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I wondered if anyone could provide some top tips on biking in Norway! My friend and I are planning to fly to Bergen in a couple of weeks and looking to bike pack around the fjords on our own mountain bikes for 7 days. So far the plan is cycling the bit of the Rallarvagen to Flam that is not in snow (trying to confirm which train stop we can start from at this time of year), once in Flam head towards Kaupanger as I understand from a blog there is good mtb riding here? Then make our way to Balestrand to cycle along the fjord, thinking the route around the 3 fjords around Gaularfjellet.
Are there better rides in or near this area? Had looked at heading to Eidfjord but now know we can't cycle the Hardangervidda (as can't apply the right to roam there?) plus suspect it may be too snowy still.
Im trying to locate some off road cycling routes, other than bike map and joining Strava segments together, can anyone point me in the direction of some great riding and map routes? Just want to experience the great views of Norway. Also can we cycle on footpaths?
Thank you.
I don't know if it answers any of your questions but I have this saved to my bookmarks:
https://anyexcusetoride.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/roadtrippin-the-norwegian-fjords/
Generally you can ride on footpaths but pedestrians have priority, so don't go too fast. If there's a cycle lane you are supposed to use that and generally they're pretty good. For the most part drivers are pretty good around cycilsts (in Oslo anyway) but just be sensible like you would anywhere else.
The right to roam applies pretty much anywhere, although there are areas like nature reserves with restrictions. I've only really explored around Oslo but it's a beautiful country. Generally you're not supposed to wild camp within 150 metres of buildings or lakes, but as long as you're not causing trouble no one will bother you. The Norwegians are very outdoorsy, so it's not seen as weird/suspicious to be camping it the woods.
Check out [url= http://www.cyclingnorway.no/en/routes/ ]http://www.cyclingnorway.no/en/routes/[/url] although this is more for touring routes it may give you some ideas.
Also Joe Newton's blog [url= https://thunderinthenight.exposure.co/ ]https://thunderinthenight.exposure.co/[/url] is great, mainly bikepacking and full of good photos. You could always try to contact him as I think he lives in Bergen or nearby?
This time of year there will still be a lot of snow at higher altitudes and there can be a lot of rain, especially on the west coast. There will also be about a trillion mosquitoes wanting to suck your blood, so use repellent, carry a head net and try to camp where there's a bit of a breeze so they can't fly!
Have a great time!
Thank you Wallop and Steezysix, really useful information. Joe Newton's blog is really good and fantastic photos and funnily enough 'anyexcusetoride' I had pinched the Strava routes from. Getting excited now!
Oh hi! Any excuse to ride is me!! 🙂 Glad you found some of that useful, the Kaupanger stuff is great, of you have time then the stuff further east at Marifjora was great too. You will find some good stuff in the hills just east of Bergen too.
Maybe I linked to it in that blog post but there is a map called [url= http://mtbmap.no ]mtbmap.no[/url] which might be of help for you and the is also a hiking map called Norges Kart which might help you with finding trails?
I'm actually moving back to Norway in July near to Bergen to start a mountain biking guiding/holiday company so watch this space! I've a new blog, well the same I've but just made it a proper .com sure now so keep your eyes peeled on that for more info ... [url= http://anyexcusetoride.com ]any excuse to ride[/url]
Tunnel guide for cyclists might be useful.
We were at Eidjford/Varingfossen hiking this time last week and it's really snowy still up on the plateau and at a reasonably low altitude too, much lower than last year. The cyclist route up from Eidfjord still looks closed too.
I went touring round Norway about 15 years ago..foot and mouth year when ever that was. Anyway in June the Rallervagen route was under abkut 6 feeet of snow
Thank you for all your info. Kaupanger and Marifjora is on the itinery. I have really appreciated the anyexcusetoride Strava links plus the contour maps on www.ut.no. Getting there! Bike and bags packed.
Anus, good luck with the mountain biking business, shame it isn't now you could have got yourself some business! Thanks for the great info been really useful.
You will be able to check out the photos of the trip on Instagram, bikebusuk