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SCANDINAVIAN MONTHLY | PEOPLE
Gravel Road Biking in Sweden Text Tor Kjolberg
The extensive use of gravel as a road surface in Sweden and forestry having been a key part of the nation’s economy are the main reasons gravel road biking is one of the hottest topics in the world of bikes in Sweden right now. Swedish as well as international bikers have realized that Sweden’s dusty gravel roads, blue mountains and large forests create a paradise for biking lovers. There’s literally been a worldwide boom with more riders than ever heading out exploring their local forests and hillsides on their favorite gravel bikes. A gravel bike is a sort of mix between a road bike, a cyclocross and a MTB. With wide tires, drop bars and a pretty
If there is anything which is in abundance in Sweden, it is blue mountains, winding gravel roads and water, Photo: Redbull
comfy geometry these bikes are the perfect adventure companion both on and off-road.
roads and little traffic, Sweden is heaven for gravel biking, and there are roads there for everyone.
Related: Picturesque Biking in Sweden
A young discipline Gravel biking is a young discipline, having only been around for less than a decade with the first gravel-specific bikes created in the early 2010s. And since then, this kind of riding has captured the wheel-addicted hearts of both roadies and mountain bikers alike as it blurs the lines between road, gravel and singletrack.
A thing of fear For many Swedish bikers, gravel has almost been a thing of fear. The reason being that truckload after truckload of a particularly nasty type of gravel is strewn across urban areas here during winter, ss if it was the result of a secret conspiracy with tire manufacturers who want to up their sales of delicate road tires. If there is anything which is in abundance in Sweden, it is blue mountains, winding gravel roads and water. With miles and miles of small
Related: How to Choose a Specialized Hybrid Bike to Travel in Scandinavian Countries However, mountain bike marathon riders, the second largest group of
Feature image (on top): Photo by Redbull
