Dear HerzegovinaBike community,
In 2026, the HerzegovinaBike community will celebrate its 13th anniversary – entering those “teenage” years when the world starts to be seen through different eyes. We believe this youthful energy, curiosity, and courage will bring new ideas and give us an additional boost moving forward.
More than 15 years have passed since Goran Prskalo and Toni Zorić first began developing the idea of HerzegovinaBike. It was a true challenge. In an environment where cycling was, to put it mildly, a “foreign concept,” we had a clear vision: to get as many people as possible on bicycles and to build a strong community that would develop and position Herzegovina as a cycling tourism destination. We shared ideas, developed them, made mistakes, fixed them, and over time watched our community grow—while tirelessly presenting our work through the rhythmic tapping of keyboards as we built the first version of our website. Today, we proudly look at what we see when we type www.herzegovinabike.ba.
As another year comes to an end, it feels natural to pause, look back, and reflect on the path we have traveled together. HerzegovinaBike was never created as a project with strictly defined deadlines or a final destination. It was born from an idea, a need, and a genuine love for cycling, for the place we live in, and for the people who want to experience it in a different, slower, and more meaningful way.
The years behind us have brought experience. Experience brings confidence, but also responsibility. We have learned how to plan better, make more mature decisions, and recognize what truly matters. At the same time, we know that there is no “final version” of HerzegovinaBike. Progress is a process. Every new route, every event, every partnership, and every cyclist who joins us is part of that process.
Why Cycling?
This question is rarely asked—more often we hear: “Why cycling, and not something else?” We believe the answer is simple. The bicycle is special.
Slow enough to notice landscapes, people, and details. Fast enough to explore and connect places. Quiet enough to hear nature, but also conversations with friends. Sometimes light and joyful, sometimes demanding and challenging. Cycling builds the body, but also character. It creates stories, memories, and a sense of pride when you know you’ve completed a journey under your own power.
A bicycle is also an object of passion—equipment people discuss, customize, upgrade, and talk about for hours. It turns everyday errands, commuting, short city rides, or training sessions into pleasure. Bicycles are special.
That is why we choose to dedicate our time to cycling—because we believe it has the power to change the way we experience space and one another, acting as a tool that brings people closer together, connects us, and builds lasting friendships.
Why Routes and Stories?
Over time, you have shown us very clearly: every great ride starts with a great route.
But for us, a route has never been just a line on a map. A route is a story, history, an encounter with the local community, nature, and the identity of a region.
From the very first route mappings to today, we have listened to your suggestions, questions, and feedback. They have shaped projects such as the Ćiro Trail-a, Franciscana route, UNESCO route, as well as numerous themed cycling tours and events that connect sport, culture, and tourism. Your support and feedback remain a vital part of everything we do.
We will continue doing what we do best: mapping and improving cycling routes that many rely on, building an even stronger and larger cycling community, and delivering projects that bring people, children, and families together through sport, tourism, and a healthy lifestyle. Our community grows year after year, and that growth gives us constant motivation and strength.
The Year Behind Us – and the Year Ahead
I am extremely proud of the community we have built: 16 dedicated and talented people who form the driving force of our association, investing their time and energy every day in the development of cycling and contributions to the local community. In addition, 19 cycling clubs are now gathered around HerzegovinaBike—each driven by the same passion for bicycles and the same desire to make our country a better place to live.
Another strong year is behind us, filled with projects, challenges, and partnerships we are truly proud of—no fewer than 30 successfully delivered projects in 2025 alone. We often joke and say, “Next year we’ll slow down a bit,” and every year this proves to be untrue. Over the past year, I have seen us innovate more, create more, and raise the quality of our work to a new level. We refined our organization, clarified our focus on destination promotion, and listened to your feedback more than ever before. I hope you felt this too—and more importantly, that your rides benefited from it.
We are especially excited about the outlook for 2026. Ahead of us are new projects, stronger international cooperation, additional steps in promoting Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina as an authentic cycling destination, and the further strengthening of the community behind it all – YOU!
Thank You
Your support has allowed us to build HerzegovinaBike for years with the same enthusiasm that marked its very beginning. This is a privilege we never take for granted. Thank you for every like, comment, message, suggestion, and constructive criticism—because you are part of us, part of our community.
We would also like to extend special thanks to our partners who have stood by us, who think long-term, and who recognize the value of what we create together. Without you, this journey would have been far more difficult, and many projects almost impossible.
Thank you for building this community with us and for helping make our country a better and more pleasant place to live, leaving a healthier and higher-quality environment for our children.
As always, we invite you to reach out—whether with an idea, suggestion, feedback, or simply to say hello. HerzegovinaBike is not just an organization or a project. It is a community of people who share the same values and the same passion.
We enter the new year motivated, grateful, and ready for new kilometers.
Expect great things in the year ahead.
With respect,
Toni Zorić
Founder of HerzegovinaBike
You can read the full letter here (link).
