Norway will be hilly - they said

Today was a bit of a tough one - our first big hill.

Since we left Worcester two weeks ago, we haven’t really been challenged by the terrain. We met the Cotswolds towards the end of day one but that felt like quite familiar territory. The south east didn’t prove much trouble as we got used to the weight and handling of the fully loaded bikes. Then we hit The Netherlands (notoriously flat) and Denmark (also very flat). Everyone we spoke to along the way mentioned how hilly Norway was when we divulged our destination and we awaited what was to come.

Before we left, I worked in Malvern for 11 years and my daily commute was up a big hill, often with a pannier or two. Sam would often join me in the morning so we’re quite used to a climb but with fully loaded bikes, a steep hill is a totally different beast.

Yesterday, we took the old post road between Mandal and Vigeland. A gravel track steeply left the road and headed into the forest. It looked tough but really enticing. Steep but short climbs were rewarded with fantastic descents, a bit like a rollercoaster. The scenery was also spectacular and it was absolutely the right choice, even if our legs had something to say about it.

Now, I can be put off by steep climbs. This mostly comes from my fear of not being able to unclip and fall off whilst trying to dismount at too slow a speed. With Sam’s encouragement, we navigated the old post road without too much bother.

And then today, Norway gave us a taste of what it had in store…

After a wild camp and a small breakfast of a banana and granola, we started our ride to Lyngdal. Setting the alarm early because the weather was due to be bad in the afternoon, we set off, knowing that there was a 3km climb to come.

We had enough food with us but not a good helping to fuel the climb and snacked on bread and jam on the final descent before the big one.

For good or for bad, I thought I had turned off my Summit display on my Wahoo bike computer but it was showing quite and intense red arrow at the bottom of the hill, indicating that it was going to be steep. Pedalling at a snails’ pace we were overtaken by two motorhomes and I watched in horror as they switched back twice above me. Mind over matter - I came to a halt. Sam rode on as I pushed up the steep part of the climb before getting back on as the gradient became more shallow.

Then the down was amazing with a couple of switchbacks and good quality road surfaces that we could enjoy.

We are expecting some more challenges like this over the coming days as we head to Flekkefjord which we’re told is beautiful (not that anywhere isn’t here…). The thing is, we will get stronger, both in mind and body and that the uphills are definitely worth the effort. I do anticipate that there may be a bit more pushing along the way!