I returned last night from my 900 km solo trip. It was also my first big adventure.
My journey started from city of Rovaniemi and I headed north-east, towards east border. Route and everything you need to know is readily available here: https://www.bikeland.fi/en/arctic-by-cycle-central-lapland-gravel-loop/
I was carrying food for six days because there were very, very limited restocking possibilities for 500 km. This, of course, came with a hefty weight penalty. Temperatures were soaring — for most days, anything between 28°C and 32°C — and it made things somewhat challenging. I had a tent but used it only once. I slept in open wilderness huts and reindeer herders’ huts. The sun doesn’t set at all in Lapland at this time of year, and the huts provided nice cover from the constant light. There was also a wilderness sauna located next to the river in the most distant part of the route. The experience, even for a native Finn, was mind blowing.
There is one picture of a distant, sharp-pointed fell behind trees. That is Korvatunturi, the place where Santa Claus lives. It is located in the border zone between Finland and Russia, and you have to apply for a permit beforehand to visit there. It would have been an 18 km hike, so I decided to leave it for some other time.
I had to bail out before reaching the end as I developed an extremely painful saddle sore and couldn’t sit at all. The saddle is a Brooks B17 and was broken in. I really dislike the idea of wearing bibs — I feel they’re unhygienic compared to merino wool underwear.
Unfortunate end doesn’t take anything away from the experience: it was awesome. I felt free. Lapland is vast, wild and extremely beautiful.
This was also my first big trip and my new rig’s maiden voyage. She’s a Salsa Timberjack Ti with Salsa fork, 40 mm IW carbon rims, 2.6” Vittoria Mezcals, Hope Tech E4s with 180 mm floating rotors, Hope cranks, DT Swiss/Son 28 hubs, SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type transmission, Klite light/charging system paired with a 10,000 mAh Nitecore power bank, Tumbleweed Persuader bar, SQlab ergo grips, and Tumbleweed pannier rack. Bags and cargo cages are from Tailfin, feedbags from 7R, and the dry bag is a Sea to Summit Big River with 13-litre capacity. Water bottles are 3 x 1.5 l Nalgenes.
by lawn_and_disorder
4 Comments
Wow 👏 really cool! Respect from my side to you! Thank you for documenting it so well and providing good pictures and information about the route with a link.
I am fairly new to bikepacking and this was really good to read.
May i ask: How much did you have to deal with bugs and midges? And did you have to take additional preparations for sleeping like mosquitoe nets?
Beautiful pictures. The little houses look so cozy. Sometimes I wish I had a place like this to escape the fast-paced life. So simple and minimalist. No matter what we’re looking for, we’ll all discover something on these amazing adventures.
I see you’re rocking the Ti ti. Very nice! (-Borat)
What year is this model?
And which rear rack is that? Very smart to mount it to the seat collar.
Cool photos and story. Was trying to have brooks saddle without bibs for long rides. Same result like you🤣🤣🤣. These days i am running it with Assos bibs and no sores even after few days 12 hours in saddle. Also great perspective of what is challenging heat in different part of world, i start complaining when it is over 35 on my rides but had few day where garmin was showing me like 42-43. Have question about that tailfin front bar system. Is good and sone added value comparing to standard front roll? I have Apidura front roll one but was thinking about this but it will be extra 0,5 kg so not sure if it is worth. I have very similar setup like you so quite curious what is on hand experience.