilets 31 Važec 12:45 13:45 01:00 Lunch drinking water Rest house Kriváň, 32 Važec Važec's cave 13:45 14:00 00:15 1,979 15 39 Transit to cave. Sight-seeing of Važec's cave, paleontological field of cave- 33 Važec's cave 14:00 14:30 00:30 bear. Važec, toilets 34 Važec's cave railway station 14:30 14:45 00:15 1,979 39 15 Transit to railway station and leaving. drinking water Start time End time Duration Distance Uphill Downhill Services # Start place End place Description [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [hh:mm] [km] [m] [m] on site
Day 3 summary: 42,462 1288 1155
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Day 3, from Liptovský Ján to Važec
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Total map Elevation profile:
1st night 2nd night
Start
st Finish 1 night 2nd night
Total distance 162,439km Online map with more interactive details (elevation profile, points of interests) is available on www.cykloserver.cz/f/55f9108071/ Total uphill 4 670m See Download section for downloading GPS coordinates for your GPS devices, smart phones, etc. Total downhill 4 680m Estimated total consumed energy 15 000kcal The highest reached point ~1 500m AMSL
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Exploring of ride Chronological selection from places and attractions with pictures: 1.) Ružomberok railway station Station is historical building. It's part of paneurope corridor. In the past was also start station for local cute railway to Korytnica spa. Old locomotive of this Korytnica railway is exhibited in near park.
2.) Hrabovo Relax zone with water reservoir, originally determined for textile factory in Ružomberok. This place is also entry to winter ski center Malinô Brdo. Bike center is operated during summer season.
3.) Bike center Malinô Brdo This center is famous especially for downhill riding. Center offers several routes with various level of difficulty from beginners to advanced. You can use cabin cableway for uphill transport.
4.) Vlkolínec Vlkolínec has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993, and is one of ten Slovak villages that have been given the status of a folk architecture reservations. This status was granted because the village is an untouched and complex example of folk countryside architecture of the region of the Northern Carpathians.
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5.) Ružomberok's stairs (Ružomberské schody) Bike contest uses several beautiful stairs from uptown to downtown. Stairs riding is only for professional biker with special bikes. It's unique contest in Slovakia. Overall here is 597 stairs in 6 stairways: School stairs (Školské schody), Dark stairs (Tmavé schody), Pink stairs (Ružové schody), Cloistered stairs (Kláštorné schody), North street (Severná ulička) and stairs on Bridge street (schody na Mostovej ulici)
6.) Chips mountain The biggest mountain of chips in Slovakia, maybe in Europe. You can overview of paper production process of the biggest paper factory in Slovakia.
7.) Jánošík's fist (Jánošikova päsť) Natural monument with associations to folk legends about Jánošík. Special rock has characteristic shape of fist.
8.) Natural assets Natural assets of Liptov is very rich. If we are lucky we will see in forest wild animals like red deers, rabbits. Also we can taste wild strawberries or another forest fruits.
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9.) Waterfall Lúčky This waterfall is a curiosity because it is situated in the middle of the village. It is a 12-meter high cascade waterfall, which falls into small lakes from the edge of the travertine terrace. The creek is gypsum and earthy warm-water streams, which enhance the decoration of the waterfall by flowing over the travertine terraces from which the waterfall flows down.
10.) Kalameny Wild natural thermal spring mostly used by residents with free entry. This stop is for comparison with other customized thermal springs like near Bešeňová.
11.) Bešeňová Bešeňová is is mostly relax center. It offers thermal water and relevant tourism infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, …) Nowadays Gino paradise thermal park Bešeňová more than 7 pools, more than 6 toboggans, including also the longest toboggan in Slovakia with more than 200m.
12.) Travertines around Bešeňová Travertine is soft limestone rock and its formation is affected by plenty of factors – water temperature, chemical contents of water, presence of organisms and CO2 in water, geological background, etc. The cascades of this exquisite limestone formation are shiny thanks to mineral water, which continuously streams down. This water does not contain only calcium carbonate, but also magnesium, sulfur and iron, so Bešeňová travertine is extraordinarily colorful.
13.) Celtic Archaeological Museum Havránok Northern slopes of the river Váh were inhabited already in the ancient times. Patient work of archeologists revealed relics from the Iron and the Roman Age. These regions achieved the highest growth during the Celtic colonization. In the year 1991 the excavation Havránok was declared a National Cultural Monument.
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14.) Sheepfarm Pastierska Slovakia through sheep-farming has its typical product (though of Vlach origin), protected in the whole EU – bryndza (sheep cheese). Bryndza in Austria it was called Liptauer, after Liptov region. The best bryndza is also from Liptov. The best season is May. You can taste various products from sheep milk, including bryndza in sheepfarm Pastierska.
15.) Torture chamber of Jánošík Unique exposition Mikuláš torture chamber (Mikulášska mučiareň). At the places where the court with legendary highwaymen’s leader Juraj Jánošík was held three hundred years ago, you can find records about his voluntary torture hearing. Torture equipment such as “dereš” (punishment by beating), rack or Spanish boot will illustrate you the cruel methods used by legal proceeding with Jánošík as well as the epoch when he lived.
16.) Thermal bathing pool Liptovský Ján Another thermal stop. Liptovský Ján offers natural thermal pool and also customized thermal swimming pools in village.
17.) Sheepfarm's museum Liptovský Hrádok Ethnography museum at Liptovský Hrádok was organizationally affiliated in 1974 with Liptov Museum at Ružomberok. It takes contact with the District Ethnography Museum of the people of Upper Liptov, founded in 1959.
18.) Dalo's gallery of wood-carving Dalo's gallery is private non commercial gallery focused on propagation of folk naive wood-carving. Owner Dalo is too wood-carver. He has and exhibits your creations all over Europe.
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19.) Power plant Čierny Váh The Čierny Váh pumped storage power plant is the country´s largest pumped storage power plant and with its installed capacity also the largest hydroelectric power plant. The upper reservoir located 1160 meters above sea level has none inflow of its own. The utility provides in particular support services to the power system, including for the biggest installed unit within it. 20.) Važec's cave (Važecká jaskyňa) The Važecká Cave is one of the most known caves in the northern Slovakia. Though by length it belongs among the short show caves, it is known by occurrence of rich dripstone decoration, remarkable findings of cave bear bones, as well as by rare cave fauna.
Liptov cuisine Selection from Liptov's dishes. You can taste some of them on our ride: Bryndza Pierogi (Bryndzové pirohy) Pirohy (pierogi) are not as common in Slovakia as in, let’s say Poland. There they are stuffed with all kinds of fillings. There are pierogi filled with meat, mashed potatoes, curd cheese, onions, or even sweet jams. But one kind you will surely find on your travels in Slovakia are bryndzové pirohy, pierogi filled with the special Slovak sheep cheese, bryndza.
Poppy seed dough rolls (Šúľance s makom) It's very similar to poppy seed noodles. Simply and sweet food. In Slovak heritage, poppies are a sign of wealth. It’s customary to wish someone to have peňazí ako maku, money like poppies. This is why we eat so many dishes topped with poppy seeds.
Oštiepok It is a traditional smoked sheep milk cheese made in Slovakia. Oštiepok is a protected trade name under the EU's protected geographical indication. A similar cheese is made in the Polish Tatra Mountains under the name Oscypek. The cheeses differ in ingredients ratios, cheesemaking process, and the characteristics of the final products differ.
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Contacts List of useful contacts related to this itinerary: http://www.visitliptov.sk/ main site for tourists and visitors of Liptov region
Bike Park Malinô Brdo Penzión Sidorovo Hrabovská cesta 1679/31 Družstevná 2 034 01 Ružomberok 034 03 Ružomberok +421 444 322 606, +421 907 839 754 +421 908 519 887, +421 905 501 073 [email protected] [email protected] http://bikepark.skipark.sk http://www.penzionsidorovo.sk
Hotel Summit *** Bešeňová Gino Paradise Bešeňová 034 83 Bešeňová 155 034 83 Bešeňová 136 +421 444 303 311, +421 908 901 392 +421 444 307 700, +421 444 307 708 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.hotelsummit.sk http://www.ginoparadise.sk
Archaeological Museum Havránok Salaš Pastierska Lector: +421 905 790 218 +421 911 809 896 [email protected] [email protected] http ://liptovskemuzeum.sk http://www.ppsbobrovec.sk
Hotel *** Sorea Máj, Lipt. Ján Motorest Kriváň 032 03 Liptovský Ján +421 948 105 505, +421 902 445 095 +421 524 467 3513 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.motorestkrivan.sk
Dalo's gallery of wood-carving Važec's cave 032 33 Kráľova Lehota 152 032 61 Važec Owner Dalo: +421 908 906 919 Administrator: +421 445 294 171 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.aprojekt.sk/galerianaskale http://www.ssj.sk
Information Center Ružomberok Information Center Liptovský Mikuláš Antona Bernoláka 1 Námestie mieru 1 034 01 Ružomberok 031 01 Liptovský Mikuláš +421 444 321 096, +421 444 313 611 +421 441 6186, +421 552 2418 [email protected] [email protected] http:// www.ruzomberok.eu http:// www.mikulas.travel
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Information minimum • State Slovakia (Slovak Republic) – www.slovakia.travel [EN, DE, SK] - location
- transport I recommend cp.atlas.sk [EN, DE, SK] for timetable of public transports (rail, bus, plane) - accommodation For standard hotels www.booking.com [EN, DE, SK] For pensions/privates www.limba.com [EN, DE, SK] - electricity Voltage is 230Volts, used plugs are Europlug or Schuko. It's the same as in Netherlands, so don't need any special reductions/adapters for your electric equipments. - cycle related Slovakia isn't very bike friendly. But in the future it will be better. At the moment Slovakia has very bad bike infrastructure, especially separated bike routes. So if you will bike in Slovakia, you have to be very careful, especially in contact with cars. Generally no special equipment is required for adult cyclists in the city (children under 15 must wear a helmet), however, we strongly recommend carrying a helmet and using flashing red light under the seat. Helmets must be worn outside of city limits. • Region Liptov – www.visitliptov.sk [EN, SK] Liptov is a historical and geographical region in northern Slovakia. It's one of the most visited regions in Slovakia. It's surrounded by beautiful nature, especially mountains High Tatras, West Tatras and Chočské vrchy from the north, Low Tatras from the south and Greater Fatra from the west. The longest Slovak Váh river flows through Liptov and fills the important water reservoir Liptovská Mara. There are two Slovak national parks with the highest level of protection in the territory of Liptov, that are the Tatra National Park and the Low Tatras National Park. • City Ružomberok – www.ruzomberok.sk [SK] - points of interest Gallery of Ľudovít Fulla Liptov's Museum SkiPark Ružomberok (BikePark) Paper factory
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• Village Vlkolínec – www.vlkolinec.sk [EN, DE, SK] Remarkably undisturbed and well preserved mountain settlement, protected area of folk architecture. In December 1993, it was added to the List of the World's Heritage of UNESCO. • Village Bešeňová – www.besenova.sk [SK] - points of interest Thermal park travertines mineral springs • Barrage Liptovská Mara The biggest barrage in Slovakia, surnamed as Slovakia see • Archeological museum Havránok – www.liptovskemuzeum.sk [EN, SK] Celtic field with some reconstructions of celctic buildings in nature • City Liptovský Mikuláš – www.mikulas.sk [EN, SK] - points of interest Torture chamber of Jánošík • Village Liptovský Ján – www.liptovskyjan.sk [SK] - points of interest thermal bathing pools • City Liptovský Hrádok – www.lhsity.sk [SK] - points of interest museum of sheep-breeding • Village Kráľova Lehota - points of interest museum of woodcutter Dalo • Barrage Čierny Váh - the biggest Slovak pumped storage hydro plant • Village Važec - points of interest small local cave
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Requirements • insurance for dangerous/extreme sports The ride is also in mountains, so you need it. • suitable bike clothes + swimming suit Some standard clothes for current weather, maybe you will also need raincoat. We have plan to visit some thermal parks. • suitable (trekking or mountain) bike If you don't have right bike, I'm able to rent cross bike Kellys Saph. This is a rugged, go anywhere, bike. Kelly's describe it as a 'cross'. It is more a mountain bike than a hybrid as it has front suspension and sloping geometry. However it has 700c wheels like a road bike but with large tires so it could be used both on and off the road. Price for rent bike is 39,9EUR/per trip • helmet I'm also able to rent standard helmet, rent price 5EUR/per trip • bag I'm prefer rucksack for moving of your stuff. • ID card, cash for souvenirs/foods/beverages/...
Recommended equipment • mobile phones with long life battery, GPS navigation/tracker • energy bars, sweets • bike glasses, gloves, bottle
Downloads • This document – full itinerary Funny Cycling Volume Slovakia – Liptov funny-cycling-volume-slovakia-liptov.pdf • Presentation for Funny Cycling Volume Slovakia – Liptov funny-cycling-volume-slovakia-liptov-presentation.pdf • Day 1 – file for your GPS navigation (GPX format of file) funny-cycling-volume-slovakia-liptov-01-day-summary.gpx • Day 2 – file for your GPS navigation (GPX format of file) funny-cycling-volume-slovakia-liptov-02-day-summary.gpx • Day 3 – file for your GPS navigation (GPX format of file) funny-cycling-volume-slovakia-liptov-03-day-summary.gpx • All days – file for your GPS navigation (GPX format of file) funny-cycling-volume-slovakia-liptov-total-summary.gpx
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Suggested events This itinerary is universal about date of your trip. We recommend summer for your trip or autumn/spring with good weather forecast. You can also synchronize date of your ride with some interesting events, which are on itinerary track: Vlkolínec's sunday Date: once per year in the middle of summer Place: UNSESCO village Vlkolínec Description: Sunday in Vlkolínec with Slovak folkor music group, folkor dance and traditions.
Celtic's day Date: once per year in the middle of summer Place: Celtic museum Havránok Description: Saturday in Havránok with exhibition of celtic trades, martial arts, victimization to celtic gods and celtic life.
Ružomberok' s stairs Date: once per year at the end of summer Place: Ružomberok Description: Professional bike competition in Ružomberok at Saturday. It's also part of Slovak mountain bike cup contest.
Ružomberok' market Date: 2x per year, 1st at the start of summer, 2nd in autumn Place: Ružomberok Description: Friday/Saturday, market with traditional (and also current) folklore goods, cultural program and with refreshment (food/drink) section.
Please contact information centers for actual dates of selected events or for offer of current events in Liptov region.
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About guide – Jan Garaj Please feel free to contact me, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions: Jan Garaj – independent tour guide (too for cycling) languages: English, Slovak, Czech, Bulgarian, basic German mobile: +421 949 113 911 email: [email protected] web: http://www.jangaraj.com Your cycle guide Jan Garaj: • was born and raised in Liptov I was born in Ružomberok. I spent a lot of time with bike riding in Liptov. My family also lives also in Liptov, so I know about hidden corners of the Liptov region from my parents and grand parents. • is member of warmshowers.org Warmshowers.org is a community project like couchsurfing, but for bikers. It isn't so well-know as couchsurfing. Anyway, it is good opportunity to meet interesting bikers on theirs trips.
With my warmshower's hosts from France Vincent, Benjamin, Anaëlle
• is casual biker/runner My profession is a software engineer, so my job is very static without any physical work. So to find balance in my life I cycle and run on the recreation level in my free time. Sometimes also I'm working like representative during summer seasons.
Wading from summer cyclo trip Along old Donau river-basin
My full profession profile is available on https://www.linkedin.com/in/jangaraj
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Useful sources Books: The Bike Touring, Survival Guide, Friedel & Andrew Grant
Web sites/forums: http://www.adventurecycling.org – America's Cycling Association http://www.ctct.org.uk – Cyclist Touring Club in UK http://wereldfietser.nl – Wereldfietser club in Holland http://www.ecf.com – European Cyclists' Federation http://bikeforums.net – Bike forum focused on North America http://www.cyclechat.net – forum focused on Europe/Great Britain http://warmshowers.org – cycle touring hospitality group/couchsurfing for cyclists
Applications for smartphones: http://www.endomondo.com – Endomondo http://www.mapmyride.com – Map My Ride http://www.strava.com – STRAVA
Maps/route planner: http://cykloserver.cz – great coverage of cycle routes, points of interest for Czech and Slovakia, with cycle planner and with elevation profiles http://www.bikemap.net – maps with real passed routes http://maps.google.sk – classic provider for world wide maps http://viamichelin.com – classic provider for world wide maps with focused on motor-vehicle routes
General: http://www.wikipedia.com – source for basic information about local places/sights/....
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www.visitliptov.sk
Funny Cycling Ride, Volume: Slovakia – Liptov by Jan Garaj is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License Logo Liptov® and some used images are under license of Klaster Liptov