Rob had been to Norway no less than two instances earlier than, however when he heard that I used to be planning to cycle throughout Norway on a self-supported bicycle tour of my very own, he shortly volunteered to hitch me on the journey (and I used to be comfortable to have him come alongside).
Rob and I first met in 2012 in the course of the Bike Switzerland Problem Tour – a week-long guided bike tour throughout the nation… and have since achieved two different bike excursions collectively: one within the Loire Valley of France… and one other 650-kilometer bike journey in Finland.
After ending a motorcycle tour in Norway with one other good friend of mine named Eric, Rob flew into Oslo, Norway and I met him there for the beginning of our 4th biking journey collectively. THE GOAL: To cycle throughout Norway (from Oslo to Bergen) in 5 quick days – whereas having as a lot enjoyable as doable alongside the way in which!
Two Bike Excursions Collide in Oslo, Norway
Earlier than Rob arrived in Oslo for the beginning of our cross-country bicycle tour in Norway collectively, I had been taking part in two back-to-back self-guided bike excursions with a good friend of mine named Eric Kiraly and an area touring firm known as Energetic-Norway. As soon as my bike tour with Eric was over, Eric and I traveled by practice from Bergen to Oslo, simply in time to lease an condominium within the metropolis middle for one night time and meet up with Rob, who flew in from Italy (the place he had been on trip) later than identical night. As soon as in Oslo, Rob shortly put his bike collectively, we each purchased some meals for the journey forward, and we slept properly – understanding that he had a protracted a number of days of biking forward of us.
Viking-Biking Tour of Oslo, Norway
After trying out of our AirBNB condominium in downtown Oslo, we mentioned goodbye to Eric as he ready to fly again to the USA… and Rob and I cycled a brief distance throughout city to the headquarters of an area tour firm known as Viking Biking Oslo. We had signed as much as take part in a 3+ hour guided bike tour of town, which was a complete lot of enjoyable – and a good way to see town. However as quickly because the bike tour was over, Rob and I jumped on our fully-loaded touring bicycles and commenced pedaling west with the purpose of getting as far outdoors of Oslo as we presumably might earlier than dusk. Fortunate for us, Oslo’s many bike paths and well-marked street indicators made it straightforward to exit town middle and we had been capable of cycle about 50 kilometers in only a few shorts hours, earlier than stumbling throughout a phenomenal, remoted campsite within the woods, the place we spent the night time.
Cycle Throughout Norway – A Bicycle Touring Journey
We had been on a good schedule and wanted to cowl greater than 500 kilometers in 5 quick days if we had been going to efficiently cycle throughout Norway – from Oslo to Bergen. So we set the purpose of pedaling no less than 100 kilometers every day. Throughout our first full day on the street, we managed to go a bit additional than that, regardless of a late begin to the day, and we spent the night camped out within the forest. It was the proper day of motorcycle touring in Norway!
Tremendous Loopy Moist & Wild Bike Tour
After we awoke the subsequent morning, we knew we had been in for some unhealthy climate… and we additionally knew that we had a number of massive hills to climb forward of us. However with the necessity to cowl 100+ kilometers every day behind our minds, we straddled our loaded touring bikes and took off – mentally getting ready ourselves for a protracted, chilly and tough day on the bikes. Even with the rain, chilly and fog, we had been capable of cowl a substantial distance, however after climbing solely one of many three hills we hoped to climb that day, we determined to cease early, climb inside our tents and do our greatest to get dry. We ended the day soaking moist and shivering!
Discovering A Free Scorching Bathe!
Fortunately, unhealthy climate doesn’t final without end. After we lastly rolled out of our tents, the solar was out and the sky was clear. There was snow on the mountains within the distance and there have been nonetheless two massive passes to climb. After pitching camp and packing up our bikes, Rob and I stumbled throughout a roadside restroom outfitted with free sizzling showers. After the day prior to this of rain and freezing chilly temperatures, we couldn’t let this chance move… and our free sizzling bathe was one of many many highlights throughout our cross-country bike tour in Norway.
4 Flat Tires In A Single Day
We had deliberate on taking the street all the way in which from Oslo to Bergen, however as soon as we reached the tiny city of Haugastol, Norway, we ran right into a roadblock. The street was closed for cyclists and there was a large signal saying that bikes had been prohibited on the roadway. Apparently, there had been a big landslide and the street we had deliberate to take to Bergen was now blocked. Our solely choices had been to A) take the bus to Bergen or 2) change our plans and cycle about 50 km on the well-known Rallarvegen bike path to town of Flan, the place we might then leap on a practice and journey again to Bergen that approach. We didn’t need to take the bus, so we turned onto the Rallarvegen bike path, spent the night time tenting alongside the sting of the path, after which limped alongside the street the next day – whereas Rob suffered from 4 flat tires on the soiled, rocky street. Ultimately, we had been unable to make all of it the way in which to Flam and had been pressured to leap on the practice in Finse and journey from there again to Bergen – the place we then spent the subsequent a number of days being hosted by Rob’s pals Kjartan and Ingeborg.
Video Tour of the Rallarvegen Bicycle Path
One of many best and most well-known biking routes in Norway is the 82-kilometre lengthy Rallarvegen (often known as the Navvies Street) working from Haugastøl through Finse to Flåm. Watch the video above and observe alongside as my good friend Rob and I cycle the Rallarvegen bike path throughout our latest cross-country bike tour in Norway. After you see this video, you’ll perceive why the Rallarvegen (and Norway as a complete) is such a preferred biking vacation spot.
Click on right here to see the images from our “Cycle Throughout Norway” bike tour.