When people think of Cycle Norway, they often picture the open road, quiet forests, and the thrill of discovering a country by bike. What they don’t always see is what goes on behind the scenes to make it all possible.

Until recently, Cycle Norway received a small but helpful amount of support from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen). Early this year, that funding was pulled entirely. It’s hard to say why. The confusing rule book was thrown at us, and that is usually a polite way of saying we have no interest in supporting you any more. For some people, supporting Cycle Norway in the age of mass unsustainable tourism is a no-brainer. However, things are usually more complex than they seem. It’s not unreasonable to suspect that supporting an independent platform like Cycle Norway, one that offers an alternative voice in Norway’s cycling landscape, might not align comfortably with the interests or internal dynamics of a state-led system.

Of course, I can’t say that for certain. But the timing and context raise questions. Cycle Norway exists outside traditional tourism pipelines and challenges the way information is controlled and shared. That kind of independence isn’t always welcomed. Still, I remain grateful for the support we once had, and are more than happy to work with Staten Vegvesen should our values align in the future. But what matters most is that I’m still here, still going, because I believe in this project and I’m not ready to give up on it.

You understand that Cycle Norway is not a big travel brand backed by investors or public funds. It’s a one-man operation built on passion, grit, and the belief that cycling can change how people experience Norway. Every krone that keeps the platform running now comes directly from the people who use it. Paid memberships aren’t just transactions, they’re acts of support that keep a vision alive.

My promise is simple: I’ll keep updating and improving the site, adding new content that’s worth your time and trust. I have big plans ahead—and I’ll keep going until the money runs out. But I hope it never will.

When I was young, I used to visit my gran every summer in a small town in rural England. Each day during the holidays, we’d walk into the village and stop at the bakery, the butcher, and the café with the amazing homemade shortbread. One day, after we’d bought some meat from Brian the local butcher, she turned to me and said: “Always keep your money local.” I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking at the world today, I understand what she meant.

Most of our money now flows to multinational corporations. They dominate the high streets, the digital world, and our spending habits. Local businesses, where pride, craft, and community once thrived, have been hollowed out. People are employees, not owners. We’ve lost the personal touch, the character, the soul.

Cycle Norway shouldn’t exist in today’s world. Competing with Meta, Google AI, and the endless algorithm-driven noise is a losing game. And yet, here we are. Running the site costs a minimum of €15,000 per year, before a single salary is paid (which it isn’t). That covers web hosting, security, premium plugins, professional photography, route research, admin, legal fees, and more. Every route you see has been ridden, filmed, and written up, often in remote areas and tough conditions. It’s a full-time job done on part-time resources.

Now that public funding has disappeared, every person who spends €30–60 to become a member is directly keeping this project afloat. That’s the reality.

And no, your money might not be going into your own local economy. But it is supporting a small, local online business rooted in a real place, run by a real person. It’s a business you can visit, talk to, and rely on. One that exists to inspire you to help you have a better, more meaningful experience of Norway by bike. That might sound like a cliché in the age of self-help fluff but there’s nothing cliché about being on two wheels, in the wild, feeling alive.

To everyone who has joined and supported Cycle Norway, THANK YOU. Just last week, I returned from four long days on the road with a professional photographer. That project alone cost over €5,000—not counting 14-hour workdays. We don’t have the budget for this kind of work. But I’m willing to dive into my personal savings because I’d rather spend my money on meaningful pursuits than material products I don’t really need. Producing honest, soulful, enduring content is our answer to the trend-chasing world of mass tourism.

This platform is built to last. The routes we publish today are meant for riders, not just now, but 10, 20, 30 years into the future. It’s a long-term vision, rooted in respect for the land, the culture, and the journey.

So, if you believe in a different kind of travel and a different kind of economy, support Cycle Norway. Keep your money local. Help build something that still has a soul.