Riding the Sudety MTB Challenge

Poland sits on the Eastern side of Europe, bordering with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other Eastern European countries, with 38 million people calling it home. Well known as the first country invaded by Germany in WWII, home to the most famous concentration camp, Auschwitz and birthplace of Frederik Chopin and Marie Curie, Poland is rarely mentioned as a mountain bike destination. However in 2005 the Sudety MTB Challenge was first run through the western border of Poland and the Czech Republic, opening up opportunities for the world to view the world class trails built over hundreds of years.

Starting in the skiing town of Stronie Slaskie, the Sudety Mountain Bike Challenge takes competitors over 7 days of raw, natural terrain used by centuries of locals as trails to move between towns and cities through the mountain ranges. The natural essence of these trails is immediately visible with loose, rocky descents snaking down the mountains, covered in ruts, roots and shale unlike any other mountain bike trail I have seen. This is the theme throughout Poland, where riders use natural trails rather than carving kilometres of track where it already exists.

RACING THE SUDETY MTB CHALLENGE

An exploration of the mountains surrounding Stronie Slaskie was the order of the first few days of racing, allowing a shorter, 3 day race option for those athletes looking to taste Polish mountain biking for themselves. These trails showcased what Poland had to offer with riders spending 4-6 hours on the bike covering technical, fast and exhilarating trails all day long.

As the race progresses, a point-to-point style event takes place, showcasing a further variety of trails to the riders. In 2015, riders traversed to Bardo along the Polish-Czech Republic border, dodging border markers on the technical singletrack that created the border for centuries. On towards Gluszcya creates an uphill battle, with many small rewards along the route as riders traverse a 30m high Aqueduct and ride through a Prussian Fortress at the top before heading into tree lined singletrack towards the finish. For some riders the stage 5 entry into Duzniki Zdroj was a real event highlight, heading down a ski field into the winter ski resort where the finish line awaited, however the 83km challenge held before this allowed riders to test the legs as well as ride through 13^th century castle ruins and a testing climb through the National park.

MOUNTAIN BIKING IN POLAND

While not all riders will be attracted to attending a race to experience the trails that surround Poland, it does allow for a range of riding to be covered, and the routes to be organised with only arrows to follow, rather than a GPS or map. The Sudety MTB Challenge isn’t the only option, with race organisers also running the Beskidy MTB Challenge, MTB Trilogy and the Marathon due to return in 2016 for endurance based riders. These events are complemented by the popular Jelenia Gora Trophy and Puchar polski MTB Trophy for the XCO based racers.

Riders throughout Poland head to the southern mountains bordering with the Czech Republic and Slovakia to gain the best mountain biking on offer, as well as attending these popular races. In this area you will also be able to ride the Palencia Bike Park, fitted with a chair lift and range of trails for all levels of riders and riding styles designed for all day outings on more traditional trails.

As the villages are short distances apart and the trails were designed to travel between the villages, some riders choose to bike pack through Poland. With multiple route choices available as well as many locations to head towards, this can be a great way to see the vast and dynamic landscape that Poland has to offer.

Travelling through Southern Poland can be a challenge due to the lack of public transport compared to many other countries in Europe. However with affordable car rental or taxi hire it can be completed relatively easily. The Polish language is also a significant challenge for English speakers with foreign sounds unlike any latin based language. When standing at a grocery store register I normally expect a standard greeting, then asked for the amount of money that I owe the store. As much as this may have been the case I struggled to understand a word that was spoken and unfortunately the English in many of these stores was not of a great level, so I turned to holding out an amount of cash I hoped would pay the bill and trusting that it was all correct. This is the hardest challenge for many people heading into foreign countries, so with a few small Polish words and sentences memorised there will be no issues.

During the Sudety MTB Challenge in 2015, riders were amazed by the technical nature of the trails and the welcoming nature of the public with hundreds of riders charging through often quiet towns. The race dynamic created a comfortable atmosphere where riders experienced the diverse trails available in Poland with different and challenging trails on a daily basis being a highlight for all. With great staff and support available during the race, all riders attend knowing that they are well catered for and looked after during their visit to Poland, and will head away with a life long memory of the trails they have conquered during their visit.

TRAVEL TIPS

• Australian mobile carrier’s international packages don’t often cover telephone usage in Poland. Free wifi can be a challenge to find, but is available in most towns if you have the time and patience, however the easiest method is to purchase a sim card, available at most supermarkets for around $5-10, that will cover calls and data usage.
• The Polish Zloty goes a long way, don’t feel that you need thousands to get through your trip. A large pizza will set you back around $4 while a delicious ice cream will set you back around $2.
• English speakers are harder to find in Poland than through the rest of Europe. Practice your key phrases and charades and you will do just fine!

GETTING TO POLAND

• In order to get direct to the mountain biking in Poland, it is best to fly into either Prague (Czech Republic) or Wroclaw (Poland). From here, it is easiest to drive to your final location, however there is limited public transport that can help you make the journey.

BIKE TIPS

Poland is known amongst mountain bikers for its steep and rough terrain, we recommend the following bike setup when riding there

• XC dual suspension bikes are becoming lighter every year, and more efficient to climb. Due to the rough nature of the trails, this will allow more comfort for all day riding
• Climbs are regular and steep throughout Poland, so a low ratio gearing setup is highly recommended. Opt for a 28/30T chain ring on 1x bike setups or a 22-28T inner chain ring for 2/3x setups. Chat to your local mechanic about options.
• The trails are very raw and unpredictable, so a grippy front tyre such as the Maxxis Ardent, Schwalbe Nobby Nic or Specialized Ground Control is recommended, paired with an equivalent or faster rolling rear tyre. Choose a tyre with a high level of puncture protection as sharp rocks are common.
• For those of you looking to hit the descents fast, a dropper post is a great addition to your bike setup. The trails are technical, so the dropper will allow you more bike control.

WEATHER

• Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions when riding in Poland. The week before I arrived there were daily storms and maximum temperatures of 15 degrees, when I was riding it was sunny and 20 with the occasional shower and the week after I left the temperatures soared to maximums of 35-40 each day. Bring a good rain jacket, and clothes that you can layer up in case the weather turns bad.