We did it again. The morning sun was clawing its way up the sky as we stepped off the local train in Trenčín. Johnny unfolded his Twenty Fold like a Swiss army knife, while I wrestled with my Trip Max—longer than a Monday morning, but perfect for long rides. The 28-inch wheels with gravel tires glide effortlessly, like the road itself wants to cooperate.
From the back exit of the underpass, we zigzag toward the ice rink, and within a kilometer, we’re on the cycle path. From here, it’s just Váh cycle nirvana—only occasionally interrupted by the chaos of unfinished construction work.
The Váh Cycle Route: Asphalt Dreams (and a Little Sweat)
The wheels hum like butter. The trail coils along the Váh like a dark satin ribbon. The sun blazes—26°C on the sign, but it feels like 38. The air is practically boiling.
“Look, there’s Skalka nad Váhom,” I point toward the hill. The oldest monastery in Slovakia—for now, only from a distance. History peeks out at every turn, though sometimes it’s in no rush to show itself.
We pass Sihoť Island, the Skalka Bridge, and hop onto the Nosice and Kočkov Canals—part of the Váh Cascade. We push our scooters up the levee like someone’s paying us to do it, and from the top, the river snakes below like a migraine-plagued serpent. You can see the panorama of the Vršatec cliffs shimmer in the distance, and on the other side, Trenčianka Teplá, the gateway to Trenčianske Teplice call.
Canals, Cyclists, and Postcard Peace
The asphalt is straight as truth. Cyclists, joggers, kids, bubbles—everywhere. During short breaks, we chat with fishermen.
“I always release the fish. Except once a year—I give one to my mother-in-law. Makes her happy… and gives me peace,” one says without even lifting his eyes.
A kilometer further, a fisherwoman tells us, “I work with people. This place is pure calm.” Her tone is practically a mantra.
Dubnica nad Váhom: Pizza, Beer, and a Touch of Baroque
After two hours of smooth riding, we arrive in Dubnica. It greets us with silence and shade. Bistro Spartak fuels us with pizza and Březňák beer—we each have two, though I’m eyeing a third. Probably not before the ride back.
With heavy legs, we head to the manor house. The baroque façade stuns us. From the front. Exploring Dubnica’s center doesn’t take long. I retreat into the park among mighty lindens and plane trees—suddenly, contrasts emerge: the back of the manor makes it painfully clear what socialist reality looked like before EU funds stepped in.
Finally, we peek at the Grotta—an artificial cave, locked, but laced with mystery. We bounce down the steps toward the stadium. The train won’t wait. We arrive three minutes before departure. Miraculously, the train’s on time.
Return to Trenčín (with Experimental Logistics)
The adventure continues. How do you fit scooters into two bike racks when there are already eight cyclists on board? We wedge them in between bikes—Tetris on hard mode. Folding scooters prove their worth on this kind of trip. We hop off in Zlatovce and approach Trenčín from the other side.
We float past every ice cream shop and café until we reach Peace Square. The best ice cream in town is… let’s say diplomatically: it exists, but it’s anything but “best.”
Castles, History, and Plans to Return
From the bridge, Trenčín Castle waves at us. Looks like it remembers us. It’d love to tell its stories, but we don’t have time—the train awaits.
The bike trail leads us along the Váh on freshly paved asphalt. Two options—an old levee path or a newer, civilized one. We take the new one, but already know we’ll be back. To explore the castle, Beckov, and the southern part of the Váh route all the way to Nové Mesto nad Váhom. And maybe to find better ice cream.
The Verdict? The Kostkas Have Been Cast.
The Váh Cycle Route won us over, and we’re not done yet. After stops: Strečno, Žilina, and Bytča we continue. While our scooters rest in the train’s luggage compartment, our minds are already plotting the next ride.
