SK, Bratislava: Bikepark Koliba – Piece of Bike Paradise

I love biking since childhood. However, somehow I always tended to be less demanding biker. For example, along a dam or side roads. If I accidentally wandered into the forest path, I thought I was a mountain biker. A true mountain biking, however, brought me to my husband. He convinced me that the money that we got as a wedding gift, will serve to buy a "proper bike". I certainly agreed because only two months ago somebody stole our two-wheeled steed.

I do not know how but suddenly there was a brand new mountain bike waiting for me in my house (though I have to say that I really do not know if this type of bike is really called “the mountain bike”, but anyway, it has beautiful thick wheels - even 29 inches that make me to put less effort into biking, and I am forbidden to install there a basket because it would be disturbing). Our first meters on bike did not lead to Hamuliakov, Cunov or just around as I suspected initially. Our first ride went to a forest. My husband took me on a bike trip from Bratislava through Malé Karpaty to Marianka. It was amazing. To surprise of my husband I made it without complications. Although, I must admit that I was lost my stamina in last years. I was totally exhausted and regular breathing was something unknown to me.

A few days ago we were back in the forest. And then again. I think that except snowboarding and paragliding we found another common passion that would make our days more colorful. It is true that it will take me several years to get to my husband’s biking level (if I ever succeed, yet over 30 I feel that I do not have that much courage and determination as I had during my teenage years).

Bikepark Koliba

Several forest bike trips later, my husband took me to his favorite freeride, the Driver 8. The trail is part of Bikepark Koliba located above Bratislava. First, I read something about it on the Internet. I wanted to know what is ahead. From the beginning I had a big enough concern, if I had something like that prepared enough, but they disappeared along with the first shots of the pedals. I must admit that I was quite reassured by the fact that in the Bike Park Chalet are certain rules. The most important of them being a ban on using ski slopes as tourist trails. Also there is a ban to push your bike in the opposite direction. Thanks to this I could fully concentrate on riding.

Driver 8 Trail

Perhaps the easiest way how to get on the Driver 8 trail is to get up to Kamzik from Zelezna Studanka. You take a two place cableway that will comfortably take you and your two-wheeled companion. The start is located on a wooden ramp at the top stop of the cableway. At the beginning of the Driver 8 until the wooden ramp is part of Bikepark Koliba. But then it detaches to the right, goes over the bridge over the nature trail continues north, then heads to the crossing over the stream, where it ends. There it connects to the walkway leading to the cableway. I have to admit that overcoming this long track of 1,300 meters with a total height elevation of 177 meters gave me a really really hard time. But when I reached the bottom station of the cable car, I was more than happy. And my husband enjoyed this probably more than I did. Finally, I joined him and together we ride thtough his favorite places in Bratislava. But I really had enough and when I realized we still have to ride back home, I did not want to go anywhere. But I let him, whether it goes a little romp. It was apparent that he enjoyed being in nature.

Rohatka Trail

He got to the top again by the cableway. Down he downhilled. that as he loves insanely fast on the Rohatka downhill trail . The trail starts again on a wooden ramp at the top of the cableway and leads to the object known as the Rotunda by Zelezna Studanka. Meanwhile, I was still catching my breath beneath the cable car and then relaxed I drove (of course after plain) on a direction to the Rotunda.

Frankly, this trip was a wonderful experience to me. I would like to express gratitude not only to my husband who brought me to this beautiful sport, but also to the members of the Free Biker Association. They stood behind construction, yearly renovations and legalization of downhill trails of Rohatka and Driver 8. Do you consider yourself being a friend of mountain biking? It is not necesseray to persuade you to give 2 % of state taxes to a good cause. This good cause is represented by great work of enthusiasts of the Free Bikers Association. Your 2 % of 2013 taxes will help to maintain trails of Bikepark Koliba.

More information on giving 2 % to Bikepark Kolibe is HERE.

Text: O. Maňáková

Source and photo: Bikepark Koliba , Svobodný Bajker o.z.