Kashubian Gravel Ecstasy: 100 km of Pomeranian Dirt – From Gdańsk to the Hills of Przywidz

A crisp morning in Gdańsk greeted me with fresh air and the rich scent of damp earth. My Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon was prepped, tire sealant topped up, and one objective on my mind: 100 kilometers of pure gravel bliss. Today's route was no ordinary cruise – it was a true "Kashubian Ecstasy", testing every watt of power and every millimeter of the Future Shock suspension.

- Distance: 100.6 km
- Elevation Gain: +965 m / -1047 m
- Moving Time: ~6h 21m
- Highest Point: 268 m a.s.l. (km 44.1 – near Przywidz)
- Crux Climb: 3.2 km, +90 m vertical gain (avg. 2.8%, max 6%)
- Physical Difficulty: 4.5 / 5 (Challenging)
- Technical Difficulty: 3 / 5 (Varied gravel and forest doubletracks)
- Recommended Rig: Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon

Navigating out of urban Gdańsk is always a logistical warm-up, but as soon as the city limits disappeared, tarmac gave way to smooth, sweeping gravel. Riding steady in Zone 2 around 145 bpm made it easy to soak in the rolling Pomeranian farmland. Rolling past Żukowo with solid momentum, the Diverge swallowed high-frequency trail chatter effortlessly.

Just when the legs began to feel cooked, the route delivered its main ascent: a 3.2 km battle against gravity. While an average gradient of 2.8% looks tame on paper, sudden 6% kickers after 90 kilometers on the pedals can bite hard. Dropping to the easiest cogs, finding an even cadence, and settling into a steady breathing rhythm kept the momentum alive.

Reaching the route's summit (268 m a.s.l.) overlooking Przywidz marked the perfect spot for a well-deserved espresso stop. The panoramic views over the rolling Kashubian landscape are stunning—the kind of scenery that makes you forget lower back fatigue and focus purely on the endless horizon.

What goes up must come down, and the reward was instant. The descending sector between km 59.3 and 60.5 delivered pure gravel flow. Touching a top speed of 57.6 km/h on unpaved gravel demanded a confident grip in the drops and absolute trust in the hydraulic disc brakes. The Diverge tracked faithfully on every bend.

Head unit telemetry recorded an average moving speed of 15.9 km/h over the 100 km course—a solid pace given the off-road rolling terrain. With over 3,500 kcal burned, regular carb and electrolyte intake was essential.

Przywidz is the prime spot for an espresso stop. Local bakeries offer great coffee and pastries to recharge after the climbs. Water bottle top-ups are readily available in Pruszcz Gdański.

1. Tires: Run 40-42mm tires set tubeless at 2.2-2.5 bar for the best balance between rolling resistance and off-road grip.
2. Gearing: An 11-42T cassette or equivalent 1x/2x gravel setup is a lifesaver on punchy Kashubian kickers.
3. Navigation: A loaded GPX track is essential—forest trails can branch off unexpectedly!

This loop is the pure essence of gravel cycling: technically engaging, panoramic, and physically rewarding. Download the GPX track below and enjoy the Kashubian Ecstasy!

[Download GPX Track]