Let's go step by step. We ordered the electric bicycles on the SNOW cross-country skiing area website at www.abl.sk. Since we are members of MYAPLEND, we passed this information in the notes within the order, and we received a 10% discount when we picked up the bikes. In Tatranská Štrba and Štrbské Pleso, you get the option to pick up the e-bike for free, or they will bring it to you everywhere in the Tatras area.

We could also borrow bicycle helmets for e-bikes. After a short briefing, we started at the lake of Popradské Pleso, a popular tourist destination and a starting point for many hiking trails. For example, for the ascent to Rysy, Sliezsky dom and other alpine huts. A cycle path marked in blue and classified as moderately tricky leads to this mountain lake. The entire route leads along an asphalt surface, also serving as a hikers' footpath. Even though we were expecting almost 6 km with an elevation gain of 262 m, the e-bike offered us a completely new experience and point of view.

If you haven't ridden a bike in years and are worried not to be able to manage, there's no reason to worry. The e-bike is easy to control and will provide you with the maximum increase in performance when climbing the Tatra hills. We used only a little human power; the bike "drove us up the hill". The bonus is an experience you will never forget.

But let's get back to the route. From Štrbské Pleso, we went to the intersection of the Cesta slobody (Route of Freedom) near Popradské pleso, which is marked as the beginning of the cycle route leading through the beautiful Mengusovská valley. At first, the route was almost flat but gradually began to twist, which was no problem for an e-bike. After overcoming the challenging terrain, we came out of the forest and opened up the stunning views of the surrounding nature. Here, we had only a slight climb. Along the way, you can rest at a few rest stops and enjoy the surrounding nature.

We got to Popradské pleso on electric bikes in about 40 minutes, on a regular bike the ride would have taken about twice as long. You can walk around the lake on the spot; the atmosphere is indescribable. Alternatively, you can visit the Symbolic Cemetery, about 15 minutes from the lake. We returned by the same route. The great reward at the end is a magnificent descent through the Mengusovská valley. At the end of the asphalt trail, we turn right and return to Štrbské Pleso to the SNOW cross-country skiing area.

If you visit Tatras in summer, an e-bike is definitely what you want to experience. We will repeat this experience many more times.

This article was created in cooperation with the tourist portal Cezhory.sk

Author: Viera Legerská