1000 Miles Adventure 2015

820km
Distance: 14,319m
Elevation

1000 Miles Adventure is a very well known Czech bikepacking race. A few hundreds people are at the starting line every year and all places are sold out in a few minutes. Don’t be mistaken, it’s not easy. You have to go from the most eastern village in Slovakia to the most western village in Czechia. You won’t see many flat roads on the way as it follows rough mountain bike trails with insane gradients.

#Bikepacking

Day #1 How it all started

Just standing at the starting line of 1000 Miles was a huge victory for me. The train dropped me off in an unfamiliar environment and left me in the middle of the wilderness. What surprised me even more was that I was good at riding, I enjoyed it, and I managed to overcome the first obstacles. Read more

A wide-angle landscape photo shows a dirt path forking in the foreground, traversing a golden-brown field of harvested hay. In the middle ground, on either side of the field, there are lush green hills covered in dense forest. Further back, more distant mountains rise up, also covered in dark green trees, under a clear, bright blue sky. Several round bales of hay are scattered across the green fields.

Day #2 How I was afraid to go through the tunnel

During the second day, it became clear that the 1000 Miles are not to be trifled with. The hills got higher, the terrain got tougher, and the temperatures raised past the thirties. Despite all this, I conquered more than 110 kilometers, which was quite an impressive feat for me. Read more

A wide shot of a hazy, mountainous landscape. In the foreground, a field of golden-brown grass extends across the bottom, with a few small trees and bushes scattered within it. On the right, a pine branch with bright green needles extends into the frame, partially obscuring the view. Beyond the field, a valley unfolds, filled with dark green, dense forest covering rolling hills. In the distance, multiple layers of blue-tinted mountains fade into the pale sky, indicating a vast expanse.

Day #3 How I was going to use pepper spray for the first time

On the third day, I struggled with flat tires. At one point, I thought about giving up. Why did I even embark on this journey without any knowledge about bikes? Why was I riding here? Fortunately, Slovakia is full of bike shops. Read more

A low-angle shot from a bikepacking trip shows a bicycle tire and part of a front wheel in the foreground, with an orange reflector visible on a spoke. The bike appears to be laid on its side on a narrow dirt path. The path, overgrown with green and dry grass, recedes into the hazy distance, leading through a wide valley. In the midground, rolling hills covered in sparse trees and open grassy fields stretch out. The background features distant mountains partially obscured by a soft, light-colored haze, possibly mist or smoke, creating a faded, ethereal look.

Day #4 How I biked through the territory of cows and shits

On the fourth day, I got used to life on a bike. But no kilometer came for free. The weather turned on me. It wasn’t just extreme heat anymore. Rain joined in, and that wasn’t a good sign. Not to mention the newfound fear of bears. Read more

A wide shot of a vast green pasture with hundreds of sheep grazing. A shepherd stands among them in the middle-left, and a black dog is further left. Rolling hills covered in dense green pine forests rise in the background. A large, darker blue mountain dominates the far right background, with a bright, overcast sky above. A strip of asphalt road is visible in the bottom right corner.

Day #5 How I was constantly challenging myself

It was the longest day of them all. The weather had prepared some special treatment for mw. At the same time, it’s the day I’ll remember the most from the entire 1000 Miles journey. Even though I faced heavy rain while climbing Krížná, I overcame myself and got past the bear area. Read more

A cyclist in a bright yellow jacket, helmet, and sunglasses rides through a black inflatable archway that says "CRAFT" on a grassy field. The archway has white circular patterns on its legs. Two black vertical flags with "CRAFT" written on them in white are positioned on either side of the arch. The background shows a sunset sky with hues of orange and purple near the horizon, and dark hills in the distance. The overall scene appears to be an outdoor event or race at dawn or dusk.

Day #6 How I threw my bike to a scarp

Don’t rely on plans during 1000 Miles. I was looking forward to the first checkpoint, but I had no idea what kind of hills were in front of it. My day didn’t end there, though. I geared myself up again to ride through a forest full of glowing eyes and even attempted to cross the Váh river at night. Read more

A concrete railing with visible lichen spots curves along the left edge of a paved road that follows a gentle slope. To the right of the road, the ground slopes down to a dam or reservoir, with its banks fortified with rocks. The water's surface is calm and reflects the surrounding dark green forest, which covers the hillsides in the background. The sky above is a pale grey, suggesting an overcast day.

Day #7 How I escaped from Slovakia

I finally conquered Slovakia. Not that it’s an ugly place. The locals helped me in my greatest moment of need. But their currency is euros, their signs have some strange font, and home is home. I had no idea that I’d soak up the atmosphere of the festival season. Read more

A warning sign on a wire fence across a dirt path, indicating the presence of a breeding bull and forbidding entry. The path leads through a grassy field, with more fields and forested hills visible in the background under a hazy sky.

Day #8 How I coudn’t trust my GPS

I thought that 1000 Miles is Mordor from start to finish. What else did I experience on the route? I struggled with hills and wasn’t able to climb them. Going downhill wasn’t an option either, as I was scared to go. The Moravian Basin, if I can call the local area that, however, showed me its hospitable face. Read more

Two men sit at a long wooden table, lit by a single candle, while three other people stand in the background near a white fireplace. The man on the left, with short dark hair and a beard, is wearing a dark t-shirt and leaning forward with his arms crossed on the table, looking to the right. On the table in front of him are what appear to be two cell phones and a GPS device. The man on the right, with short dark hair and a watch on his left wrist, is also looking right and appears to be speaking or listening intently, with his hands clasped on the table. Between them on the table are a lit candle in a glass holder, a crumpled piece of paper or napkin, and two bottles, one a Bernard beer and the other a Kofola. The fireplace behind them has a wooden mantelpiece with bottles and other items on it, and its dark openings reflect the distant interior. The room has wooden beams on the ceiling and a rustic, cozy feel.

Day #9 How I made it to the half

Day nine, the last day and also one of the most eventful. In the Jeseníky Mountains, I got really cold cold and in descents, I was flying … on ground. I didn’t go very far, I ended the race honorably at CP2. 💀 Read more