Members blog
National Gravel Route 3: Sørlandsruta
The Southern Divide This route is remarkable for how it links together a vast network of farm and forest roads into one continuous gravel journey through a part of Norway few people ever see, or even know exists. If this is your first, second, or even tenth visit to Norway, this route likely isn’t for […]
National Gravel Route 2: Telemark
Telemark Route 2 leaves Oslo heading west, slipping into the forests of Vestmarka and Finnemarka where the city fades quickly and the road begins to slow. Gravel replaces urgency, and the route starts to hint at what lies ahead. You’ll be amazed at how many quiet gravel roads are available, leaving Oslo towards the county […]
National Gravel Route 1: Sentralruta
The Central Route Route 1 is the backbone of the National Gravel Routes network. It is the main north–south line, the reference route that every other route connects to. Five of the eight routes begin in Oslo, and Route 1 is the line that carries you away from the city and deep into the interior. […]
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 […]
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