Where
The Owl Mountains in South West
region of Poland. A beautiful,
remote, heavily wooded area with
the highest peak rising over 1000m.
Poland
Owl Mountains
Góry Sowie
When
17th – 24th September 2017
price
£790 per person
What’s included
iS THIS suitable for YOU?
• Transfer from Wrocław airport to accommodation
Grade 3 Moderate
• Transfer from accommodation to Wrocław airport
• 7 nights full board at Cicha Woda
• Single bedrooms
• Restaurant lunch on sightseeing day
• Full day of historical sightseeing, including minibus transport, entry fees and tours of Project
Riese and Książ Castle
• Five full days of cycling
• Trailside mechanic support
• Bike assembling support and safety check at
destination
• Bike packing support for return home
• Bike wash facilities
• Bike safety check after each full day of riding
Aimed at regular cyclists who
have a degree of off road
experience. Some moderate
and difficult technical
sections. Distances of 25-50
miles / 40-80 kms per day.
• Each full day of cycling will end at Cicha Woda.
If you have some experience of off road riding on
a variety of terrain, and would like to do more, a
grade 3 trip could be for you. These holidays give
you elements of our higher grade trips but at a
manageable level with sections of singletrack
(narrow trails wide enough for one rider) and shorter
steep sections (both up and down) which require
more bike handling ability. A day’s ride can see you
on the trails for around 8 hours (with breaks) and
covering between 25-50 miles depending on the
terrain. If you’re generally fit and manage to ride
regularly this could be the level for you.
What’s NOT included
• Transfers to and from airport (UK)
• Flights
• Any and all drinks at restaurants and accommodation
• Snacks / energy gels / recovery drinks etc. for cycling
• Spare parts for your own bike
estimated flight cost (including bike and luggage)
£270 return
OWL MOUNTAINS CYCLING HOLIDAY • POLAND • 17TH – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017
BIKESERVE • THE CYCLE HUB • QUAYSIDE • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE • NE6 1BU • 07874 033433
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 5
Flight to Wrocław. Meeting at the airport. Transfer
to accommodation. Lunch. Bike assembling and
safety check. Evening meal at Cicha Woda.
Breakfast in hotel. A full day of MTB, with packed
lunch on trail. Evening meal at Cicha Woda.
Day 2
Breakfast in hotel. A full day of MTB, with packed
lunch on trail. Evening meal at Cicha Woda.
Day 3
Day 6
Breakfast in hotel. A full day of MTB, with packed
lunch on trail. Evening meal at Cicha Woda.
Day 7
Breakfast in hotel. A full day of MTB, with packed
lunch on trail. Evening meal at Cicha Woda.
A full day of MTB, with packed lunch on trail. Bike
break down and packing. Evening meal at Cicha
Woda
Day 4
Day 8
Sight seeing tour to Project Riese Complex and
Ksiaz Castle with lunch at local restaurant.
Transfer to the airport and flight home.
OWL MOUNTAINS CYCLING HOLIDAY • POLAND • 17TH – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017
BIKESERVE • THE CYCLE HUB • QUAYSIDE • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE • NE6 1BU • 07874 033433
accommodation
Cicha Woda
Lasocin 1
58-250 Pieszyce
Poland
We will be based at the beautiful Cicha Woda
(which translates as “Silent Water”) Hotel,
located in the heart of the Owl Mountains. This
chalet style bed & Breakfast accommodation
provides the perfect base to access the
surrounding terrain. You will have your own room
or, if requested, be sharing with one other. The
rooms are all comfortable single or twin bed and
have shower and toilet ensuite facilities.
OWL MOUNTAINS CYCLING HOLIDAY • POLAND • 17TH – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017
A hearty breakfast is included in the holiday cost.
Packed lunches will be provided for the four full
days of cycling. Evening meals will be available in
the hotel each day. A secure room is provided to
keep your bike safe each night. We will also have
access to basic laundry facilities for cleaning
cycling clothing.
BIKESERVE • THE CYCLE HUB • QUAYSIDE • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE • NE6 1BU • 07874 033433
What to take with you
• Your Mountain Bike (bike hire is NOT available at our destination)
• Suitable cycling helmet - This is compulsory, no helmet no ride!
• Appropriate cycle clothing - we suggest at least two complete sets and preferred footwear.
• A water proof cycling jacket
• Backpack 15-25l. ideally with a 1-2l. hydration reservoir (the terrain is remote and there will not be
opportunities to refill water bottles during most rides).
• A mini portable service kit (glueless puncture patches, multitool, spare tubes x2, individuals using
tubeless tyres must have at least one spare compatible inner tube, compatible chain quick link)
• A sufficient amount of gels, bars, drink powder/tablets for five days of cycling
• Warm casual clothes and footwear suitable for walking/hiking
• Towels will be supplied but we suggest to take one towel with you
• Toiletries, including toothbrush, soap, shampoo etc.
• Laundry liquid suitable for your cycle kit and at least one laundry bag to ensure your kit doesn’t get
mixed up with others on our trip
• Polish currency, there will only be one opportunity to purchase local currency on a day of arrival at
the airport. So we advise you buy in the UK. The amount you will need will depend upon how much
alcohol you like to drink with your evening meal as this is not included. A suggestion of £10-30 per
day should be more than enough.
• Minor medications like paracetamol and ibuprofen (we need to know about any relevant health
issues that may effect you during a ride)
Due to the remote location and strenuous nature of the activity we suggest that this trip is
unsuitable for anyone with serious health issues, such as heart disease (past or current), joint
problems, immunocompromised conditions.
OWL MOUNTAINS CYCLING HOLIDAY • POLAND • 17TH – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017
BIKESERVE • THE CYCLE HUB • QUAYSIDE • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE • NE6 1BU • 07874 033433
Sightseeing day - Morning
Included in the holiday is a tour of two of the most
prominent German World War II installations in the
area. A private hire vehicle and driver will take us
to the first; Project Riese. Project Riese: (German
for “giant”) is the code name for a construction
project of Nazi Germany in 1943–45, consisting
of seven underground structures located in the
Owl Mountains and Książ Castle in Lower Silesia,
previously Germany, now a territory of Poland.
Some sources suggest that all the structures were
part of the Führer Headquarters; according to
others, it was a combination of headquarters and
arms industry. None of them were finished; all are
in different states of completion with only a small
percentage of tunnels reinforced by concrete.As we
explore the incredible tunnels and infrastructure of
OWL MOUNTAINS CYCLING HOLIDAY • POLAND • 17TH – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017
Project Riese a Polish guide will be providing details
and history to all the we see, this will be translated
into English by a second guide accompanying us.
The tunnels and caverns are well below ground
level and temperatures are a consistently around 5
degrees celsius. Warm clothing is essential for the
tour. On completion of the tour our driver will take
us to a nearby local restaurant for lunch.
BIKESERVE • THE CYCLE HUB • QUAYSIDE • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE • NE6 1BU • 07874 033433
Sightseeing day - afternoon
After lunch the tour continues with a visit to the
famous and stunning Książ Castle. Książ Castle is
located in the city of Wałbrzych. Its last owner in
the inter-war period was the Hochberg family, one
of the wealthiest and most influential European
dynasties. In 1941, the castle and the lands were
seized by the Nazi government, partly to pay taxes,
partly as punishment for the perceived treason of
OWL MOUNTAINS CYCLING HOLIDAY • POLAND • 17TH – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017
their Hochberg sons. It has been claimed that the
castle was being outfitted, including private escape
elevator, as a future retreat for Adolf Hitler! Książ
Castle was a part of the Project Riese until 1945
when it was occupied by the Red Army. Countless
artifacts were stolen or destroyed by the Soviets.
The guided tour of the castle will be in English after
which we will return to Cicha Woda.
BIKESERVE • THE CYCLE HUB • QUAYSIDE • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE • NE6 1BU • 07874 033433
support provided
Mountain biking in remote areas can be
problematic, especially when mechanical
issues prevent you from being able to
continue your ride.
The Owl Mountains Experience aims
to provide you with a level of trail side
support not normally provided on cycling
holidays. On each ride a master mechanic
will be cycling alongside (and guiding) you
and so will be on hand to assist with any
minor repairs, adjustments and diagnosis.
To ensure your bike is in the best possible
condition for the holiday your bike will
receive a “pre-trip health check”, any
advised work can then be carried out in
good time.
We will also offer, for those who need
it, a bike packing service to ensure that
your pride and joy arrives (and leaves)
in Poland in perfect condition. Once at
our accommodation a bike assembling
service will be available and a safety check
carried out on all bikes before the first ride.
After each day of riding we will clean and
prepare your bike for the following day too.
OWL MOUNTAINS CYCLING HOLIDAY • POLAND • 17TH – 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017
BIKESERVE • THE CYCLE HUB • QUAYSIDE • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE • NE6 1BU • 07874 033433
BikeServe
The Cycle Hub
Quayside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 1BU
More information: www.bikeserve.co.uk/holidays/
07874 033433 [email protected]
Trip organiser
Mariusz (Mario) Ilewicz
Nationality: Polish (British resident)
Profession: Freelance Bike Mechanic
Qualifications: MIAS MTB Leader Level 2, Cytech Technical Level 2
Experience:
2001’ Poland-Sicily-Poland bike trip organiser and member
2006’ Round Poland bike challenge organiser and member
2014’ Silesian Beskids MTB holidays organiser and member
I will be your ride leader, guide and master mechanic for this
trip. I will be your main point of contact during the holiday.
For the duration of the trip I will be supported by one other
experienced guide who will be on-hand to assist in all matters
and to help ensure your holiday is an experience.