December 4, 2017: Century ride in a -5 Northwest Prague and Bohemia

105 km, 4h51, 1017 hm

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2364966215

I left Branik in the early morning and was sent to the cycling paths next to the Vltava

I know this area very well. It was -5 and I was well dressed up

I headed west to Hostivice, right outside of Prague. There was a very cool new climb for me. It was a very steep and tiny road through a forest. Unbelievable that was in Prague city

It was very cold and my GPS battery was draining very fast. I gave up on my originally planned ride and went for a 100 km loop.

I first cycled to Kladno and then to Kralupy Nad Vltavou

In Kladno

The road betwen Kralupy and Kladno was nice, not too much traffic

Minus five today, very cold already

The bridge of Kralupy nad Vltavou, many memories for me here. I came here in the middle of the night on my first ride ever, back in November 14, 2015. I also came here during my rides from Prague to Belgium. And I even came here a few times after work.

I searched the Vltava and followed it south, in the direction of Prague

Interesting interaction between the sun and the clouds

Was I glad I was wearing all this gear

22 km to Prague city

I basically followed cycling route 7

Which deviated from the Vltava

Not many people outside, but who can blame them

More well known areas, Maslovice... This was 15 km from my home in Cakovice

Back on the Vltava cycling path, I could see Prague center from afar

This bridge apparently collapsed yesterday, I cycled over it many times. It shocked me a little

A woman told me that one man on the bridge was heavily injured 

Approaching Prague city center, get ready for cobbles and tram rails

Prague castle

My GPS sent me through some cycling lanes in Prague city where I had never been before. Nice from a touristic point of view

AS close to the Vltava as you can get with a bike

I made it home well on time before darkness and chilled for the rest o

f the day

November 19, 2017: 2000hm in a beautiful Bohemia

Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2340157430

133 km, 2053hm, 6h09

After a rainy day, I had a chance to hit the road on Sunday. I planned my own route linking a few routes and cities together. No idea how much this would be...

I first navigated to the town Jilove U Prahy. My GPS took me out of Prague

Early morning gymnastics on an Autumn day

After Jilove U Prah, I rode past the 105, which was in a good condition and went uphill.

The recent rain filled the air with oxygen and I felt super fit. This was fun!

I stopped at this spot to enjoy the beautiful view

In the district of Benesov

I followed the 105 south all the way to the town of Neveklov, a place I know well

These roads were devoid of traffic on this Sunday morning

This spot filled me with nostalgia, exactly two years ago I first came here also in November. It was the day I rode to Tabor. That day it was freezing cold and my water cages were frozen. Two years passed like that, very confrontating

A cute castle right in front of Neveklov

In Neveklov I felt right at home. I started navigating to the next town on my route: Bystrice

The wide open yet hilly plains of Bohemia, beautiful in its own way

Iesus Nazareth Rex Iudaeorum

It was pretty cold with this wind, but luckily I dressed up well for this task

The moments the sun came out were strikingly beautiful

Already 550 m of climbing after only 30 km. That means we have a KOM ride...

Cesky Sternberk was the next big dot on today's map

The beautiful moments of Autumn

The first time I stood at elevation 500 today

Riding here is like yoga and meditation combined

A descent into Cesky Sternberk. It was 12.42 at this time

The castle of Cesky Sternberk

I had lunch at this spot. I ate three of my home made wraps. Wonderful to have those. Healthy and delicious

Then I learned that the way back to Prague was all the way back of that hill, another 200m of straight climbing. Moreover, the winds were blowing in my face all of the sudden. I plowed my way through

After Cesky Sternberk I still had 50 km left and it was well after 13:00 already. In autumn that means you need to calculate daylight end. I was sent through a maze of tiny yet steep roads. A delight to see but I could not help worrying a little about progress. Hence a reduced amount of photos

A long struggle brought me to the town of Ondrejov. That is a name I remember well. It made me understand I was not that far from Prague anymore.

At the top of a very long climb, district of Prague East. I already had 1800 meters of climbing here. 

Then I passed the town of Mnichovice. Living at a different place in Prague, the perspective on rides has changed. Interesting

The last moments of daylight in a small Czech village, the typical church. There is always some tension in moments like these. I love this atmosphere

Eventually I made it into Prague and navigated safely to where I live. With lights on and hyper reflective kit.

Today's numbers

Deserve a thumbs up!