How to plan your cycling holiday

Embark on an adventure and get close to the Norwegian nature. The fjords. The mountains. The charming coastal towns. Kilometres upon kilometres with gravel roads through an almost undisturbed wilderness await, especially in Eastern Norway.

Still, whether you choose to cruise down some of the most beautiful roads in Norway or follow a scenic cycling route, the trip needs to be planned. In detail. And if there’s one person who knows how to do that, it’s Øyvind Wold. He works for the Norwegian Cyclists’ Association and has biked all over the country. In addition, he has written several books about cycling in Norway.

Here are his tips and tricks on how to plan and pack for your cycling vacation.

Fun for everyone

From road cycling through lush valleys and winding roads along the fjords to mountain biking – Norway is an eldorado for biking enthusiasts. And you don’t have to be as fit as the Tour de France-stars to experience it.

“No, not at all! Several of the national cycling routes in Norway are suitable for everyone, including those who don’t have much experience with biking. The Numedal route and the Coastal route between Horten and Tønsberg are some examples”, Øyvind explains.

Popular cycling routes are also meant for all of us.

“If you want an easy trip, bike the famous Rallarvegen ‘the wrong way’. Take the train to Finse and follow the road eastwards to Haugastøl. It’s three miles with mainly flat terrain and gentle hills.”

Many popular biking destinations in Norway offer bike rental and e-bikes as well, which makes the scenic bike rides more accessible. Just remember to book in advance.

Find the perfect base

“If you don’t have much experience and feel unsure about both distance and how much equipment you need, it’s a good idea to find a base and plan your biking trips from there. This base could be a hotel or a cabin.”

Øyvind says this is a smart solution because you won’t need that much stuff for each excursion. It’s also an excellent way to travel as a group.

“When you have a base, the group can split up. Some can go for a long trip, while others can choose an easier route. Then everyone can meet up again later in the day.”

If you want to spend a night or two in nature, you can still do that by bringing a tent or a hammock. Bike to a camping spot and sleep there for a night, then head back to the base the next day.

Family adventures

Cycling trips with children can be amazing. And with a bit of planning, the whole bunch will have a great time.

“Go for an area that you know. That way, you’ll know where to find the charming roads, the top beaches, and the best camping spots”, Øyvind says.

That will also make it easier to find places that motivate the kids, like farms, a lake to fish in, or a place that serves delicious food. Several family-friendly nature adventures can spice up the trip, such as paddling, glacier hikes, via ferrata climbing and more.

Also make sure to include the little ones in the planning.

“If you tell them about the trip before you go, they get involved and know what to expect.”

Last but not least, have a plan B. Even though the grown-ups need to know basic bike repair, it’s nice to be prepared if something can’t be fixed. Or if the weather gets too bad.

Another option is micro-adventures.

“It’s easy to be blinded by all the exotic destinations, but it might be just as exciting to bike to the nearest lake or forest.”

Biking for days

In Norway, long cycling trips can offer everything from the spectacular scenery in Northern Norway and Fjord Norway to popular routes in the mountains, like Tour de Dovre and Mjølkevegen. But where should you go and how far can you bike each day?

“The most important thing when planning a long trip is to know yourself and your bike. That way, you’ll be sure to have the right equipment, and it’s easier to calculate the distance for each leg.”

It’s also a good idea to take a closer look at the route and the hills along the way, as this will affect both speed and distance, which is crucial when you decide how long to bike each day.

Øyvind explains that if you exercise regularly, but aren’t used to biking, you shouldn’t aim for more than 30–45 kilometres per day. People who are quite fit can cover a stretch of around 70–90 kilometres in a day.

“But remember that this is just an estimate. How long you’re able to cycle each day will also depend on the surface, the number of hills (and how steep they are), wind, and if you have a lot of luggage.”

Google maps might come in handy as a trip planner since it will show you route suggestions, distance, altitude metres, and approximately how long the journey will take.

How to pack for cycling trips like a pro

In addition to the most obvious things, like toiletries and the necessary bike equipment, there are a few more things you should always take on a cycling trip, according to Øyvind.

“If we use a family trip as a basis, the number one priority is to bring enough food and drink. High-quality rainwear is also nice to have, since getting wet and cold puts a damper on the experience.”

Other things to pack for your cycling trip are:

• an old-fashioned map (they don’t run out of battery)
• sunblock
• plasters, gel plasters to treat blisters, mosquito repellents
• power bank
• toilet paper
• coffee (obviously)
• helmet
• cycling gloves (protects your palms if you fall off the bike)
• cycling glasses (protects your eyes from road dust, wind, bugs, and to an extent rain)
• thin woollen clothes (can be used for more than one day before it starts to smell)
• lightweight sportswear
• compact and lightweight tent and sleeping pad
• camping stove and cutlery

Equipment for necessary cycling repairs is also a must on a longer trip, such as a patch kit and a spare tube. But that’s not all.

“Bring an inflatable pillow. It can do wonders for the quality of your sleep, which is very important on trips like this.”

The list of things to pack for your cycling trip does include quite a few things, so how do you bring everything without a car?

“You can use panniers to carry luggage on your bike in combination with a bicycle cargo trailer. You should avoid packing everything in a backpack.”

But one size does not fit all. When you pack for a long cycling trip, people rarely get it right the first time, according to Øyvind. “You need to try and fail. That way you figure out what worked for you and what you didn’t have to bring – and then you learn something for the next trip. That’s half the fun when you go on ‘expeditions’!”

Weather and climate

Important when you’re planning a cycling holiday in Norway, is to know that the climate and temperatures vary a lot in the different parts of the country.

In Southern Norway, Eastern Norway, and Fjord Norway, spring usually arrives some time in April or early May, and the cycling season stretches all the way into October. Temperatures vary from hot (25–30 degrees Celsius) to quite chilly (10–15 degrees Celsius).

Above the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway, you may not experience true spring until late May or early June, but by then the long and bright summer days have already started. Here, you can cycle under the midnight sun until the end of July, and the season ends in September/October.

Note that both Northern Norway and mountainous regions are colder than the rest of the country. Make sure you bring enough clothes.

Also when cycling in Norway, you need to be prepared for rainy days.

Read more about seasons and climate in Norway.