CX-wannabe trip to Grängesberg.

So I got my CycloCross tires last week, it was now time to see if they worked as advertised! =)

I decided to make a trip to Grängesberg and use the same gravel roads that was used by Finnmarksturen, FMT has changed the course and these roads will no longer be used for that.

I had to pass the central parts of Ludvika to get to the forest roads, made it past ABB:s latest building project, a new building is supposed to stand here later this autumn. The not so old parking lot has been totally removed and lots of trees have been cut down.
Here I had made it to "Golan" the heights at Östansbo, that was just the beginning of the climb!
The end of asphalt and start of the gravel...
So far so good, lots of loose gravel and larger stones.
Lot's of dark clouds around me but by the time I had made it down the hill to Kåsen the sun was shining again.
I was now going backwards on the route that FMT follows never thought the hill was this steep going the other way! Refused to jump off the bike so I almost puked when I finally managed to get over the steepest part. :)
Passed Hällsjön. Apparently there was a inn here way back in time.
Not much left today.
At last there was some roads that didn't point straight up.
I left the dark clouds behind me...
It was a bit scary alone in the wildernes but suddenly I felt safe!
Seems like someone lost the key since the top of the safe was removed. ;)
Time for a brake, coffee and a sandwich, at the southern shore of lake Hörken, can'r remember last time I was here, must be over 10-15 years ago. We had a boat here when I was a kid.
The tarmac seems to be from the same era:
Had forgot how picturesque it was around Hörken.
Didn't take long before I was closing in at Grängesberg.
Not often I arrive from this direction.
Stora Hagen, built for the mine workers.
Went past the electronics shop. Think AKAI is still a active company, not sure if the shop is still open, lot's of stuff inside though.
A glimpse at the back yard of Spendrups brewery.
Spendrup's new high bay storage construction visible in the horizon.
Had to take the moment and take a closer look.
Closer...
Perfect view, made a panorama:
First goal of the day in sight. Made a short pit stop at mum's and said bye to all the people that headed out to go visit some people in Gubbo.
Time to get home so I can come back later in the evening for some BBQ!

Think there was a short cut here...
Well, kind of, had to carry the bike over a deep ditch and up the other side to make it up on the gravel road.
Took "Promillevägen" back home. Almost straight roads.
Past lake Glaningen by the bike lane.
Resisted a urge to go for a swim in lake Väsman when I was getting close to Ludvika.
A short photo session on the pier behind ABB, really pleased with my CX-light. The tires worked well.
Incoming boat.
One last shot at the harbour before I was back at home.
Well, the CX-tires obviously don't roll as well as dedicated road tires but the freedom and peace of mid when riding gravel roads or trails sure makes up for the small increase in rolling resistance!

Next time I will make the route in reverse to avoid the insane climbs! :)

Part one:


Part two:

2006 panorama

Found some older shots that was ment for a panorama, never got around making one until now.

From the evening at 23 December 2006:

Click image for 1600pixel wide version. Nikon D80 and 18-70mm lens @ 18mm

Coldorama...

A teaser from thursdays ride on Väsman...

click image for 1600pixel wide version.

The Small Escape...

Yesterday (Thursday) it was fantastic weather! This after some really gray and dull days with rain and several degrees plus. To top it all the sky was almost clear blue now! Defenetly worth a extra long lunch break.

Decided to follow the bike lane that runs along lake Väsman, took the shortcut there.
All the snowmobile tracks was hard packed after the warm days.
The small patches of water in the stream was frozen. Didn't dare to go down there and ride the bike on the ice.
Cracked ice sheets here and there.
Getting close to Skuthamn, a large parking lot, covered with ice!
Decided to follow the tracks out on to the lake.
Still like concrete.
The snow had really been affected by the warm temperatures but the crust was not hard enough to carry me and the bikes weight. :(
Could see some iceboats in the distance, seems like they are quick to get on the ice as soon as is possible to run them on the ice.


Did a lame attempt to try ride thre on the ice but it was way to slippery to be enjoyable, went the other way instead.
The water level is low, usually only the top of these stones show above the waterline.
Some nice cracks here and there in the ice.
Blue skies it was.
Since I couldn't ride on the ice I followed the shore and rode on the edge where the snow
became ice.
Rode towards Sörvik on the lake and skipped the bike lane, this was way more fun! :)
ABB in the distance.
Kaffeholmen.
Panorama:

Continued onward on the ice.
Short brake to take some shots.
Hard to look gloomy on such a great day!
I was glad I went this direction, had I chosen to go and look at the iceboats I would had the sun in my eyes, it was bright enough as it was, there was some funny polarizing effects here and there on the ice when looking against the light.
Managed to brake off a chunk of ice and place it on the surface.
After a while I was starting to get some distance to Ludvika.
The low water level had created some mini ice caves along the shore. Squezeed my camera into one of them.
Now I was getting onto one of the larger bays.
Figured I was worth a short brake to enjoy the sun! :)
The last last strech on the ice I rode in the path after a snowmobile, there was some thin ice on top of the thick ice so I managed to get some grip on the Endomorphs when I cracked the ice riding over it.

Then I was up on the ground again.
The bike lane was almost as icy as the lake but here they had put some sand on it.
Was starting to get late, but I had to stop and take a few shots when I saw there massive ice walls on the way back to Ludvika.
Ice popsicle tree.
Almost back in Ludvika, almost sad that I had to get back to work again. :(
Of course I fell on the ice a few times, luckily I didn't hurt my self but later in the evening I could feel some slight back pain but it was totally worth it! :)

GPS: