Tusenmeteren | The Most Rewarding Cycling Road in Norway? 🇳🇴
Вставка
- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- I've compiled my best advice for riding Tusenmeteren below, including the GPS file.
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// THE ROUTE AT A GLANCE //
Tusenmeteren (English: “The Thousand Meter”) and the adjacent Tunnelvegen (English: “Tunnel Road”) in Øvre Årdal belong to the jewels of Norwegian cycling roads.
Distance: 40 km
Elevation: 1065 meters (all in one go, average gradient 9%)
Surface: Mixed, part tarmac, part gravel
// HOW TO GET THERE // 🛤️
The ride starts in Øvre Årdal on the Norwegian west coast. It’s a 4 hour drive from Oslo via E16 to Tyinkrysset. From there, take the Rv 53 to Øvre Årdal. If you’re further north, like Geiranger or Lom you can also get to Øvre Årdal by driving across Sognefjell and take a left onto the spectacular Tindevegen once you get to Krossbu.
// WHERE TO STAY // 🏕️
While the ride is magnificent, I’d say there are better places to stay than Øvre Årdal. We stayed at one of the many cabins available via AirBnB at Filefjell - 40 km away. Another alternative is to stay at Turtagrø or Sognefjellshytta, 32 and 48 km away, respectively. A fourth option is to stay in Lærdal 56 km away - just be ware that you probably don’t want to ride your bikes in the tunnel between Lærdal or Årdal, so you’ll need a car to get to Øvre Årdal. All of the above offers spectacular surroundings and great riding immediately nearby - so it all depends on what other rides you want to do in the area.
// WHEN TO GO // 📅
We went last week of June, following a winter with heavy snowfall. We had to push our bikes across 2 sections of 20 meters of snow close to the top. So it’s probably safest to go from early July to August. September and October is probably still rideable, but expect lower temperatures and more layers if riding in the fall.
// HOW IS THE ROAD SURFACE? // 🚴🏻♂️
Most of the Tusenmeteren climb is relatively fine gravel. It’s typically quite hard packed in the wheel tracks, and somewhat looser in between. The flat part of Tunnelvegen is part gravel and part hard packed dirt, and a little bit bumpier at times. We rode on 40 mm tires, but as long as you’re not on slicks I’d say avid cyclists can get by on anything from 30 mm and upwards. I’ve had a few people ask if it’s doable on 28 mm - I’d say perhaps doable if there is some pattern in your tires, but I doubt it would be very comfortable.
// NEARBY RIDES TO CONSIDER // 🚵🏻♂️
There are numerous nearby roads well worth a visit once you’re in the area. My top picks would include Tindevegen, Sognefjell and Juvass to the north. Furthermore, continuing Rv 53 to Tyinkrysset and across Filefjell to Lærdal makes for another spectacular ride. When in Lærdal, you’re only a short drive away from the picturesque scenery at Aurlandsfjellet, Flåmsdalen and Rallarvegen.
You could also combine all of the above in an epic 7-day long bikepacking adventure from Dombås, via Åndalsnes, Geiranger and the above to Haugastøl. This route is plotted here: / strava
// DOWNLAOD THE GPS FILE FOR THIS RIDE // ⬇️
The strava route of our exact ride is located here: / strava
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// QUESTIONS //
Feel free to ask me any questions about this ride in the comments.
Norway looks like one of the few places in Europe that can compare with the beauty of riding in the Dolomites. What to expect from the weather in the summer? Unpredictable I assume?
Living in Denmark I would be able to take the ferry to Oslo (including bike).
Hi, Lars! It does indeed have some world-class scenery for cycling. As you say, the weather is somewhat unpredictable in the summer. But in my experience, the week-long forecasts are typically fairly accurate. So if you're in Denmark, you could opt for traveling with the ferry on short notice.
lovely ride, the climb is well worth it. new subscriber here.
@@trooperV thanks, happy to hear you enjoyed the video!
A MTB-ride from Finse to Flåm (53 km) I did 8 years ago was a big cycling highlight, in beauty comparable! This one looks great as well, but requires a far greater level of fitness.
Yes, "Rallarvegen" (Finse to Flåm) is one of my all time favorite rides, too. Arguably, the climb "Tusenemeteren" is a fair bit tougher. That being said, the most spectacular section, the flat "Tunnelvegen" is accessible from the top. So you could ride Tunnelvegen in and out, and bypass the climb alltogether (if necessary).
Det finst hotell på Årdalstangen, Klingenberg hotel, 10km fra Øvre Årdal, samme bygd berre 10min unna.
Årdalsvatnet skiller dei 2 tettstadane😊 det beste utgangspunktet for denne turen. Når du er ferdig kan du nyte ein god middag og ein varm dusj.
Hotellet er ofte fullt på sommarane, men viss du planlegger godt nok er det ikkje problem og få rom!
Flott video☺️
Takk for tipset!
Such a spectacular ride. Can we go again, please?
@@nataliemuller__ yes, indeed. Slthough I don’t look forward to pulling the trolley😮💨
Norges fineste tur👍
Ja, definitivt en av de flotteste vi noen gang har syklet!
Ask me anything about this ride in the comments.