Balaton KalandKör400 FAQ

Here you will find answers to the questions riders ask most often about KalandKör400. We keep this list growing as new questions come in.

- What kind of roads make up the KK400 loop?

- The route mainly follows BalatonBike365's signposted network and some of the finest cycling routes around Lake Balaton: forestry tracks, dirt roads, cycle paths, occasional forest trails and, where needed, very quiet public roads.

- How difficult is the route?

- The 12 stages were designed for variety, so the 400-kilometre loop includes both easier and tougher sections. From shorter rides that are almost entirely on asphalt with little climbing, to longer stages with steep ramps, sandy stretches and real challenges, there is a favourite section here for every rider.

- Which direction can I ride the KK400?

- The 12 stages can be completed in any direction, and you can mix directions as well. For example, if you ride 5 stages clockwise and 7 counter-clockwise, you still earn the badge for completing the full loop.

- How long do I have to complete the KK400?

- If you are asking about the full loop, there is no overall time limit: you can collect the 12 stages at your own pace. Each individual stage has a 48-hour time limit, so that is the window for completing the 30-80 kilometre sections. The full KK400 can be finished whenever your fitness, schedule and ambitions allow.

- I rode the stage and scanned the QR codes, but my ride still was not confirmed. How can that happen?

- When you scan a QR code on your phone, always make sure you see the "QR code scan successful" message. That is your confirmation that the scan has gone through. The system also sends an email after successful scans and after a full stage has been completed, usually within a few minutes. You can also check your completed stages under the "My Profile" menu. If the stage is still missing, you may have missed one of the QR code boards, or a board may have disappeared. In that case, please let us know using the contact details provided so we can investigate.

- My phone will not scan the QR code. Why might that happen?

- To scan successfully, your phone needs permission to use both the camera and location services. By far the most common issue is that one of these permissions has not been enabled. Less often, weak mobile coverage at the QR point - for example in woodland - can also cause problems. In that case, be patient and try again a few times. It often works after another attempt. If it still does not, please report the issue to us.

- What should I do if my phone will not scan the code, but I can prove with a GPX file that I completed the stage?

- That is no problem at all. In the "My Profile" menu, you can also verify the stage by choosing "GPX upload". Even so, if you can use our system, we would be grateful if you did, because the list of riders completing each stage is valuable feedback for future improvements.

- When uploading, do I need to submit the exact GPX file for the stage?

- The system is fairly forgiving. Small deviations are fine, and if your route passes close to all the QR codes on the designated line, the stage can still be validated. There is also no need to worry if you started riding before the stage boundary or continued after it; extra kilometres in the uploaded GPX file are not an issue.

- Can I leave the route while completing a stage? (For example, for a stop at a favourite nearby ice-cream shop.)

- If you are recording the ride with QR code scans, absolutely. The system only sees whether you scanned all the required codes. If you have them all, the stage counts. If you are using GPX upload, it is best to pause tracking while you leave the route, and when you return, rejoin at the same point and continue from there.

- What navigation device should I use?

- Any navigation device will do, as long as it can read the GPX files downloadable from the KK400 website and is practical to use on the bike. For validation, it is also important that it records your ride, so you can save the route in GPX format or in a format that can be converted to GPX.

- Where will I find the signs if I ride the KK400 by following them?

- The signs are placed from the stage boundaries onwards, mainly at junctions where the direction is not obvious. In some places you will also find reassurance signs if there has not been a branching road for a while. DETAILS HERE

- What type of bike is best for completing the stages?

- Each stage has its own ideal bike type, and we indicate that on the stage page. Naturally, very few riders own every kind of bike, so for the full KK400 we recommend either a gravel bike or a mountain bike, both of which can also be rented from our BBT centres. Depending on your level of fitness, you can take on the route on either an electric-assist or a conventional bike; in both cases, your effort is recognised, with separate leaderboards for each category.

- How should I break up the route?

- That depends entirely on the rider. If you want to link several stages together, it is worth checking in advance how easily you can get back to your starting point - for example by train. On our website we suggest a three-day version for more sportive riders, which you can read HERE. But the stages also work one by one, and for some riders the challenge lies in riding the whole loop in a single push.

- Can you recommend accommodation along the route?

- Yes. It is worth browsing the BalatonBike365 website, where you will find our partner service providers. Before you set off, please make sure the accommodation you choose is open in the relevant season or year-round.

- What do finishers receive?

- Complete a stage and you earn a virtual badge and certificate. Complete the full loop and we will send you a finisher's medal.