Need hints and tips so I can start putting a trip together for next June.
I like the idea of Norway, though my idea of what Norway is like is a romantic one. I like the idea of long rides along the Fjords with grey misty mountains the other side. But throwing a 100 mile a day from one base looks awkward to plan.
Sweden. The 300km Vatterundan looks good with an added rest day before having a ride of out own.
I've not done either but have a couple of friends who've done the Landeveisbirken in Norway and said it was much more fun than Vätternrundan (shorter but less crowded and more scenic). There's the regular Birken gravel race too which supposed to be good.
Paul E did the Birkebeiner last year, it's on his blog http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/birkebeiner-race-norway.html
2 of us are off to the Vatternrundan next weekend, the places came up a couple of weeks back so why not. Expecting it to be busy and the views to be mainly the lake but we have an 8.30pm start so it'll be an overnighter and back for breakfast. Looking forward to it, will report back.
Oohhh you gits, sounds bloody fabulous !
Report back please 😀
I've never fancied Vätternrundan. Have ridden the course and bits of it lots (and lots, and lots). The roads are so flat and monotonous it's unbelievable. There is something to be said about that kind of riding, especially solo on a summer's evening or an autumnal day with mists off the lake when you get in the right mind for it, but riding with loads of others on that course doesn't do it for me.
If you are happy to sort youself out I would definitely choose some decent passes in southern or mid Norway, though weather much more likely to be bad.
Late update. Good event, we all enjoyed it. Enjoyed the full night ride experience. Flat, rolling roads, good tarmac, nice enough scenery and a fast first couple of hours meant not very busy roads for us generally. I'd do it again as a social and glad we went. I'm sure there's more dramatic rides available closer to home but if you're in that area anyway the festival feel and overnight aspect with only 3hrs dark makes it unique.
Sweden's pretty flat in that area but reminded me of a subtler version Canada or the plateaus of the Great Divide in southern Montana. Nice place.