JIRO220 – I rode where someone could hardly walk

In sick heads, sick ideas

What is Jiro220? My friend Juraj and I ride around the Jizera Mountains since our childhood and we are always wondering how to get over as many hills as possible in the shortest distance. Unfortunately, we are both nuts that it is not enough to ride like people 50km to have a beer and sausage and talk about how it was hard. Jura is a big bike egoist and always chooses the most nutritious routes that can be found.

As the year progressed, we managed to blaze a dirty trail of thehardest grain and connect every, verbally “every!” Jizera Mountain lookout tower. All in all, it came out to 227km with an elevation of about 7000m. And so JIRO220 or Jizera Mountains lookout towers 220km was born. To give it some nice coat we created a beautiful website www.jiro220.cz. And since then everyone can ride it, race, be classified and still get a medal.

First steps towards JIRO220

We didn’t just launch Jiro220 on a whim. The route has been gradually tuned and ridden all last year to make it really polished and nutritious. All I remember from this phase is that we only rode about 100km of JIRO220 once and that I arrived home in such a hell that I didn’t walk for two days. Sure one would think two hundred, that’s nothing it’s going to be a piece of cake… The year came and went and we were getting ready for the first continuous measured Jiro220.

It was a little over a week since the legendary 321-Vabank MTB ultramarathon, which we both also rode. Here is also a short report from 321 Vabank. We didn’t exactly burst with explosive power and endurance but we still decided to taste the challenge for ourselves in early May.

The instruction was clear. You get up at four, arrive at Smržovka and we’re off on the first ascend to Černá – voe! Okay, well, what could be better on 8.5., the day of victory to get stoned like a madman. We are expecting a cold snap, so at 4:30 I put on my winter gear, gloves, hats and set off towards Juraj on JIRO220.

Sharp start Jiro220

The climb from Nová Ves to Černá Studnice is a beautiful introduction to Jiro220. The ride from Černá Studnica along the ridge to Muchov is not like a cycling highway and right in this section I actually realize that we are actually saying a clear and obvious NO to all gravelists with this terrain! Because what you don’t ride or even push to the top of Muchov you have to carry your bike. This first section can only be summed up by the words: I rode where someone could hardly walk.

After the climb to Muchov we descend down, but it wouldn’t be Jiro220 if there wasn’t a hitch. I’m thinking it’s going to take a long time on the tarmac. Cut and there’s another unexpected stand on climb on Terezínka, which ends with a stair section that even trialmaser Juraj doesn’t handle. It’s doable downhill, but I’m thinking, “Dude do you think this is what it takes to split yourself in half for the first 30km?”

The exit to the Next porn Lookout Tower is a beautiful singletrack to the top of Špičák from which you go down the red downhill trail, which I luckily have well ridden many times and we have a nice jumps. We would have jumped even better if there were no fallen trees on the track. I guess we understand why the trails are closed. Next we go to the beautiful hill on Světlý vrch, but we don’t even stop here and continue on to the first aid station in Desná at petrol station.

Here I am having a hysterical attack that I am going to be sick and so we have breakfast and I buy healthy and nutritionally valuable ultra food. As usual, cola, bagels and meat sweet pastries. All washed down by coffee. We both stare at each other in desperation, knowing that the next stretch will be back to morale.

Freezing Jizerka and a trip to Poland

From Desná, there is no other way than to scramble over the rocks through the sweet hole to Příchovice to the famous ocean lighthouse of Jára Cimrman and then through the cruelly pleasant Pogač-killer hill to Hvězda. The climb to Štěpánka is again nothing but a push. As the experienced milers say: If it’s going less than 5 km/h, it’s better to push. Right, so maybe I should push the whole Jiro220, right?

Descent to Polubný and ascent to Václavíkova Studánka. This point we had wanted for a long time, in fact, there is supposed to be a small rest and a continuous ride along the “flat” to Jizerka and further along the Jizera and below Smrk in Poland. And it was. But something for something. It’s yes, but a freezing log that you really can’t do in a T-shirt! The strong headwind is training me and my red, cold-soaked forearms are suffering. Oh well, at least I’ll be warm.

From Jizerka we descend down to the Jizera River, where we cross the line between the Czech Republic and Poland. Jiro220 is a multi-state project! It is pleasant and flat all the way around the border, which is formed by the Jizera River up to the Jizerská louka. From here it is only a gentle climb up to Polana Izerska to about 965m, where we will descend and reach the maximum speed of 75 km/h on the Jiro 220!

Singletrails on the Polish side and a killer ascend to Smrk

Down in Swieradow Zdrój, the Jiro220 reel begins. The Polish side of the mountains is just so much more raw, unadorned and uncooled. The Jiro220 gets around and it is important to regularly and carefully follow the GPS navigation. A small moment of inattention and the Garmin screams that something is wrong.

I don’t need to mention that the route is alternately 25% uphill and even more downhill on boulders. What would an ultra be without ultra hardcore ascends. Soon we reach a buzzing beehive. This is none other than the tacky, overpriced and overcrowded Skywalk tower. We don’t linger long and roll to the bare metal but much more tasteful Mlynica tower. Last and most beautiful is the Wieža Widokova, which rises on the top of Czernawska Kopa.

Down from Wieža Widokowa the Jiro220 leads through a beautiful technical descent and continues up and down the singletrack, but unfortunately we soon hit a wall, literally! It is indeed an asphalt track, but it leads to the saddle between Stog Izersky and Smrk (1124m). It was therefore a 500m climb in only 4km. Not to mention the last km in the bouldering area. Somehow I got used to cyclocross and really, those who want to ride Jiro220, practice carrying the bike. Practice!

Filling bellies, a long ride down to the Kryštofovo údolí and stuffing bellies again

After the exit to Smrk, where we pass the 90km milestone, we should have a nice part ahead. Leaving aside the trip to Paličník, where the view is magnificent, the road to Smědava could be called a downhill. It’s great on Smědava. They have everything here! Goulash, soups, pies, dumplings, beers, rums, well… Just the climb from Smědava to Smědava Mountain will be tough, so let’s mentally prepare for it and have it all!

It’s true, it doesn’t go up much and the first 100km you can really feel. I’d lie down and go to sleep. Actually Smědava is a beautiful place to split Jiro220 in two. Admittedly, the next 40km or so are quite fun and suspiciously easy. The highlight of this section is definitely the traction of the manual transborder, which is used to cross the Jizera river near Chrastava.

Behind the transborter, we drive along the road to the picturesque village of Kryštofovo valley, where a peaceful atmosphere breathes on us. Energy is running low, but Jura says he has a beautiful show for me in the village. The fact that there are stairs pushing through the cemetery and past the church is also a beautiful sight, but Jura meant something else. The one behind the bar in the café. And that’s why we’re feasting. Cupcakes, coffee, mecheche…

Ještěd Ridge – a pride of Jiro220

As a punishment for the café sins was a hike up the Jested Ridge. Of course, there was carrying, pushing, but even riding. And the ride was beautiful. It was a festive 700m vertical climb, but gradual and for 12 km it was manageable. The messing up section was surprisingly on the road and it wasn´t a big deal. It was straight about getting to the top of the majestic 1012m high Ještěd. Unfortunately no glory takes place there. Jura is shivering cold at the top and I´m comming with a sweat in my eyes. I´m forced to not even stop and continue on.

Next is the notoriously long almost downhill to Hodkovice via Pláně, Rašovka and Obří sud. It seems like a downhill but Jiro220 knows how to spice it up with short but rough climbs. I’m losing focus a bit and performance is dropping. The guts are starting to twist. I’m eating up every kilometre, no wonder. And so we climb up the spectacular Pelíkovice ridge to the beautiful Kopanina tower. From which we descend to Rychnov.

I wish I could sit at home on the couch

We’re going to the Vietnamese shop quickly, and there’s nothing good here. I’m at least buying a bucket of Coke. I’m hungry and sick. I doubt it’s possible to drive. It’s still 60km to the finish, which is possible but it’s still a bloody long 60km!!! On the way to Dobrá voda, here we go! Shout out to Jura! Handkerchiefs! I know he’s a experienced ultra rider and always has fabulously soft moisturized anus-friendly tissues. Quickly, I scream at the route to Jablonec. Undressing fast in the woods and it all starts to fly out!

We enjoy the sunset on Petřín hill above Jablonec nad Nisou. It’s beautiful here, in fact it’s my home. On the descent to Rádlo I pronounce confidently. We stop at my house, I quickly make a quick snack and we move on. Of course, he fuckes me off, but I insist and finally I persuade my father of Jiro220 and really. Cut. We’re both sitting on the couch in the heated house with eggs and bacon and buns frying in a pan and hot coffee on the table. There’s a bed, there’s a shower, it’s warm.

We throw it all away, our egos wouldn’t allow it. We voluntarily put on everything possible and impossible and crawl out into about 0 degrees Celsius and set out on this senseless pilgrimage full of suffering. Further to Císařský kámen, and then to Prosečský ridge and Prosečská chata. And off to Liberec. And from Liberec I swear in the Spirit. First to myself and then to Jura.

Would you like more Jiro220?

From Liberec from the ZOO to the Výšina, dude, it’s not for bikes. Then from Vysšina along the running route to Česká chalupa! Dude, it’s not for bikes at all!!! At times it’s on a rock or what do I see? There is a horrible diaorrhea stop along the way, and I have to regularly haul wet wipes and practice undressing and dressing in the deep woods.

I´m telling myself that it’s only 30km to go. But it’s going awfully slow. I have a dilemma on the climb to Maliník. It’s better to shit or puke. I think about it for a while, so I take off my tracksuit for about the fourth time. And that’s how we’re going to get to Královka. Passing the Josefův Důli dam is a punishment. The thermometer shows zero. And on Jizerka, as my mother told me, it was maybe -10 that evening.

I’m starting to see things that don’t exist. Also, the headlamp is out. It got an all-nighter on 321 Vabank and I couldn’t think of anything else to do, but ride this half-charged headlamp the other night. Nice descents down the rocks roots from Slovanka for a hallucinogenic blind. At Bramberk I think to myself, you can do it, only 20km to go.

The end without euphoria full of apathy

We arrive at the finish in just under 21 hours via Finkenstein an Smržovka. Emotionally flattened, exhausted, speechless. We have reached Jiro220 let’s celebrate! No shit! Absolutely no emotion, just a slap and bye. Everyone goes home alone in the hell. What about Jura, he’s a few meters away, but I still had an unmeasured 10km ride home.

It was the worst thing I’ve experienced on the trail. Cold like on a motorcycle in Siberia, I’m fumbling around in the dark with my headlamp off. About halfway home, it hits me again. I’m stripping naked and my mouth’s smoking moisture. But it’s not cold on a naked body anymore. I’m warm. So I take off Jura’s handkerchiefs for the last time and I don’t even want to get dressed anymore. If I smoked, I’d have a naked cigarette.

I arrive home in apathy. The moment I open the house, the heat rolls in. I want to faint instantly. I shiver like an expensive dog and try to thaw the frostbite in the shower. It works, but all the heat in the world won’t warm me up. No one’s home, so I go to hide under many layers of blankets. A powerful experience. I hope I never ride Jiro220 again!

So everyone, hurray for registration! www.jiro220.cz