CYCLING TRIP TIP: From Ostrava to Lysá hora and back
Not all plans go smoothly. Our marketing guys Ondra and Matěj hopped on the Pells Aeron road bike and set out to follow the visual line of our rebranding. The idea was to ride from Lysá hora to Praděd. Despite being experienced cyclists and great athletes, they didn’t manage to complete the route. Why? Sometimes a car barrier gets in the way. And sometimes that same barrier can stop a bike — rider included. Still, the route from Ostrava to Lysá hora and back is an amazing ride. Want to try it yourself? Matěj has some tips …
Why ride from Lysá hora to Praděd?
I’d had the idea of a longer ride in my head for a while. And since I come from the heart of the Beskydy Mountains, where else should my tires lead me than to Lysá hora? And then I added Praděd. To follow the new Pells design line.
What bike to ride?
For this ride, I chose the entry-level road bike Pells Aeron 1. A lot of people think you need a bike worth a fortune for long rides. I wanted to prove the opposite. Even a seemingly basic bike can offer extraordinary experiences and cover countless kilometers. The Aeron 1 is a great choice. A reliable and accessible road bike.
Quick escape from the city
I had a free weekend ahead. Great. The forecast for Saturday wasn’t ideal, so I went for Sunday. Riding solo? No way. I wanted to share the experience. I talked to my colleague and friend Ondra (aka our main marketing coordinator). One thing led to another, and by 8:30 AM on Sunday we rolled out from Ostrava. First challenge? Get out of the city quickly and safely.
It’s not always ideal and it might slow you down a little, but I recommend using bike paths in tricky spots instead of the road.
We flew through Ostrava without issue and continued on the cycle path along the Ostravice River.
Riding along the Ostravice River
The bike path along the Ostravice River is great. It runs from Ostrava all the way to Frýdek–Místek. The asphalt is a bit wavy in places, but manageable. Time flies. We chat, switch turns at the front. Through Staré Město and Skalice we quickly reach smaller roads and more peaceful surroundings.
800 meters of climbing over 11 kilometers in perfect heat
The closer we get to the queen of Beskydy, the steeper the road becomes. The heat kicks in. I’m glad I brought two bottles. In Krásná, we start preparing for the main course — the climb to Lysá. It’s about 11 km long with 800 meters of elevation gain.
I start breathing hard. I’m focused on the climb when I suddenly hear a desperate clicking from a gear shifter behind me. I turn around. Ondra laughs and shouts: “Out of gears! Just checking if there’s anything left!”
The climb goes by fairly quickly. Maybe a little faster for me. No wonder — Ondra had already ridden from Jeseníky to Ostrava before our joint start. The first real struggle hits when we see a sign saying we still have 3 km to go. We thought it was less than 2. Quick reality check — and up we go.
The last few hundred meters are a reward. We get a view of Malá Fatra. Every pedal stroke is a joy, and with a taste of summit lemonade in our mouths, we reach the top. Quick snack, refill the bottles, and we move on.
Easy descent?
The descent goes by fast, and we’re soon rolling on flats near Frýdek. Ondra’s legs are flying, so I draft behind him for a while before taking the lead again. That’s how we continue all the way to Vratimov.
Everything’s great on the bike path. Banter, high-speed drafting. Suddenly, I see Ondra swerve pretty sharply ahead of me. I don’t have time to react — and I realize a crash is inevitable.
Sometimes there are car barriers on bike paths.
And I hit one of those at full speed.
Crash at full speed
A bang like a cannon. I managed to stay upright, but my fingers immediately started swelling and I couldn’t move them at all. Okay. Chill them in the river. Stay calm. Try to keep going. But after a while, I realize today’s adventure is over …
From Vratimov, we slowly make our way back to Ostrava. I can barely hold the handlebars or use the brakes. Ondra escorts me to a pub near my place. We grab a pickled cheese lunch and Ondra heads back to Jeseníky on his own. Not every story has to end the way you planned. The ride was awesome and I’m already planning to try again soon.
The weather’s nice, it’s summer. Put on your helmet, hop on your bike — and please follow the rules, keep your distance, stay hydrated and fueled, and everything will be just fine :)