By two wheels - all about bikes

Szklarska Poręba  by two wheels , Bike paths in numbers:  , Bike trails markings , Description of trails , Mountain bike events 

Szklarska Poręba  by  two wheels

Bike – more and more popular means of transport, way of spending free time or even a way of life. More and more often, tourists visiting Szklarska Poręba, apart from a toothbrush, also take a mountain bike with them. On 16^th July 2001 the Town Office in Szklarska Poręba – in cooperation with the Association of Cyclists “Szklarska Poręba By Two Wheels” and the Izerskie Association celebrated the opening of 12 mount bike paths around Szklarska Poręba, totalling 500 km. The paths have been prepared for bikers representing various skill levels. Everybody should find something suitable and attractive.

The system of bike paths has been arranged along the most beautiful parts of the Izerskie and Karkonosze Mts. In order to facilitate bike riding, we have selected paths that most often lead away form roads accessible for regular traffic. The bike path no.3 joins our trails into the network of bike paths in the Czech part of Karkonosze Mts. The paths have been marked in the city area, and five information boards have been placed to present a map of path network, regulations regarding riding in the countryside, as well as other important information for bike riders. The most useful aid in organising bike rides will undoubtedly be a map and a guide-book, which have been available also since 16^th June and printed in 3,000 copies. You can read additional information on an Internet page, at the address: www.rowery.szklarska.com.pl

Bike paths in numbers:

12 marked bike paths
3 paths in the process of marking (planned start-up in 2004 biking season)
450 km – total length of mountain bike paths
8 km – the longest downhill
1150m a.s.l. – the highest point on bike paths
1 – 5 bike paths scale of difficulty

bike paths
 

Bike trails markings

Bike trails markings
Look around and for markings on trees, stones, rocks, walls or boards.
 •  warning signs – exclamation mark (from one to three) signal the need to be exceptionally careful. The description of trails.  

Bike trail markings
Look around for markings on trees, stones, rocks, walls or boards. Put on a white background, they include:
·         a figure of a cyclist,
·         trail number(s),
·         an arrow indicating direction,
·         sponsors’ logos,
.         warning signs – exclamation mark(s) (1-3) signalling the need to be      exceptionally careful.

Description of trails:

Bike path no.1 – Mała Szklarska Pętla (Small Szklarska Loop)
The path is 13 km long. It starts in the town centre and leads along city streets, past the sports stadium to the Corpus Christi Church. On the way, you can visit the museum in Szklarska Poręba, next the house of Wlastimil Hofman and Chybotek in Szklarska Poręba Dolna, finally return along Górna St. to Biała Dolina and the town centre.

Bike path no.2 – Trasa Kogeneracji (Co-generation Trail)
The path is 50 km long. It leads along the Polish Izerskie and the Czech Karkonosze Mts. Although difficult, with sharp uphill parts and difficult coarse gravel road cover, it is very interesting as it joins the Czech bike path no.2 (you’d better take a passport with you). On the Czech side you can visit the area of Harrachov – city centre, the Mumlava waterfall, and spend a while admiring the famous mammoth ski jump. The path starts in the centre of Szklarska Poręba and leads toward the “Południowy Stok” holiday complex, where you can stop by the “Spring of Health and Love” for a while and take advantage of the spring’s miraculous properties. It is also worth admiring the panorama of Karkonosze through binoculars. Next, the path leads towards the Izerskie Mts – past the Stanisław mine – and joins the road heading for Jakuszyce. We cross the border at the Jakuszyce border crossing and after visiting Harrachov may return to Szklarska Poręba.

Bike path no.3 – Trasa Radiowej Trójki (Radio 3 Trail)
The path can be defined as a big loop because it goes around Szklarska Poręba, making it possible to visit many interesting places. However, it is a difficult path requiring high-level equipment and skills. Less advanced mountain bikers will have to step off the bike at some stretches. The path is 20 km long and begins at the Square of Radio 3 (Plac Radiowej Trójki), then leading through the town centre past an old Walloons house. Note! You simply must visit the Walloons Master, who has the great power of cleaning you of any shabbiness. His good advice will be of great help for further travelling, and the lucky ones might be able to find the Waloons treasure trove. Then we ride by the Szklarka Waterfall and on through Szklarska Poręba Dolna to the Curve of Death. From there, we set off to Biała Dolina and next to Rozdroże near Kamieńczyk, down to the bottom station of the chair lift up Szrenica and back to the Square of Radio 3.

Bike path no.4 – Łącznik Trzech Dzielnic (Three Estates’ Junction)
This is one of the easiest paths – we recommend it for a warm up. It is 9 km long and mostly runs among the Szklarska Poręba Dolna areas. It starts in the town centre, by the Tourist Information Office. Next, we ride past the Corpus Christi Church to Szklarska Poręba Dolna, pass the Farmers’ Rehabilitation Centre, go downhill along Waryńskiego St. and return up Armi Krajowej St.

Bike path no.5 – Karkonoski Ekspres pod Reglami (The Karkonosze Express under Forests)
This path is quite easy and 19 km long. It is spectacular as far as the views go. It starts in the town centre and leads along the city road to a car park next to the Kamieńczyk Waterfall and further on along forest paths at the bottom of Karkonosze Mountains to the road called “Droga pod Reglami” (“Road under Forests”). From there you can return to the town centre along Kasprowicza St.
This path is quite easy and 19 km long. It is spectacular as far as the views go. It starts in the town centre and leads along the city road to Kamieńczyk car park and further along forest paths at the bottom of Karkonosze Mountains to the road “Droga pod Reglami”. From there one can return to the town centre along Kasprowicza street.

Bike path no.6 – Pętla “Trzy Jawory” (“Three Sycamores’ Loop”)
This bike path takes you around Michałowice. It is quite easy and only 8 km long. It starts and finishes at the cross-roads by Łagodna not far from Michałowice. On the way, you pass by the granite quarry, travel further to the trails’ meeting point in Michałowice and return through the cross-roads by Trzy Jawory (Three Sycamores). The path was designed as an extra loop of paths nos. 5 and 7.

Bike path no.7 – Pętla Dwóch Rzek (The Loop of Two Rivers)
A 30 km long and quite difficult path. It starts in the centre of Szklarska Poręba by the Tourist Information Office and leads via the Death Curve and Rozdroże Izerskie (Izerskie Crossroads) to Górzyniec, returning through Piechowice to Szklarska Poręba Dolna along Droga Pod Reglami (Road under Forests).

Bike path no.8 at the foot of Wysoki Grzbiet – Samolot (Aeroplane)
This path is 35 km long and starts in the centre of Szklarska Poręba by the Tourist Information Office. The path leads along mountain trails in the Izerskie Mts. From the centre you travel along the road past the Stanisław Mine, get to Orle and the Szklarska Pass. The return way is along a closed railway line to Szklarska Poręba. The path is worth recommending because of its amazing views.

Bike path no.9 Trasa Towarzystwa Izerskiego (The Izerskie Society Path)
The path is 18,5 km long and leads along the Izerskie Mts trails. It is very attractive thanks to its views and sights. It starts and finishes at Orle, but requires travelling to Szklarska Poręba – Jakuszyce first.

Bike path no.10 Trasa Interferii (Interferie Path)
It is 48 km long, starts and finishes by the Górnicza Strzecha hotel (Wysoka St.). You ride to Jakuszyce through Osiedle Huty (Glassworks Estate) and further on along a very picturesque trail through Orle, past the Mountaineers’ Cottage (Chatka Górzystów) up to the fringe of Świeradów Zdrój. You return to Szklarska Poręba along Droga Sudecka.

Bike path no.11 Trasa Gazety Wyborczej (Gazeta Wyborcza Daily Path)
Start and finish by the Tourist Information Centre in the town centre. It leads through Biała Dolina towards Jakuszyce and returns along the E-65 road. The path is abundant in amazing views, quite easy and 14 km long.

Bike path no.12 Trasa Artystyczna (The Artistic Path)
The path is 12 km long and passes by museums, galleries and other places connected with the cultural life of Szklarska Poręba. It starts and finishes in the town centre by the Tourist Information Office. It leads towards Esplanada, hosting an Art Gallery called “Kokon” (“Cocoon”), owned by the artists Beata and Janusz Konecki; next we stop by the graveyard, where you can visit the grave of Wlastimil Hofman. We ride further on to the Museum in Szklarska Poręba – a branch of the District Museum, displaying tokens of remembrance which once belonged to the Hauptmann brothers (Gerhard and Carl), a collection of historical products of the “Julia” crystal glass factory and a rich collection of paintings by Wlastimil Hofman. Next, you travel towards Szklarska Poręba Dolna to the Hofman’s house. On the way, it is worth stopping by the Grave of Karkonosz and by Złoty Widok (Golden View). After riding along a forest path and crossing the road leading to Szklarska Poręba, you get to the Szklarka waterfalls. Then you take the direction of Jan Sztaudynger’s house (1 Maja St.) and further on along Kilińskiego St., where there is Mr Zbigniew Frączkiewicz house and its outdoor gallery “Kamienny Krąg” (“The Stone Circle”) presenting Men of Steel on display. Riding along narrow roads you get to the closed-down “Julia” crystal glass factory and return along the E-65 road.

MOUNTAIN BIKE EVENTS

Even before the system of bike paths was created, the organisers of BIKE ACTION had noticed the advantages of these areas for mountain bike fans. Every August, Szklarska Poręba becomes crowded with mountain bikers. At this time the biggest mass mountain bike event in Central Europe – the Bike Action Mountain Bike Festival – takes place here. It is a meeting of mountain bikers from all over Poland, and also from the Czech Republic and Germany. In the rich and versatile program you can always find something interesting for you, e.g. the longest in Poland mountain marathon, Polish Championships in Downhill and Dual, mountain bike mini-fairs, water jumping trial shows and numerous competitions. The number of participants keeps growing each year. Every year over a thousand of participants enjoy the festival and over 10.000 spectators keep cheering them for three days. However, mountain bike lovers meet for events in Szklarska Poręba also on other occasions. In August, a preparation camp for the finalists of the action called “Wakacje na dwóch kółkach” (“Holidays on Two Wheels”) is organised in cooperation with Polish Radio 3. It is a summer event which for many years has been organised for young people by Mr Henryk Sytner. After the camp in Szklarska Poręba, the finalists set off for a tour of far-away countries.

Szklarska Poręba also provides conditions for practising cycling at its best. For a few years the start, and this year also the finish, of a leg of Tour de Pologne takes place in Szklarska Poręba.

Biking events - events schedule  >