Members blog
Forgotten but not Lost: In search of Gravel, History, and Place
Norway’s incredible array of gravel roads was never built for recreation. They are the result of necessity, of living, working, and surviving in a demanding landscape. Long before tourism, roads were cut into forests, plateaus, and valleys to support farming and seasonal life. In the highlands, tracks were dug to reach summer pastures, allowing livestock […]
National Gravel Routes: Building What Norway Never Finished
Cyclists are coming to Norway in growing numbers. Not for races, not for Instagram trophies, but for long journeys through landscape, quiet roads, long days, and a sense of moving through a country rather than visiting a place. Across the EU, cycle tourism is estimated to be growing by around 9% annually. In Norway, the […]
The head of Innovation Norway replied within three days
When I decided to speak publicly about my experience building Cycle Norway and navigating Innovation Norway’s funding system, I was fully prepared for one of three outcomes:no reply at all, a response via a caseworker, or a short, formal clarification from an assistant. Part 1 of this blog can be found here Instead, within three […]
Innovation Without Innovation: Cycle Norway’s Story
For years, I believed Innovation Norway existed to support innovation. Not pleasant ideas. Not preservation. Not stability for its own sake. Text & Photos by Matthew Tolley – Founder of Cycle Norway. Innovation in the real sense of the word, new solutions, new structures, and new ways of doing things that materially change how an […]
Norway Race Calendar 2026: Bikepacking, Gravel, Road Sportives & Triathlon
Norway is one of the few places in Europe where you can ride events that feel genuinely wild, yet still have the logistics of a modern country: reliable public transport, safe drinking water, clear roads, and a culture that understands outdoor life. The real selling point isn’t only the scenery (fjords, high plateaus, coastal roads, […]
Norway Our Way: Six Weeks Bikepacking With Real Costs
Guy and Judy are a highly experienced touring couple from New South Wales, Australia. What follows is not a beginner’s travel diary, but a clear example of how Norway is meant to be ridden when people do their homework, use the right tools, and apply real-world cycling experience. In 2025 they planned their Norwegian journey […]
Rain so heavy it drummed the cabin roof like war
I do a lot of consultation calls throughout the year, helping cyclists plan their trips across Norway. After a while the conversations blur together, different routes, different faces, different ambitions, all coming through a screen. You rarely expect any of it to step out into real life. Last August, on a warm, bright day in […]
10 Things You Need to Know About Cycling Senja
If Lofoten is a polished fairytale, Senja is the old myth behind it — darker, deeper, and more powerful. The atmosphere shifts the moment you arrive. Norway’s second-largest island is often called “Norway in miniature” because it packs the whole country into one place: serrated peaks rising from the ocean, wild fjords, quiet valleys, and […]
Helicopters vs Frame Bags: Norway’s Cycling Crossroads
I would imagine most people outside of this small but weathy nation have never heard of the Tour of Norway. It doesn’t have the history of the Tour de France or the spectacle of the Giro. It’s four days of racing around a corner of southern Norway that, for most international fans, is not a […]
Norway’s Eurovelo 1: The Ultimate Guide and Resource
The first time I cycled from Bergen to Nordkapp I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. It was the summer of 2020. The world had just slammed on the brakes. Borders were shutting, flights were cancelled, and cities were silent. Norway felt unusually empty, and the Atlantic coast, normally buzzing with tourists, was almost mine alone. […]
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