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Mountain
for capable off-road riders
I first encountered Mt. Nanos
when I was still a child. The image of immense cliff
rising above small village of Razdrto was unforgettable.
And still today, Mt. Nanos is overwhelming for me. And
even more as a mountain biker. Grassy open slopes cover
the mountain, providing excellent terrain for off-road
riding.
Described trail is suitable
for mountain bikers who like wild and rocky nature. They
should be fond of technical riding as well. Since some of the
sections are quite demanding. If you hate to walk and
carry or push your bike, when you run out of breath or
adequate suspension, then this trail is not for you and
you may concur Mt. Nanos with less effort and off-road
riding skills on asphalt road (see A below).
The most appropriate time to
ride is from October to April. Because of overgrown trails
and heat. But not if there is snow cover during winter.
Starting point
Razdrto is a very small
village just at the foot of Mt. Nanos, at eastern side. It
is well known in Slovenia because of the highway, which
used to end here in the past. This is also the easiest way
to get to Razdrto. Take highway from Ljubljana to Koper at
Slovenian coast. Razdrto is 60
km from Ljubljana.
Trail description
From Razdrto you go across the
highway and towards a parking, where hikers climbing Mt.
Nanos leave their cars. Then you start a nice and long
descent on a singletrack. Almost 5 km long DH will be
inspiring for everyone. You don't have to look into the
road book all the time. Just keep on more bitten bike
tracks and do not turn left and down the hill, except at
no. 15 in the road book. This nice DH is interrupted with fortunately short
asphalt ascent, i.e. the road leading to the Vojkova hut
on the top of Mt. Nanos. And then in a short while another
singletrack DH follows. From Sv. Nikolaj church you ride
along the marked trail, called Gradiska tura.
In Gradisce
you reach the lowest altitude and then there is a rough
and demanding climb (over Plaz) onto the plateau ahead of
you. The trail is mostly cyclable all the way, but a horse's
power is needed. It can be too difficult to ride for a
lot of bikers! This section is also marked, follow
signposts for Nanos and Abram farm. When you get onto the
plateau, there are nice and easy macadam roads, which
become quite steep towards the end. But it is worth the
effort, since there are nice views. But that is not all,
DH back towards Razdrto is demanding and interesting at
the same time. It is cyclable almost all the way.
Since the trail over Plaz is
badly cyclable (low speed or walking), cycle computers
fail to be accurate enough. Because of that the road book
is reset to zero at the top the climb, i.e. at no. 35 in
the road book.
Other possibilities
A) You can shorten and
make the trail easier, if you ascent onto the plateau on
the asphalt road (from no. 22 to no. 42). In this case you
carry out only the eastern loop.
B) If you have enough
of wilderness towards the end of the final DH, then you
can avoid the last part. Turn left at no. 54 towards the
village of Strane and then on asphalt road back to Razdrto
(look at the map).
C) You can start in
Vipava valley in the village of Gradisce (at no. 29).
D) Furthermore you can
carry out only the western loop - from Podnanos go on
asphalt to no. 42 and then in the opposite direction over
Plaz descend to Gradisce. In this case the demanding climb
turns into a nice and only partly demanding DH.
E) In addition, there
is also a possibility of another ascent to the Vojkova
hut, with even better views, but more difficult - past the
church of Sv. Jeronim (right at no. 45).
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