5. april 2016

Three goals

First, restart to write the blog after years of absence. 

Second, ride the Kamenjak Rocky Trails XC Marathon and don’t get overtaken by the best by one lap.

Third, ride the Kamenjak Rocky Trails XC Marathon and actually finish it.


Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve abandoned my (photo) blog. In the meantime life happened – a young biker girl entered my life – my beautiful daughter – and priorities changed a bit. But still mountain biking remained my passion #1. So I’m back, this time with a short look back at the recent Kamenjak Rocky Trails XC Marathon I attended together with my brother.

Last year I also attended this race in April, and full of expectations and overestimation of my physical preparation, I signed in for 3 laps (60 km). That year I had I guess 3 rides overall yeart-to-date. I took it easy – I guess I was among a few racers with a backpack – not looking a real XC racer at all... But I had a pump with me, so I also stopped to help a guy with a snake bite – he saw me with a backpack and he shouted: “imaš pumpu?”. Also my pace was tourist-like. The result was that at the half of the second lap, I was overtaken by Jaroslav Kulhavy, London Olympics XC gold medallist, and his team, who were actually already at the last stage of lap 3... So I completely lost my motivation, forgot to drink, got cramps, and finished my race with 2 laps only.

This year I wanted revenge – so my goal was, 3 laps and not being overtaken by a pro. I also bought myself a coffee mug with a bike theme to be motivated for trainings during this year.


Well, one goal was achieved. The other one – almost achieved – was destructed at the last uphill of lap 2, where I was overtaken by a group of three / four pros. Well, better than a year ago... But, the 3 lap’s goal was achieved. I was even encouraged by my fiend Andrej Dekleva, the official speaker, when finishing lap 2: “i ovo je naš Tomaž Deisinger, odlučio se da ove godine ide do kraja”. And then I went till the end, finishing in around 3,5 hours, but happy as hell, because this race is amazing.


The views on the sea this race offers the friendly atmosphere of the locals, the great organization by Adrenalina team – in short amazing! The tack itself is very technically demanding and dynamic, with basically no room for resting. At half of the race a course marshal cheered: “ajmo ajmo”, I smiled and he replied: “gledaj ga kako smije, a još pola utke ga čeka”. And I smiled again and didn’t finish smiling until the end of this race, because you can only smile when racing Premantura.


See you next year!

26. julij 2012

Bike park Rogla

Photo by Grega Stopar

Recently opened bike park Rogla - news on mtb.si, brings a welcoming refreshment to the bike park offer in Slovenia, because it is suitable both for beginners as for experts looking for fun trail (chairlift supported) weekend getaway.


From my point of view the strengths / weaknesses are the following:
+ flow = fun :)
+ preferable Enduro / AM bike
+ multiple line choice
+ hard to get lost
+ lots of potential for new lines
+ beginners friendly
+ nice bike cleaning point

- line's number 3 lines are too closed and consequently too slow (berms barely non existent)
- slow chairlift
- arrival at the starting point requires some pedalling

Video sum-up bellow:

Filmed by my brother and myself, edited by mtb.si and Pussygato productions




25. junij 2012

Ceria Merlone

Ceria Merlone – an impressive climbing route crossing in western Julian Alps (Italy), that I had in mind to walk for 15 years. In fact I was here with a group of friends at that time, but we didn’t manage to complete the whole crossing because of lack of time. Anyway, this amazing ridge crossing between Viš / Jof Fuart and Montaž / Iof di Montasio, the two highest mountains in western Julian Alps, was definitely worth all the effort. This, unjustly neglected part of the Julian Alps is uniquely magical. 

Out of focus / blurry image - I have an apology for the early hours 
Mt. Špik in the first morning lights
Sella Nevea with Mt. Kanin in the background 
Under-panoramic of the route
Panoramic of the route (photo from 15 years ago)
Sella Nevea and Mt. Kanin
Steep meadows on the way to Passo degli Scalini
Mt. Mangart (right)
Disco time
Corsi hut
Paradise as I imagine it
Škrbina Prednje špranje – one side of the pass 
…and the other one
Can you imagine that this area was a battlefield only a century ago? 
Start of Ceria Merlone path

Chill out time (for some capricorns, note the two fighting at the bottom) 
A segment of the path
Sella Nevea and Mt. Kanin a few meters higher
Look down
Koštrunove špice and Viš / Iof Fuart in the background 
Altipiano del Montasio with Brazza hut
Capricorn – closer look
What’s going on in my kingdom?
What’s up?

Chill out – for me
Mountain guide

…after 9 hours of walking
…no need for a comment…
Please note that for this route it’s recommended the use of full self protection equipment (helmet and harness).

3. september 2011

Monte Goriane

An idea for a nice weekend trail getaway - Monte Goriane near Tarvisio - Italy, i found on the following wonderful and very useful website itinerarifriuli, full of various options for hikers, bikers and other kind of weekend warriors...





More photos by Jure...

10. april 2011

Downhill Javor - Specialized test event 2011

Jan Cestnik won the opening Downhill Javor - Specialized test event 2011 race on home turf, only by 9 hundredths of seconds over Boris Tetzlaff. Did his aerodynamic position on the first jump brought him this advantage?



You can find more info on the fresh mtb.si website, mtb Trbowle and some great pictures on Marko Obid's photo gallery...