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:

Scotland 2011, part 3, Innerleithen

Day three, Saturday 4:th of June, one could really feel the previous days in the legs, luckily
the plan for the day is to take the route in Innerleithen, no 10km ride to get to the trail! :)

The weather had now changed and there was a grey overlay in the sky and the temperature had dropped a bit, perhaps a good thing since there were some major climbing on the agenda.

There was a "local" bike race going on, got a flyer but forgot what it said, think it was a charity race around the area, rider passed by for at least an hour.


Back at Alpine Bikes to pick up bikes from service, the great discount had to be taken advantage of! :)


More familiar views fron the start of the climb in Innerleithen.


The first climb before getting here is a real challenge with tired legs!


Waiting for the photographer to get set up further ahead. =)


Another familiar spot! First time for others. I rode down the steep section and got my first and only flat tire, got a snake bite on my rear tire...


More magnificent views during the climb.


A bit blurry shots in the woods.


Magical forests!


The track just kept going upwards, just like I remembered it. :)


Made a short stop to take a shot of the bike in a otherwise monochromatic surroundings.


Finally a snack stop! We got some directions for InterStellar from Andy but we were a bit uncertain where it started and had some discussions about where it might hide. It's supposed to be a pretty gnarly trail and it sounded worth looking for! :)


Well, there was a plan to climb up again after lunch so we kept going on for now.


More fine views when we started to get close to the top, the wether was clear enough to see for miles.


Quite gentle climb from here on.


Final "corner" before the summit of Minch Moor!


The concrete pillar was still here and the pile of stones. =)


Was a bit windy here so we didn't stick sournd for long, we also knew what fun(Plora Craig) was ahead! :)
Took the time to immortalize the moment with my Reign at the top!


No shots from "Plora Craig" since it was way to much fun so here are some from the almost as good "Oh Deer"


Just flowing trails with sharp twists and turns where one has to look out so not to end up in the vegetation! :)


A short breather before the final part of the route.


View from the last decent, "Cadon Bank", just gets better the more times one rides it! Starts with three drops that just gets bigger as you pass them, then into a roller coaster style "humps" and into to the woods where the fun just keeps on going! At the bottom of some of the "valleys" one can feel how the bike compresses under the load and the fly over the tops! Pretty insane speed at times, should one crash I wish I had full pressure suit and full face helmet but I was having too much fun to worry about that. =)


The bridge we have passed so many times.


Street scene from Innerleithen. The final part is really a blast!


Here we had lunch and while waiting to get on with the afternoon ride some of us found a pump track on the backyard of the church.


Took a while to get used to and I suppose the big bikes we had was not so optimal, but really fun. Later we found out that the track didn't belong to the "public" but was a private track belonging to one of the houses next to the church! Oops... I hope we didn't upset anyone, dumme Schwede!


Niklas trying to look unaffected during the second climb of the day. ;)


New and old cone.


Making the best of the climb.


Had to use the flash in the woods, starting to get dark in there.


Jonas at the end of Taniel Hill just before getting out on the gravel quarry, where I got a flat in the morning.


Anders entering the trail after the road climb.


So tired that the camera just caught blur. :)


Still trying to take shots without flash, my poor Casio didn't manage to get fast enough shutter speeds.


After we went down Interstellar we bumped into some riders from Edinburgh, one of them managed to breake the chain so Per lend a chain tool to them as we kept climbing. They were in much better shape than we were! :)

Inter Stellar was crazy steep at some point, really nice, too bad we dinät have the strenght to ride it a second time, apparently I and Niklas managed to take the easier trail to the left while some took to the right and that was supposedly pretty gnarly, following a ravine and under some fallen trees and stuff. Must go back some time and try that too!


Over the summit the second time. More riders this time!


Then it was basically a copy of the last time but some of us got a private guiding to some other more down hill kind of trails, trying to remember what it was called nut my mind is blank, have to ask Per if he remembers. Really steep and technical, the Edinburgh bunch said they had never seen the track this dry before and it felt like one had full control all the was despite the trail characteristics.

Wish I had some GPS-plot of all the new tracks we rode so I could see where we were.
We ended up at the last part of Cadon Bank, that much I know. =)


I was completely exhausted by the time I got back,, just a quick shower and out for dinner, Fiko's again, this time I think everyone ordered starters and we got a few bottles of wine. :)


I took the Mega burger, not as much food as the Calsone but still plenty enough!


Another great day, so great to explore some "off the track" trails, starting to feel like a local. ;)
Fun to meet some Scottish riders, some of them was going to Åre later this year, hope they enjoy it!

We also made a visit to the local "pub" next to our house, it was by invitation only but nobody seemed to care, it got a bit quiet when we got in to the bar area but I think we blended in pretty well after a few beers and some whisky. ;)

Tomorrow, Sunday it's a early morning and a trip to Kirroughtree.

GPS-plot. Interstellar got registered at least. 5h. and 30min. Think it was like 6h for me, more than 40km.