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Video: 'Perspective Kőszeg' Goes Behind the Scenes of a Grass Roots MTB Community

Aug 2, 2023
by Viktor Császár  

Words: Viktor Császár

Kőszeg is a town in Vas County, Hungary, located right next to the Austrian borders. The town by default is famous for its historical character, but in recent years, it has become a truly unique, one-of-a-kind riding destination within the country for mountain bikers. Hungary lags behind its neighboring countries in terms of mountain bike culture, but thanks to the efforts of Ziskó "Puby" Balázs, this place stands out in Hungary's mountain biking scene, providing a genuine alternative to the more distant trail centers in Europe.

Through this story, we aim to showcase how a local community can come together for a shared passion and create a place where mountain bikers can meet, learn, and grow. Even amidst strong headwinds regarding the legalization of the local trails, these guys have built a community that can take pride in their achievements. They will undoubtedly continue to serve as an inspiring force for Hungarian mountain bike enthusiasts in the future.


photo by Robert Apjok

photo by Robert Apjok

photo by Robert Apjok

photo by Robert Apjok

photo by Robert Apjok

photo by Robert Apjok

Video by loam. | @loamcinema
Photos by Robert Apjok | @rob.lifecycles

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18 Comments
  • 12 0
 Going there since 2018 and just can not get enough. Only smiles theres, always! HUGE thank you for Puby and the whole crew there and also for @viktorcsaszar & @loamcinema for their work. A true example to follow anywhere around the world. Cheers
  • 8 0
 It's a shame that those who could do something to ensure that Kőszeg actually has a fully legal bike park don't see this. It makes me terribly angry that something can work legally on one side of the same mountain, while the tracks on our side are practically illegal.
  • 6 0
 From an Australian perspective this is an amazing community of like minded individuals, too bad our National Parks don't see things the same way here! Good work, keep it rolling
  • 6 0
 Awesome video, good to see the nearby community getting some deserving love Smile cheers from Sopron!
  • 7 0
 Awesome video guys! Proud! One of the best places to ride!
  • 7 0
 You can support them on TrailForks!
  • 3 0
 The story of mountain biking is the story of civil disobedience. You cannot ask your way to what you want from government. you must demand it, and when not met, do it yourself in spite of them. Your government, no matter which side of which line on a map you live on, has the duty to listen to it's people and give them what they want. with enough people behind it, the government will be forced to acquiesce to your will. This is the outcome of so many pirate trail systems around the world. Just. Keep. Digging.
  • 3 0
 Whistler bike park & The North Shore trail system is a living example of that.

Dig on!
  • 2 1
 Oh hell no. If you talk to land managers that have to deal with illegal (pirate) trail building/riding, they will tell you that they are far less likely to approved legal trails for fear the legal trails won't solve the issue they have: illegal trails. (And they tend to right, because the same people who build illegal trails don't tend to stop when legal trails become available.) Illegal trails slow down, not speed up, legal trail construction. We now this because there places where trails were legal from day one. Those are the places that add a lot of new trails or new experiences regularly - and have for decades.

Show me a place where the MTBers claim its only via illegal trails that they get to ride and I'll show you a place where the MTB community is unwilling to do the unsexy and hard work of dealing with the government process.

As a trail advocate I see this all the time. The same people that claim "oh we have to have illegal trails" are the same people who won't show up for governmental meetings to get legal trails, they are the same people who won't help lobby for legal trails, they are the same people who won't be there for build days on legal trails, they are same people whine about legal trails being "sanitized", etc. Its not about legal trails, its about them just wanting to do things their way.
Trespassing and vandalism (which illegal trail building is) doesn't make someone the next MLK, it makes them a dick.
  • 1 1
 @CycleKrieg: You think the government grants you rights, huh?
  • 1 0
 That is a uniquely American view. The stakes are much higher in most countries. I don’t think most governments around the world see “civil disobedience” in the same light that you do. Most people around the world don’t enjoy the luxury of being able to behave in that way and only get a slap on the wrist.
  • 1 0
 @andelinc: That's your clue as to whether you are free or not.....


If you can't protest, disobey en masse, and generally fire your government at will, you are just a subject, not a citizen.
  • 3 0
 Amazing what single dedicated person can accomplish. A freeride lelke él Magyarországon. I lived there as a U.S. expat almost 20 years ago. I'd take my bike on the fogaskerekű (cog-wheeled train) up to the top of Jánoshegy and blast down and shuttle it again.
  • 4 0
 What a great community and beautiful place. Shows how important it is to give back and that this lifestyle is as much about the people as it is the riding.
  • 3 0
 I was in Hungary and the CZ republic back in 1998 and we watched dudes giving full sends down a hillside on BMX bikes...it always starts with making the most with what you have available.
  • 4 0
 Awesome place with awesome people!
  • 2 0
 Proud of these folks - even if I have not been there to express my gratitude.... yet! :-)
  • 1 0
 looks like an amazing place to ride and a rad community of people. Keep going and you'll make it official one day!







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