You may be surprised but Dalmatia is pretty steep. Riding along the coast or islands, whether by road or trail, is a series of more or less steep ascents, but each carries a reward: a clear view of untouched nature, tens of kilometers of distant mountains, islands and even other states.
The coast is rocky, and so are our MTB trails. Due to the vegetation that quickly covers the narrow tracks (single tracks), most lengthier rides outside the asphalt rely on forest roads and macadam. That is why modern gravel bikes are becoming more and more popular, to the detriment of MTB models. For fans of single tracks and MTB bikes, the good news is that almost every place on the Dalmatian coast has a real small maze of short but fun trails, hidden from the eyes of cartographers. A full suspension bike is always a good choice, and e-MTB models are slowly but surely finding their place under the Mediterranean sun. Lovers of road bikes will be delighted by the empty island roads and the trails that connect the picturesque places on their shores. It is no coincidence that the island of Hvar was chosen as a destination for winter training of professional road teams, such as Bahrain Merida.
The air, the smell, the wind…
It is a wonderful privilege to ride a bike in a climate with such clean air, which abounds in the scents of aromatic, wild plants. Life on the coast of Dalmatia is shaped by two strong winds, in Croatian language called „jugo“ (the southern wind) and „bura“ (the north-east wind), but in summer they are replaced by a mild and refreshing mistral. Mediterranean climate gives long warm summers, sometimes hot but not humid. This is why cycling is still possible in the summer, and a break in the shade or the refreshing sea is always at hand.
