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A Norway cycle tour has been on my radar for literally years now, just never quite made it happen.
I was content to keep it tarmac, the climbs over there look so good they really merit a nice light fast road bike.
Problem is some of the gravel also looks incredible!
This guys vid sealed the deal I think, will just need to be a nice light fast gravel bike with virtually slick high volume tyres.
I think the main highlights of his video are the Rallarvegen, which I was already aware of but had dismissed in favour of some famous road climbs hidden away in the general area.
I've pinched the best of his route and incorporated it into a route I've been tinkering with for (literally, sadly) years.
His route:
https://www.strava.com/routes/2793786295783416578
My adapted route (previous route skipped Rallarvegen in favour of some extra tarmac climbs further north and the famously steep hairpins up to Stalheim):
https://www.strava.com/routes/20012049
Roll on 2022 perhaps!
That sort of thing is on my list too, but I've struggled to get my own bike there from where I live (Shetland). Flights there are limited in luggage space and when I looked at shipping our families 3 bikes there and back it was astronomical.
I've done part of the Rallarvegen before on a stupidly expensive hire bike and would love to do the rest and more. We were due to do again for a fortnight holiday, but then my knee replacement came up at short notice so we had to cancel, and then other stuff, but we'll be back! It's ace, just incredibly expensive.
There are online maps of the tunnel system that tell you which ones are usable by bikes, or not, or maybe... https://www.cycletourer.co.uk/maps/tunnelmap.shtml Most of them still have a by-pass option which is often a very steep and scenic gravel route
If you've not been before I'd highly recommend it.
https://english.dnt.no/about-the-cabins/
I always fancied a MTB or walking tour using their awesome hut system, seen a video on them years ago (was maybe that staoter McNeish tbf) and it looked awesome.
That sort of thing is on my list too, but I’ve struggled to get my own bike there from where I live (Shetland). Flights there are limited in luggage space and when I looked at shipping our families 3 bikes there and back it was astronomical.
Yeah... transport logistics are annoying, my route wants to start in Andalsnes so I think I could fly to Molde and fly back from Bergen.
Had hoped I could use ferries or something but ferry links no longer seem to exist in a practical sense and trains/driving are out of the window, just no time for a vast loop travelling south then back north.
There are online maps of the tunnel system that tell you which ones are usable by bikes, or not
I need to refresh my memory, but I think I had figured out a way to avoid ALL tunnels, it was a 'mad scientist' type maniacal laugh when I figured out the final route.
I did a tour of Norway many years ago, it was the year of foot and mouth.
Rallevegan was on itinerary but was under about 3m of snow when we got to it!!
Lovely place.
What time of year was that anagallis?
One of the 'highlights' of the trip would be the Dalsnibba climb
I think there is an annual sportive which runs every June, so I had assumed most of the high level roads would be clear by then, but perhaps that's because they've been ploughed!
What a lovely video..
I’ve done both Sweden and Norway and love it there, possibly my favourite places on earth. This reminds me I need to go back
I did two weeks of walking in Norway. It was incredible. This makes me miss that holiday a lot.
This looks bucket list worthy. In reality, is Norway really as expensive as reported?
I mean in terms of accommodation and food. I wouldn’t eat out and would look for cheap accommodation or camping if it’s an option.
No experience at all with cycling in Europe!
Google suggests Rallarvegen most likely to be open/passable July-September
I wouldn’t eat out and would look for cheap accommodation or camping if it’s an option.
Researched it a few years ago, pretty sure wild-camping is fair game. I'm still erring towards hotels/hostels just to lighten the load, but haven't researched that part very much yet.
Regarding cost, I did Stockholm early last year and thought it was no more expensive than central London for eating and drinking. I think the issue is more than those prices remain consistent wherever you are, not just in built up areas. Also, eating out didn’t seem too bad, but normal stuff like chocolate bars are mentally expensive - in Oslo a Mars bar was something mental like £2.50.
It wasn’t cheap by any means but wasn’t extortionate like I expected it to be
Looks awesome. Can you guarantee as much sunshine as in this video? Looks suspicious.
Can you guarantee as much sunshine as in this video? Looks suspicious.
Ha, yeah, like google streetview, they rarely seem to photograph roads other than on sunny days...
There's another guys videos pop up in the suggested links - mattinnorway or something, he shows what it CAN be like...
I think that movie Trollhunter also gives a good impression, lots of wet scenery...
What time of year was that anagallis?
Late may early June as I recall, was a long time ago. Roads up onto Hardanger Vidda were clear but riding a bit with people cross country skiing next to us was wired!! Got the Ferry from Newcastle to Bergen, lived on bread and cheese in a tube for 2 weeks, got invited into a private stag do party with free beer on the return ferry. Campsites were plentiful and not expensive did a few wild camps too no problems. Food was expensive and a bit shit, didn't eat out or drink as that was off the scale expensive. Like I said was ages ago though, that ferry doesn't run anymore.
Can you guarantee as much sunshine as in this video?
We got loads of sunshine, although it did rain almost everyday too!!
Trains, buses and campsites were cheap and excellent with card payment for everything so a fee free credit card was great to save messing with cash.
We don't drink, which saves a lot, but in my opinion (as a tight northerner) eating out is bloody expensive especially in any touristy areas. We treated ourselves to a meal at a pizza place (Dolly's?), blimey that was a bill with soft drinks!
There were no big supermarkets nearby in the places we were travelling, but the local spar shops were great as they had hot counters that were much more reasonably priced and tasty.
Also worth checking out the Matty and Clares lost captures (bombtrack bikes) on you tube... quite a nice story with matty following his grandfathers cycle touring footsteps on a gravel ride through Norway
Is there anywhere with broadly similar routes that aren't on strava?
Chrck out the comment section of the first video I posted, the author attaches a GPX?
It might even be downloadable as a .kml file which I seem to recall works with google maps, although google will no doubt freak out because half the roads will be closed due to snow right now...
I've toured Norway twice with Brian Curtis and CyclingUk.
Spectacular place.
Ferry to Bergen, coastal steamer north, disembark early the next morning and then spend 2 weeks cycling back to Bergen.
Don't hesitate to use ferries to see the fjords (Helleyst to Geiranger is breathtakingly stunning).
Tunnels - there is a map showing those that can be cycled. Dark and terrifying and fun.
Suprisingly mild at sea level. Rain - lots of rain.
Road gradients are modrate and surfaces good - I did a loaded tour without recourse to my granny.
Here's an account from 1999: http://www.crispinbennett.freedomnames.co.uk/Norway.htm
And photos from 2004: http://www.crispinbennett.freedomnames.co.uk/Norway2004.htm
Thanks 13fm
Nice video, made me enter the YouTube blackhole of Norweigan bikepacking videos. As mention further up there's some great content by MatthewNorway.
One for the bucket list. A real shame there's no longer a ferry to get across there from what I can see.
The Jethro Jessop videos are good, he's got a very easy going, relatable presenting style