Escape from boredom

Visting my grandparents at Båsmoen I noticed the road, or I guess track or path is more correct. Anyhow, I could not resist the urge to go out and enjoy the nice weather so when Anders went to sleep I headed up towards Skillevollen. Quite sure I have not been there in almost twenty years so it was a tough reunion. Did not manage to bike all the way, but almost…need to be a bit more fit to make it, but I stopped just about 30 meters below where I took the first picture.

At the top, sweat as h…

Sportstracker, not a surprise, the “slow”-point is in the steepest part of the hill, but note, I talked to two women walking down when I had to get of the bike.

But note, vacation is also enjoying the local specialties… 🙂

Today me and my mother have been out trying the route for Vesterfjellrittet. We took the shout route, but note, we did still get 450 meters of elevation, but my mother managed! We had luck, since we waited a while before we started the sun started to shine, and in fact we got clear blue sky, nice! Hopefully I will be able to participate in the race, maybe next year.

Full speed ahead, but still able to take a picture of my mother leading the way close to Kvalforssætra.

Check out Sportstracker to see the details.

Last week I got all the way to Nordkapp, or to be more precise – I have covered a distance similar to the distance from Lindesnes to Nordkapp by using my bike to work this year. The last leg was from Oksfjordhamn to Nordkapp. All in all a bit more than 70 days using my bike to work and the distance was covered, 2500 kilometers. The whole leg shown here

On Saturday I participated in Vestmarkrittet, 45 kilometers of fun in Asker. A good combination of gravel roads and tracks. Mostly uphill on gravel roads, then downhill on tracks. Since my starting position was calculated based on Fredagsbirken last year, I started in group 6. I soon realized that biking to work had done good for me, and I was able to push hard from the start. On the trials I ruled compared to most of the guys I started together with, so I quite often had to yell “Keep to the riiiiight!!!”. All in all very much fun, and be sure that I will participate next year as well. Finished on a total position of 192 of all in all 850 participants. Very pleased with that!

My bike after two hours and five minutes of gravel and mud

And to support Einar and Frode, working for Tine, I enjoyed my Yt when finished 🙂

On my way to work today, passing Havnelageret my bike suddenly became very soft, almost like riding on jelly. Stopped and checked my tires, rear puncture!! Damn, why does this happen on days when I have left home early to get to work in reasonably time? Took my time and spent 15 minutes, had no hurry out in the sun…

Not to bad, my first one this year, and it is my 63’rd time using my bike to work.

On Monday I did use my bike for the 60’th time this year to work, not bad I must say, because this includes two weeks of paternity leave and a course for one week out at Kolbotn, and not to mention a lot of days of in May. Anyhow, now I’m all the way to Oksfjordhamn. Could not find much about that place, but a search using Google gives a few hits at least.

On my way to work I’m passing by Akershus Fortress where you can find these chairs. Art is sometimes hard to understand

Also, on Monday morning I started counting cyclists I met from Aker Brygge to Bygdøylokket, 2.2 km, …. 110 cyclists..!!

Yesterday I attended my first competition this year, which also was my first time trying Terrengsykkelrittet. Almost 60 kilometers hard core offroad biking in Østmarka. Manengen won using 2.55, I got more value for money and spent a bit more then one and a half hour more, which was expected. I’m pleased with the result, and also that I had no punctures or any other mechanical problems with the bike. Struggled hard with the brakes on Friday evening, but problem solved and it worked flawlessly for 4 and a half hour. Bit more problems with my own body, felt cramps several times, but luckily not anything bad, but very tired when finished.

The results for my class, Men 30-39, tow rounds can be viewed at Emit webpage

My legs and face when finished together with Espen showing his legs as well

From my training diary, kinda funny to see the red line at bottom right which is my pulse. Hard start and falling all the way

Had to take my camera to service at Foto Video, and what better to do than use my bike and not go the shortest way? I headed off to Ekebergsletta, then via Sjursøya to downtown Oslo. When finished at Foto Video I followed Akerselva up to Maridalsvannet and to Grefsenkollen. Surprised by the very good conditions riding my bike down the trails from the top down to Årvoll.

Picture taken above Sjursøya

See the route at Sportstracker

Two days ago when biking from Ullevål back home, just about 400 meters from Spinn at Storo my bike broke down. The crank gear had a massive breakdown. As the picture shows, on the left just after the break down, the pedal is way to much to the left. Compare it with the picture to the right where the new crank is mounted it has a lot more space between the pedal and the frame. It started making noises on my way to Ullevål, and when I had to take a quick ride to work I was afraid that something would break down when at high speed. So I went slow and did not stand up at all, afraid that it would break down and make me fly over the handle bars. When the total breakdown was a fact it was not possible at all to use it, I had to walk the last bit. The original plan was to buy a new crank and fix it myself when at home, but no I did not bother. Luckily Pål Andre was present, so I was allowed to hand them the bike the very same day. That was on Monday, on Tuesday they where finished with it, but I was not able to pick it up before today. Now running smooth!!

Yesterday was my fiftieth time going to work with my bike this year, and also the fifth leg on my virtual trip to Nordkapp from Lindesnes. I have now arrived at Arnes in Ballangen. Apparently not the place to be, since the only thing I have been able to find out about the place using Google is…the weather forecast at Yr.no.

On my way to work, just as I have passed E18 using the footbridge close to the Opera I have taken picture of graffiti with a message. “Utrydd bananflua!” – “Exterminate the fruit fly“