Northern Europe
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Northern Europe
Have any of you done a lap around the Baltic sea? I was thinking up Sweden and down Finland. I've heard northern Sweden can be pretty remote. Anything about summer bugs?
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Never been around the baltic, but I'll guess the mosquito season is from about beginning of June to end of August, so better bring a net to pull over your head or you will go nuts. You should definitely plan ahead, on the road, when it comes to food in northern Sweden and have at least for a couple of days in your panniers. Not sure about the food situation in northern Finland. It may be better if you stay along the coast.
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I've thought a Baltic circumnavigation would be a cool trip, but it would take at least a couple of months. I've cycled Norway, the bugs inland were pretty bad, be prepared. Also the Scandinavian countries are pretty expensive to travel, but there are lots of camping opportunities.
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Hypothermia risk even in summer?
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I cycled from Finland down to Spain. I did not go around the Baltic but took a boat from Turku to Stockholm. The mosquitoes were bad in Finland; it's their national bird. The bread was awesome in Finland; best bread I've ever had. It rained every damn day I was in Sweden but then that's considered nice summer weather there. I had a great time and it was a great trip. I'd do it again.
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Are you going to ship your bike over or buy one there?
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You should watch the Vikings series. You can get the previous seasons on Amazon Prime. They eat a lot of fish.
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Why I suggested the TV series. Get that same virtual Scandinavian experience.
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It's pretty good, for TV. Amazon has quite a few past seasons of various series. We watched 6 years of "Justified" over a couple of weeks and enjoyed that. Watch a few episodes every day, it's something to do.
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Well, all you have to do is look at a map to know that northern Scandanavia is remote. Stockholm south is flat. Going north of Stockholm is hilly. One after the other -wasn't fun for me to ride (my plan had been to ride to the Arctic circle), so after a week I took the train back (which was hell because apparently they had changed the rules and no longer allowed bikes on the train, but there was no other way to get a bike south - don't know if the rules are the same). Finland was hilly, tho I only biked southern Finland.
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That's why I was wondering if he planned to take the infamous 920 or arrange for a different sort of bike when he got there.
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Awesome series! But it's filmed in Ireland with only some background shots done in western Norway.
@Squeezebox I'll be interested in your trip-report. I might be right behind you
@Squeezebox I'll be interested in your trip-report. I might be right behind you
Last edited by BigAura; 02-16-17 at 03:34 PM.
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If you're implying that I should try an LHT? We've gone there already. No reason to repeat any of that.
Go test ride a 920 sometime, then you'll know.
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Ha Ha! No, not advocating the LHT for you! I used the term "infamous" just because we've heard so much about it here on BF. Actually, I remember when your brother bought it for you, I thought y'all had made a decent choice. Any bike that gets someone into cycling and on the path or road is good, right? If you go off into the wild, you might consider a sturdy set of wheels, but I would even wait on that unless the "tour" becomes more than theoretical.
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Ha Ha! No, not advocating the LHT for you! I used the term "infamous" just because we've heard so much about it here on BF. Actually, I remember when your brother bought it for you, I thought y'all had made a decent choice. Any bike that gets someone into cycling and on the path or road is good, right? If you go off into the wild, you might consider a sturdy set of wheels, but I would even wait on that unless the "tour" becomes more than theoretical.
Just about any bicycle would want stronger wheels for something like the Great Divide. So far the wheels on it are fine.
Last edited by Squeezebox; 02-16-17 at 03:25 PM.
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Didn't mean to agitate you! Sorry if it's a touchy subject, you didn't mind telling us about it at the time. I'd be happy and grateful if someone bought me a bike! As for your wheels, I agree they are just fine for your rides on the path.
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But Trek says this about the 920:
"920 is equipped to handle whatever lies on or off the beaten path, while carrying the cargo that matters most."
Maybe this is one of those cases where the bike is real but the description is fake.
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"Equipped" could mean just about anything. It comes equipped with a pump and patch kit and a couple other tools? It does not say the bike is designed or built to handle anything. What cargo matters most? A tent? And what exactly is the "beaten path?" I think the marketing raises more questions than it answers.
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"Equipped" could mean just about anything. It comes equipped with a pump and patch kit and a couple other tools? It does not say the bike is designed or built to handle anything. What cargo matters most? A tent? And what exactly is the "beaten path?" I think the marketing raises more questions than it answers.
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There are lots of good bikes out there, but its hard to see through the hype.
this review of the 920 says
I dont know exactly what this means but its not for Luddites, which has got to be a good thing, I think.
The review is from bikepacking.com, whom I think are more concerned with the luddite threat, than the rest of us.
Trek 920 Review - BIKEPACKING.com
question: Should Luddite always be capitalized?
this review of the 920 says
At its core, Trek’s 920 seems to aim to achieve the same thing as those rule-bound classic touring bikes, but freed the Luddite mentality that is becoming less and less necessary for international touring as bikes get more reliable, and a variety of parts more easily available around the world.
The review is from bikepacking.com, whom I think are more concerned with the luddite threat, than the rest of us.
Trek 920 Review - BIKEPACKING.com
question: Should Luddite always be capitalized?