A Bicycle Tour of Slovenia | EPISODE 1: TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
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- čas přidán 11. 01. 2024
- Our latest cycling adventure comes to you from the beautiful nation of Slovenia. Arriving in Ljubljana, we spend an afternoon at Lake Bled before riding through the spectacular Triglav National Park. With mile after mile of absolutely spectacular alpine scenery, you won’t believe how beautiful this country is. This time it’s my daughters and me, on our very first bike tour all together. In a departure, we opt to go with a self-guided tour, renting bikes and having the operator shlep our luggage for us. We’ll see how that all works out! In the meantime, enjoy this trip with us as we explore a region whose charms may very well take you by surprise.
Music:
Meghmalai - Maree Docia
Epidemic Sound
Helium - TrackTribe
CZcams-AudioLibrary
Tell It Later - Kikoru
Epidemic Sound
Fool’s Gold - Spectacles Wallet and Watch
Epidemic sound
Synesthesia - Peter Sandberg
Epidemic Sound
When we toured Slovenia, there was a pass they would shuttle you up for 20 euro. I figured if it was great a climb I wasn't going to miss it. Turned out to be just as advertised. We were lucky that our bikes fit.
Those meadows are amazing. When we stopped at one, my wife couldn't resist running into the meadow & singing the Sound of Music.
I live at the foot of the Rockies, which are by any standard pretty spectacular. But when you get up into the Alps its hard to believe how beautiful it can be. Loved Slovenia!
Somehow each trip you make gets better than the last. The beauty of this one is unbelievable so far.
Thanks Don! This whole shooting/editing thing has been a real learning curve! So I think they get better in quality. But how can you miss with this kind of scenery?
That scenery was gorgeous! That trip is something you and your daughters will never forget…can’t wait for episode 2.
Definitely one to remember. Such an amazing country.
That scenery was SO, SO, beautiful!
The woods, mountains, roads, houses, barns, and church buildings! WOW!
So beautiful..., it literally moistened my eyes!
Thank you for sharing both your ride and your trip!
Thanks Gary, and of course, it's my pleasure.
We were very happy to see that you're posting this new adventure. It brought back memories of when we would look forward to each episode of your France trip. Well done... filming, editing, music...all perfect.
Thank you! That means a lot!
What a lucky guy. To spend so much time with your girls. To bad about the bikes. What beautiful scenery. Take care. Al
Thanks Al! I agree, especially as time has gone on, it gets harder and harder to get that quality time. This was truly special!
How awesome, and what a beautiful country! We’ve haven’t been there, it looks like a marvelous ride, and doing it with your daughters is even more special ❤. Excited to see the next video👍
Thank you Cheryl. Slovenia was my daughters' choice. Turned out to be a great decision!
Slovenia... the only country in the world with LOVE in its name...
Yes, indeed, part of their advertising slogan.
I so much love your videos, and this trip with your daughters make me want to travel with my dad. I am embarking my first solo and bike touring trip in august doing this the slovenia west loop. However, I'm only finding bikepacking (a bit rough) routes online. I wonder if you could share the itinerary/route to do it on more biketouring like mode. thanks!
Great video. Brought back happy memories of our week based in Kranska Gora back in 2008, doing some cycling and hiking. Doesn't look like much has changed in the rural surroundings, I remember all the hay racks! I also remember how the locals were so proud of and loved their country. When we visited Lake Bled, the UK Olympic rowing team were training on the lake and some of them stayed in our hotel in Kranska Gora. Looking forward to episode 2. Shame Juliana missed out.
Thank you Fiona. Yes, too bad about Julianna. If all goes to plan, she'll be back in the saddle this Spring for an Amsterdam > Venice ride. I fell in love with this country, a lot of variety, very kind people, crazy beautiful scenery.
Miss Julianna here too!@@TheBicycleTourists
Watched again!
Yup, that scenery literally is, Roland's quote, "Dreamy."
Would literally rest my hand on the corner of those church's outer walls, while admiring them!
The buildings there are all So, So Beautiful!
Such, pretty, pretty natural scenery too!
It really is a wonderful place. The architecture is born of many influences, German, Italian, Balkan. This is a real crossroads of culture. Thanks for watching, as always, Gary!
Another bike tour, what a pleasant surprise! Keep the episodes coming Roland, all my trails are flooded and its going to feel like the north pole here in my area for weeks to come. Its odd how watching other people ride bikes is comforting when I cant ride.
Thanks! I feel the same way. It's below zero here in Denver, it'll be a while before I can get on anything other than the trainer downstairs. Watching biking videos of course.
I wonder if you were there at the same time we were there in September. Rain was threatening when we left. I got in a few day rides, including a ride to Lake Bled from our place in a village a few miles from the airport. I didn't go on steep roads up into the mountains, though. My Bike Friday could use lower gearing for that. I didn't' see a single one of those hay racks with hay hanging in it. Now that I've seen your video I know that some are still used for it. A lot of those I saw were used for firewood. You are making me want to go back for more. It doesn't take much to get me wanting to do that.
I'm guessing we were there just after you left, the second two weeks of September. Our forecast was pretty gloomy, although it really wasn't much of a problem in the end.
This is one amazing video! What a beautiful experience. Thank you for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed! It's a really beautiful part of the world.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
It looks so beautiful in video! I can imagine it’s almost magical in real life.
It really is that pretty.
Incredible! I actually planned to visit Slovenia and northern Italy but work got in the way. Ended up in Scandinavia over the Holidays. Glad I saw this, didn't consider bike touring there but definitely am now! What a great adventure to experience with your family!
It was a great adventure indeed. You won't be disappointed!
Great vlog
Thank you!
Very nice video! Made a roundtrip by bicycle there 2009 starting in Bled.
Thank you! It's a lovely country to cycle in.
Thank you roland for the very nice video !!!!
You're very welcome!
Hi Roland, nice report showing the pleasant landscapes of western Slovenia. Good editing and overall story. Even meager bikes can be sufficient for memorable adventures! Wife and I will ride again a portion of Slovenia this coming August, then steer north into Austria. It's only after watching all of your six Slovene parts that I've found other videos of yours. By the way I had ridden a few times, in both directions, the Towpath Trail between Cleveland and Akron - while there for business. Greetings from Torino, Italy! Should your wheels bring you to the Western Alps, give me a shout! 😊
Thank you so much. Yes, we did okay with the bikes, in the end it's not about the bike but the journey, or something like that... I think going north into Austria would be a great way to go, those eastern Alps are really something. It looks like we'll go through northern Italy this summer, but to the east, taking the Via Claudia Augusta probably into Venice. Looking forward to being back in Italy. But if our road takes us west, we'll reach out!
Most any bike is a wonder machine capable to put a smile on our faces. On flat, at least, as climbing without low enough gears is a different thing. One that makes you say "look what I've achieved with this bike!". Which is eventually rewarding anyway. I'm planning a CCW self-supported tour with our own bikes, about 1000+ Kms and 10000+ m total elevation change from Tarvisio. Not because they're my home playground, but several valleys in the Western Alps are sort of a well kept secret. Wild, with very little tourism. If you want, for example, check info/material/videos on the Assietta, Gardetta, Strada dei Cannoni, Via del Sale, Chaberton, to name some old high alpine military roads. Enough to tempt for a visit I believe. Enjoy your upcoming trip, even Venice despite the hordes :). Ride safe!
Very interesting! Sounds like you know your Alp passes...Julianna and I are planning to cross the Alps in June. Right now I'm debating between Via Claudia Augusta or the Alpe-Adria route. We're hoping for a reasonable climb... Julianna is not so sure she can tackle a pass in the Alps with all our weight. Any suggestions?
I replied, and it went in, then disappeared. I suspect because there was a legit link which, for some reason, was rejected by the system. Anyway, I repeat here and will try to send you a link for a free online routing tool to your FB page. Crossing the Alps from Augsburg then Salzburg is easier via the Alpe Adria than the Via Claudia Augusta - for altitude, grades, length of climbs - but has more elevation change. Should you opt for the VCA, the route Fueschl-Ehrwald-Imst-Landeck-Malles-Merano-Bolzano is, other than a tad shorter, probably easier than the Imst-Innsbrueck-Bressanone-Bolzano route.
I am getting on Komoot now to explore these options. This is great info. Thanks a ton!
I'm back! Lol, what beautiful country! Love that you can cycle with your kids. Sounds like those bikes really sucked! Too bad you couldn't take your own bikes. Awesome video!
Yes, well, we had only a short window to ride, with the girls' schedule and all, so rentals seemed like the safe bet. It all worked out in the end, but damn I missed having my own bike!
@@TheBicycleTourists I bet, they don't look like quality bikes, too heavy for major climbing. Don't blame you for taking a bus over the higher elevations. I'm not a big fan of major climbs, even with my carbon fiber Cannondale.
I'm good with climbing, but we all have our limits!
@@TheBicycleTourists yes we do, lol!
Hi Roland, Another gem of a cycling location! Right choice to opt for quality time with family over a struggle (understatement) to ride up the mountain. Best to J
It would be a fun climb on a road bike I'm sure!
@TheBicycleTourists for climbing with road bike is nice around Kranjska gora, Vršič pass, Mangart saddle...
I had to look these places up. Beautiful!
Dang! I gotta get there.
Yes indeed, you won't regret it!
Came in from shoveling our first good snowfall of the year and what a great surprise! Love the background info that Roland gives on the area! Another great job Roland!
Thank you Max! Slovenia is amazing!
Salut Roland et à tes filles !
( isn’t French easy, Girls/daughters : same word).
So, your faithful followers are getting, gradually, introduced to your family ?
How cool is that !
Hope the girls will catch the bike touring bug and that those rented bikes won’t put them off for the rest of their lives ?
Alpine meadows ✅
Mountains ✅
Random cows by the side of the road ✅
If it wasn’t for the historical buildings, the food, obviously, you Coloradans would feel pretty much at home in Slovenia ?
(they have bears, also, a major source of concern for shy Western Europeans, a no brainer for you).
Elevation in Slovenia isn’t even worth mentioning, you must feel like cycling at sea-level ?
Can’t wait for next episode !
Ah, et Bonne Année !
Claude
Well elevation never really is a factor for us. Usually we have to re-acclimate when we get home. But the climbs seem a bit steeper here, older routes. Colorado is gorgeous, but there is nothing like the Alps. Can't wait to get back. (Julianna and I are planning on crossing the Alps as part of a ride this spring, we'll see how that all goes. Intimidating for sure, we really aren't climbers, at least on fully loaded touring bikes.) Bonne année!
Hummm !
Operative words « fully + loaded + touring + bikes », not that you did travel with your kitchen sink, last time you were in Europe but you might consider riding lighter (one of your stylish shirts instead of 2 😉) ?
A frame bag and smaller (and lighter) front panniers, perhaps ?
Going up every gramme (or ounce) counts.
Finally, if you are at route planning stage, there’s no shame in planning ahead multimodal (🚲+ 🚞) alternatives taking you half way up or under mountains from a valley to another.
Yeah, I know, I know. We usually travel in swing seasons, so a wider variety of clothing is called for. But we make our own bed, as the saying goes, so we have to sleep in it. We'll see, I'll take a train if I must, but my preference is to ride through the climb. I'm still young enough to want to overcome a challenge from time to time! Barely!
Isn’t English ever so convenient, « You » can either refer to Roland (alone) or to Roland & Julianna.
See what I did here ?
( how I landed back on my feet after a convoluted rhetorical and syntactic backflip😉).
..... and poor Julianna hasn’t had many opportunities to train and hone her climbing skills, last year.
In this instance, Okay, I should have written « the two of you » my bad, thinking in particular of Julianna.
Yes, I automatically read it as "the two of you". I'm frustrated by this linguistic limitation of English, and I usually borrow from our southern neighbors by saying "y'all". The price of being labeled a rustic is worth the accuracy.
Awesome that you're riding with your daughters! I love doing the same. Where's Julianna?
It was a real treat! Julianna was home, watching her granddaughter. She took the year off to help out, as did I , with the exception of a couple of smaller trips.
It is nice to hear, see how you like Slovenia. Sometimes we locals need some reminder. Sorry for the bikes you got. There are bike rentals and local agencies with quite good bikes.
Slovenia, and the people of Slovenia, were awesome. Such a beautiful country, in so many ways. Yeah, the bike rental was all booked through a tour operator. I was quite disappointed, but you just never know with these things.
Excellent as usual Roland. Thanks for sharing & looking for to next weeks installment. The problem of renting bikes is a bit hit and miss alright. That is why I have switched to using a Brompton, especially as I do more "Credit Card" touring now. It is a very high quality hand built folding bike, ideal for combining public transport and air transport with bike touring. With a Carradice front bag and saddle bag I have 49L which I find is enough for a 4 week or more tour. As I live in Switzerland I have a 6 speed C Line explorer with a 12% reduction as we have some serious hills here ;-)
Thanks!That sounds like a nice rig. I saw a lot of folks in Europe transporting their Bromptons all over the place. Do you find that it rides different than your standard touring bike? Not sure what a 12% reduction means.
Seemingly perfect fit for both travel/touring and bringing along, on an easy-to-use Brompton!
A Brompton with a Rohloff hub! OH.., YEAH!
@@TheBicycleTourists Yes of course it feels different to my 30 year old touring bike. But it is good quality and it is fun to ride. One thing that is cool is that the from block for your luggage is frame attached not fork, so it does not impact steering very much at all. The 12% reduction refers to the gears, you need them low here in Switzerland. And being able to hop on any plane, train, ship, bus or even an Uber is not to be underestimated. Just fold up and you are on your way in few minutes. Public transport is my answer to an "e-bike".
I believe there are places in the US you can try them out.
A lot of Europeans seem to use them. And yes, I imagine in Switzerland you need an "e-bike option", even if that's the amazing public transportation.
Nice. My area. My Gorenjska . I am cyclist to.. 98% i cycling just in this area.
I see the stars and stripes in your logo. Are you originally from here?
@TheBicycleTourists yes I am 100% Slovenian. Born in 1964 in Ljubljana.
My grand father had a brother in California, my grand mother had a sister in Cleveland...so i must have some relatives in USA.😅😅😅
Well I can't tell you how cool it is that you've found these videos and comment on them. I enjoy hearing about these places where you lived, or enjoyed. It gives an added dimension.
Slovenia is an amazing cycling destination. But you do have to be careful with services. People will take advantage of you. Here in Slovenia customer is "not always" king :D But don't feel too bad about it. This also happens to locals all the time (must be something to do with our former and recent history :P). In your case, it is probably just a new company some young guys started, so they haven't got the best equipment yet (you can take solace in knowing that you've helped some young people start their own business :D). Although i must say, these look like city bikes and are totally inappropriate for slightest uphill. (they really pulled a number on you :D). So anyways, in Slovenia (if you're not familiar with local people) you have to check everything in advance. Just make a habit out of it, don't stress and you'll be fine :D But i do respect your positive outlook on a crappy situation. :D Looking forward to the new episodes. You guys rock. All the best.
Thank you! In our case it was an international outfit that was using a local outfit for on-the-ground resources. We ran into others on the same self-guided tour who were really struggling with their equipment. We felt like we got off easy.
Thanks for the clarification. I was quite a bit surprised (and embarrassed) by this, that's why i wrote the comment. If one checks the internet, especially for this part of the country (where tourism is highly developed), most of bike rentals all have modern top of the line mnt-bikes and e-bikes. So, if there is no way to bring your own bikes (which is always the best option), i urge everybody to use local (family) businesses.
Btw, since the following days should be rainy one can use our own "rain-radar site" for the whole Slovenia. You access it if you type "ARSO radarska slika padavin" in google. There you have two pictures. The first one is the current situation and the second one is animation which tells you in what direction the rain clouds are moving.
Good to know, thanks!
ARSO radarska slika padavin = radar image of precipitation ARSO.
Note to self, if I forget, translate image in Slovenian, ditto precipitation (which very conveniently is précipitations, always plural, in French).
Thank you very much 👍.
Jolis paysages verdoyants de cartes postales
C'est une description assez complète!
Wow !!
Impressive !
You have mastered the art of the understatement in *french* playing with the ambiguity which can be conveyed bien « assez » (pretty) just like in English.
For a example, a pretty inconclusive experiment = a total disaster.
A pretty apt description
(as in « couldn’t have been more accurate ») it is, indeed.
I always learn something new from you, Claude! Appreciate that!
I always learn, at least, half a dozen new things watching your videos, Roland, and I *really* appreciate that.
Your last serie, triggered my curiosity i.e. newspapers in Norwegian in the US.
Did you know that at one point over 565 Norwegian American Nespapers and magazines were in circulation, and between 1880 and 1920 the largest Norwegian language newspaper came out of Chicago not Oslo ?
I definitely did not know that, nor did I know (before that trip) what a huge influence Norwegians have had in the US. One of the lovely aspects of America, we are all hyphenated if we go back a few generations.
Once upon a time Slovenia was my country. Not anymore. Sorry Kekec, in this story Bedanec won.
Hmmm. Sounds like a bit of a tragic story, sorry to hear that.