4 Week (gravel) adventures!

This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 3 months ago by Anonymous.

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June 20, 2023 at 10:50 am #11610
Anonymous
Hey everyone,

Next month me and my girlfriend will visit Norway with 2 gravel bikes + bikepacking setup. We booked two interrail tickets for 13 travel days so plenty of options to explore different parts of Norway. First stop will be Oslo, from where we can choose where we go to. We were planning on doing a couple multiple-day adventures/loops (~3-7 days) in a certain area, before jumping on the train to another part of the country. There are so many options to choose from that I would like to get some tips from the experts regarding best loops to take into account. Ideally also with decent train/bike access. So…. Which routes/loops would you advice riding? A bit about ourselves..

We’re riding two gravel bikes with panniers and fully self-sufficient. We both ride 44mm Mezcal’s so we can handle some gravel. This will be my girlfriends first real cycling endeavor, so I wouldnt want to ride the most technical terrain with her. We’re both pretty fit (26yo and exercising daily) and we like a challenge.

The Jotunheimen gravel looks appealing, but i’m guessing it might be a little too hard for her. Already looked at a couple which might fit:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39611333?privacy_code=xazexPNZobuJfiwv (tour de dovre)
Great Norwegian half divide
Making a trip from B brom Bodo back to Trondheim

Would like to hear your advice regarding this trip. Thanks in advance!
Esmee & Joey from The Netherlands
June 21, 2023 at 6:18 pm #11623
Matthew Norway
Keymaster
Hi Joey, it sounds like you have a great adventure ahead of you.

My picks would be.

Tour De Dovre for sure. Not too difficult and easy access with train

The Great Valley Lopp – Take a train to Oppdal and ride down Sunndalen and over the famous gravel road Ausjøvegen. From there, you can ride on to Åndalsnes and take a train back to Dombås (Visit Trollstigen as a detour). You can ride the whole loop, but you have some main E roads to contend with, and a train may be the better option.
http://www.ridewithgps.com/routes/42529487?privacy_code=wpi4X3Y4KvAsgMyU

Telemark Route Canal – You can take a train from Oslo to Porgrunn and ride the whole loop. Beautiful forest area.
http://www.ridewithgps.com/routes/42546425?privacy_code=Rt7ESPzLiUd8mEBR
http://www.cyclenorway.com/routes/national-cycle-routes/overview/route-2/4887-2/

Mjølkevegen – Train to Gol and then cycle the route to Vinstra and take a train back to Oslo from there.
http://www.ridewithgps.com/routes/39601999?privacy_code=LGrMqtGBNEh7jDe7
http://www.cyclenorway.com/routes/national-cycle-routes/overview/route-5/middelalderdalen-mjolkevegen/

Rallarvegen – Train to Haugastøl and then cycle all the way to Voss, where you can jump on the train back to Oslo or Bergen
http://www.ridewithgps.com/routes/39606831?privacy_code=E9Vjb0QdoUH3tbkG
http://www.cyclenorway.com/routes/national-cycle-routes/overview/route-4/hallingdal-og-rallarvegen/

The Great Norwegian Half divide is a remote route with limited train and public transport options. I feel it’s the sort of route you do when you know Norway well and have experience of the country. You will cycle hundreds of kilometers with very few options for food and accommodation.

Trondheim – Bodø route is a popular touring route. No gravel and plenty of ferries across the fjords. A very beautiful and unique area of the country. The route does not follow the train line, so you are limited to where you can jump on if you want to cut it short.
http://www.cyclenorway.com/routes/atlantic-coast-route/overview/route-2/trondheim-bodo/

I hope this advice helps!

Regarding Interrail, I’m unsure how you book a bike spot using that service. Are you aware of how that is done? Many years ago you had to phone the company and book a bike place manually. I am interested to hear about your experience using it.
June 23, 2023 at 1:49 pm #11618
Anonymous
We did a somewhat modified Tour d’Dovre a few years ago. The stretch from Folldal to Dovre through Grimsdalen is the best part IMO. The rest of the route is OK but nothing special.

http://www.strava.com/routes/2729339302280196144

If you are in a hurry you can bypass the least desirable part of the route by taking the train to Hjerkinn and cycle to Dovre via Folldal and Grimsdalen.

From Dovre you could cycle or take the train to Vinstra and take the route called Mjølkevegen to Gol.

http://www.cyclenorway.com/routes/national-cycle-routes/overview/route-5/middelalderdalen-mjolkevegen/

From Gol you can take the train to Oslo/Bergen or you can extend your Mjølkevegen-trip by linking “Skarveheimen Rundt” or from Gol you can also the train/cycle to Haugastøl or Finse and cycle “Rallarvegen”.

http://www.cyclenorway.com/routes/national-cycle-routes/overview/route-5/middelalderdalen-mjolkevegen/
http://www.cyclenorway.com/routes/national-cycle-routes/overview/route-4/hallingdal-og-rallarvegen/

I would suggest having a few routes planned in different parts of Norway and choose depending on weather forecast.
July 14, 2023 at 8:09 am #11843
Anonymous
Hi Simen & Matthew,
Thanks to you both for the in-depth answers. Sadly our trip was postponed due to family sickness but we’re trying to still make it last minute and board the ferry tomorrow. I took all your tips into account and pre-downloaded some of the tracks on my phone. Your advice Simen is helpful, I also thought it would be handy to check the weather. I keep checking YR.NO as my weather forecast, do you have any other tips? Difficulty is that everyday on every location it says overcast with (chance of) rain haha. Looks like we’ll be having Norwegian weather ;).
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