My bike ride in the mountains

[Tormod]

My parents live in Western Norway, and when we visit them we often travel across a very beautiful mountain range via a road called Sognefjellsveien.

After thinking about it for a long time I realized it is about time to just do it - I am going to bike across the mountain next weekend. It's not a very long trip (100 kilometers) but it involves heavy climbing and extremely steep descents.

Here is my route:
MapMyRide.com | View Bike Ride Over Sognefjell in Sognefjell, Norway
(Also see attached screenshot)

It goes from Lom to Kroken where my parents live, via Skjolden in the municipality of Luster. This is the innermost point of Sognefjord, the longest fjord in Norway.

A view of the road, taken at one of the higher points:

(found at Google)

Showing the incline:

(From flickr - Sognefjell road on Flickr - Photo Sharing! )

It can be snowy there:

(taken from Nemophila's Noorse Boskatten:)

...although at this time of year there is probably less snow.

The route is virtually similar to a race called "Lille jotunheimen":
Sogn Cykleklubb: Jotunheimen rundt which was held today. I didn't want to participate in the race though, as I want to do it in my own pace.

I'll pass the northern parts of Jotunheimen, a national park with glaciers and tall mountains.

I will be using my road race bike. I have no idea how long the trip will take, but I guess it might easily take 8 or 9 hours or so.

The plan is first of all to have a great trip. I won't be bringing more supplies than I need (fruit, drink, cash, cell phone... ) since my wife will drop me off at the start and the trip ends at my parent's house.

Photos taken with my cellphone will be posted. Wish me luck!

Anyone who has done similar things?

More pics:
sognefjell - Google Image Search

[Tormod]

For the curious, the mountain range I am crossing is known as "Jotunheimen":

Jotunheimen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is some information on the Luster Fjord, where the trip ends. My parents live across the fjord to the right on the picture on this link:

The Lusterfjord - inland towards the Jotunheimen Mountains - Norway official travel guide - visitnorway.com

I will come down from the mountain at the far end of the picture.

[Tormod]

This photo in the Hypography gallery was taken outside my parents home. The last leg of the trip takes me about 20 kilometers down the fjord along the road seen in this photo. I'll be coming from the north (which is to the right).



http://hypography.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=8

(The mountain across the fjord, on the right of the picture, is the one where the picture in the previous post was taken).

[Mercedes Benzene]

That is quite a trip T. I'm extremely jealous of the landscape. It's going to be a great ride for sure!
Take a lot of pics if you can!

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Tormod

...I will be using my road race bike. I have no idea how long the trip will take, but I guess it might easily take 8 or 9 hours or so.

The plan is first of all to have a great trip. I won't be bringing more supplies than I need (fruit, drink, cash, cell phone... ) since my wife will drop me off at the start and the trip ends at my parent's house.

Photos taken with my cellphone will be posted. Wish me luck!

Anyone who has done similar things?

More pics:
sognefjell - Google Image Search

many, many, many, many years ago, i did a singular similar thing, riding about the same distance from the Willamette valley in Oregon, west across the coast range of mountains and on to the coast. what took the rest of the group about 8 hours took me 12. the only saving grace was that on the way back my bike failed & i had to get picked up by auto. i gave my last bike away about 5 years ago as the ol' back just can't take it anymore.

Nevertheless, don't forget to keep an eye out for any rare wildflowers that grow only at higher elevations. Have fun!!

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Sounds like fun (yikes! them's some serious hills to climb!!!)....would be more fun on a motorbike


And I too once undertook such an adventure pedaling from North East, Pa. to Port Allegany, Pa. took me just a bit over twelve hours to cover roughly 115 miles on my mountain bike which I outfitted with balloon type slicks specifically for long hauls on pavement....which by the way is the way to go....such a smooth ride....the only bad, they are terrible for traction on anything but clean dry blacktop.

Good luck

[freeztar]

Awesome, Tormod!
I look forward to the photos (especially the wildflower pics ).

[Tormod]

The weather forecast for the area isn't too promising. It seems it will be grey skies, good chances of rain and about 9 degrees Celcius (40F). My choice of bicycle may have to wait.

[Tormod]

Leaving Oslo to drive up to Lom today. Weather forecast is still shaky but it seems I might be lucky tomorrow morning if I start early. I'm bringing warm clothes - some forecasts promise snow at high altitudes.

[Turtle]

bon voyage!