The Americans started it. The British are already expanding theirs extensively - and last year, one was finally opened here in Central Europe. To be more precise: in the Sudeten Mountains. We are talking about a cross-country trail in accordance with the International Mountain Bike Association - IMBA for short. The IMBA, in turn, has set itself the task of painting trail networks with epic flow in the landscape - worldwide. After the legendary Wasach Crest Trail in Utah and the Coed y Brenin in Wales, there is now a dream trail in the border triangle of the Sudeten Mountains, along the Polish-German-Czech border.
Unfortunately, we missed the opening in autumn 2009, but we made our way to the Czech border at the first possible date in spring:
The MTB trail at the Tafelfichte
The Jizera Mountains are part of the Sudeten Mountains and stretch for 100 kilometres along the border between the three countries. The peaks barely scrape the 1,000 metre mark, but their bizarre rock formations are full of mystical stories, some flashing like golden stones. Some of the paved paths look like marble. If you dig a hole in the ground anywhere, you run the risk of coming across a relic of the Second World War. And as if that wasn't adventurous enough, there is now a particularly ingenious trail to ensure sleepless nights.
However, we are worried about the rain pelting down on our journey. It has been pouring on the windscreen for hours. A few kilometres before we reach our destination, our satnav has finally run out of steam: "At the next opportunity - please turn around." But we continue towards the Jizera Mountains. As soon as we arrive, the clouds stop dripping but now cling to the trees in the form of fog.
Project name: Singletrek pod Smrkem
All right, let's take a look at the trail on the map first: "Singletrek pod Smrkem" is the name of the project, in German: Singletrail an der Tafelfichte. At 1124 metres, the Tafelfichte, or Smrkem, is not the highest mountain in the Jizera Mountains, but it is the most famous near the town of Nove Miasto pod Smrkem (New Town on the Tafelfichte). The route measures 18 kilometres so far, twelve kilometres of which are pure singletrack.
The next morning, we cross the forest in a direction that the landlord of our guesthouse has advised as the shortest distance - and suddenly come across the trail we are looking for. This must be it, the magical trail that is almost religiously revered by other bikers. The feeling that the trail has that certain something is immediate. It threads its way through the narrow tree trunks just as wide as the handlebars. Two or three bends to feel your way round, then the flow simply sweeps you away. Davydd Davis, the famous trail builder from Wales, has 15 years of experience in every finely honed corner exit. And we're talking about bends that basically make any braking unnecessary. You just have to get through the spruce and fir trees.
The Czech trail section leads mainly through forests, but there are always glimpses of light with beautiful views. But be careful, there is no room for laxity. Just when you've had your fill of a landscape, there's usually an abrupt change and the trail twists and turns like a pig's tail. Sometimes you're almost scrubbing along the trees. Then total concentration is required. The faster you go, the more difficult the trail becomes. Logical. But only if you let it go properly and hit the line precisely will you have enough momentum for the next ascent. For this reason alone, it would be annoying to have to pull the brakes because of a riding error.
But even less experienced riders can manage here. Under the direction of Tomas Kvasnicka, the director of CeMBA, the surface was lined with finely ground granite. As a result, it has a consistently smooth surface, is easier to shape and can withstand any downpour. Only the lighter colour still stands out somewhat from the normal forest floor, and it will probably take a few more months before it is fully integrated into nature. On the other hand, it is precisely its crystal-clear flow through the otherwise mossy forest floor that makes the trail so perfect. A total of 50 kilometres of the finest trail network is planned here, but let's get straight to the opening.
The entire article on the Smrkem Trail in the Jizera Mountains is available as a PDF download below.
