Bumbálka is a climb of 5.4 kilometers (category 3). The climb finishes at 862 m above sea level. It is located in Leskové, Zlínský kraj, Česko. The average gradient is 4.3% with a maximum of 6.8%. The climb has 230 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty analysis: This 5.4 km climb gains 230 m of elevation and has an average gradient of 4.3%, which puts it in the 3rd category. The real difficulty lies between km 0.5 and km 3.0, where the gradient holds steady at 6% for several kilometres and gradually grinds down your legs. The section from km 4.0 to km 5.0, at 1 to 2%, gives you a proper breather before the final 335 m at 5%.
Tips for pacing the climb:
1. Pace yourself from the start. Settle into a steady rhythm on the 6% section from km 0.5 to km 3.0 so you don't blow up before the decisive part.
2. Make the most of the flat section from km 4.0 to km 5.0. Those 1 and 2% stretches are your chance to recover, catch your breath and get some food and drink in.
3. Save something for the finish. The 335 m at 5% from km 5.0 to km 5.4 are often decided by who has the most left in the legs, so keep a manageable gear and enough energy to attack.
The pass marks the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and many riders stop there when crossing from one country to the other. The big car park serves as a rest stop, and one rider even spent the night there in a camper van.
On a clear day you can see far, all the way to the Lysá hora (“the bald mountain”). On a cloudy day, the peaks around stayed hidden. The car park is also a starting point for waymarked hikes, and the Beskydy ridge can be walked all the way to Kmínek or towards Javorníky. There's a memorial to a group of WWII partisans just nearby.
The buildings are the saddest part. Several people say the place used to be lively. The restaurant and guesthouse are closed, the chalet is empty, and there are no toilets nearby anymore. One rider thinks a small kiosk could at least operate in summer. There's a shop on the Beskydy road where people happily buy local products, such as frgály (traditional little cakes). Run-down sheds stand in the car park. One rider had fuel stolen overnight.
Traffic is the most frequently mentioned downside. The pass is a very busy road for cars, and the noise is always there. A Polish rider notes that the lorries go by without trouble and that you can ride there without worrying. As for the road itself, reports describe a paved surface leading to the Masaryk chalet, about 1.5 km away. On the gradients, they say almost nothing.
5.4 km • 230 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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