Pigface - postdoc at University of Helsinki Institute of Biotechnology. Are you in Helsinki or elsewhere?
Hans - sounds interesting, know any good places in Lapland? I'm hoping to head to Levi ski resort for a 24 hour race in June (www.levi24.fi), there's a bike park there so I might either take my 'medium' bike (5" travel Nicolai) along with the XC race one, or hire something, if I can get away for more than the weekend. Not done too much downhill, might be fun though! Toolo should be a great location, central, near beaches and the city, very close to the start of 'Central Park' (I had an article in singletrack mag a few years back on riding there, some shore stuff in the woods v close to the heart of the city!) etc... Don't know much about buying bikes in Finland I'm afraid, a lot of my stuff is from the UK as even with postage it can be cheaper, and larger orders are often post free. Quick shout out for my mate Eppu's bike shop in Tikkurila (http://www.tikkurilanajomies.fi/), he sold me his Nicolai when my frame snapped 2 weeks after arriving!
molgrips, agree the lack of big hills is a pain, but like you say the few places you can get up and into the open it makes the city look like Endor from Star wars, green trees as far as you can see apart from lakes, the sea, and the odd building or water tower, love it!
Though am looking into whether skiing the Reitti 2000 to Nuuksio from home is possible...
