Escape from boredom

This picture (opens in new window) is showing the gps track of my bike ride today, or at least the most important part which was from where I started at Skillingsfors using my mtb riding forest roads back home to Norway. Skipping the last part which was only boring transport along the road back to Løken. I’ve also added some numbers which I will refer to when commenting the pictures.

1) Just a picture of a random part of the road right after I had left Skillingsfors, nice place.

2) View of Askesjön

3) Askesjön, the sign just before I turned away from the road and headed for the forest.

4) Headed for the forest right next to the car

5) Nice forest road, not that wet, kinda strange considering the heavy rain the days before today.

6) Only part I had to push the bike, a bit to steep and slippery.

7) Flat out…

8) Gravel road almost all the way to the border.

9) Not sure what has happened to the elk, but it was a lot of fur here

10) Stopped by the cabin which is on the edge of Krokvatnet on the Swedish side looking towards north. I need to get up there to cross the border.

10) A bit worried, all the time it is pretty much water in the lake, just look at the floating dock.

10) Not exactly mint conditions for riding my bike, but I only needed to carry it for about 300 meters.

11) Looking cross the border towards Norway.

11) And now I’ve crossed the border and trying to remember Sweden … by taking a picture of the last view of the country

11) If ever coming from Norway and want to follow in my footsteps (bike trail), just look for this tower and take hard left just after you have passed it.

11) The border is in the stream

The forest road in Norway had quite large rocks, making my ride slow going both up and downhill.

The rocks in a much closer view

The forest road ended (or starts, it all depends) just about 7-800 meters after the war memorial along national highway #21 heading for Rømskog.

Find some more tips at Terrengsykkel.no (in Norwegian)

Yesterday was a good day. Visited friends which I had not seen for ages, weather was nice, and got to ride my bike for about five hours. First alone, started from Furuseth Kirke via Vormsund, Årnes and then to Vestreng. Very nice weather, did a serious job on my tan line. Then spent a few hours with Iver, my youngest son who is staying at my in-laws this week. Then in the evening me and my friend Anders spent two good hours in Østmarka on our MTB’s.

I really need to work on my camera angels, it look way to easy. Ok, it was easy – but I could have made it look more extreme if I had stood elsewhere 🙂

[video:youtube:jqodKt4bwbQ]

But, ok – Anders can also work on his comments. Saying “Very easy” does not create an illusion of extreme biking.

Ice Cube also having a good day, enjoy rap as it should be!

[video:youtube:h4UqMyldS7Q]

Realized after doing Color Line Setesdal Tour last weekend that my Conti GP4000 tyres have been mounted on my bike since before I did Den Store Styrkeprøven in 2008. When cleaning the bike earlier this week I noticed that the rear tyre was far from round anymore. Found another pair for tyres I had bought a long time ago and mounted them today, GP Force/GP Attack. Now realizing that the combo of Force and Attack is a riskier option than GP4000, note that I have had no punctures since I started using them. So now just waiting for an opportunity to buy a new set of GP4000S 622-25

Pretty worn out…

This weekend I have had the opportunity to participate in Color Line Setesdal Tour together with my friend Geir Arne. Took the night train down to Kristiansand Friday evening, arrived there at 04:00 in the morning two hours before start. Enjoyed my breakfast at the train station and met Geir Arne at start. Together with him and a few of his friends we headed for Hovden 210km and 800 meters upwards (all in all 1600 meters upwards counting all uphill). Had pretty good weather for at least four hours, so nothing to complain about, since I feared that we even could get snow.

Lovely scenery, plenty of food along the way and extremely good traffic regulations during the race – I would really recommend the race to others as well.

Headed back home yesterday, Sunday. Must admit that I envied the ones being able to ride their bikes back to Kristiansand instead of sitting hour after hour on the bus. Next time!! Then the train back home to Oslo in the afternoon, took the subway to Helsfyr and instead of waiting another twenty minutes I used the bike the last few kilometers.

Terrengsykkelrittet 2011, a tough day on the bike which reminded me that as always I should have prepared better. Got muscle cramps in both thighs at the same time after about 3 hours I think, not good and a wake up call when it comes to preparations. Drink enough the days before and also plan the eating.

Accurate time not available right now, but a few minutes faster than last year, but just a few minutes indicates that I had a better ride yesterday. They have fixed the track, made bridges on many “no-rides” and it has also been very good weather the past few weeks drying up the track. The overall winner time was 2:45 this year, ten minutes faster than last year. So if I had been as good as last year I should have spent 4:15/4:20…

But – a good day

Participated in Råskinnet yesterday together with Espen and Anders and more than thousand others. Must admit that I have not done any special preparations up front, have not been doing any competitions where I have to run since August 2005. Back then I got serious pain in both of my legs, making me unable to do any running for years. But to support my friend Anders I registered for this year. And good to know, not any pain in my legs today, the day after, so now hoping that I could start to do at least some running in the future.

A fun fact from 2005 – check my time for the last lap, I was fastest, did not know until now 🙂

Not feeling to good today, but I could not resist the opportunity to go out with Anders and several others this morning. Had a nice ride, first time MTB this season.

[video:youtube:YcY079G95fo]

While my skis where miles away from me I needed some other excuse to get out and enjoy the nice weather yesterday. Decided to take the bus out to Fornebu to pick up my bike there. This picture is taken close to Lysaker

Took a stop on the bridge crossing the road in Bjørvika, using the panorama function of my cell phone.

Took a stop and noticed that my rear tyre is pretty much covered with salt. Need some warm weather pretty soon so I can clean my bike.

Yesterday I broke my own record with something between 5 or 10 minutes “the wrong direction” setting the new longest time home record, due to heavy snow. Started out from Fornebu I had to struggle quite hard, but from Lysaker to the opera building the plows had been working pretty hard. From the opera to Bryn I had to use the road, so that went without any problems…but then it got worse. Had to walk up from Bryn to Hellerud, then using the road to Haugerud and yet again walk the last kilometer since no one had done any attempt to remove any snow in Haugerudhagan.

Stopping at the harbor, there is a boat out there

Pretty good conditions alongside the harbor.

Passing Middelalderparken, had to walk about 100 meters, not easy to cycle here

My bike starting to get more and more heavy due to all the snow and ice

Had to walk…

Today it is exactly two months since I fractured my scapula, and finally I’m now back. Enjoyed my way to work in perfect conditions, just below -10. Need a day or two to get back in my old routines again, but it is good to be back!! No more bus and subway…