Norway can’t be considered a popular cycling destination. It doesn’t appear on the usual lists of “Europe’s best mountain passes,” and cyclotourism is not as common there as the Alps or the Pyrenees. However, a few kilometers between Bergen and Voss were enough to understand why this Scandinavian country deserved an edition of Among the Giants.

From May 31st to June 4th, we brought together a small group of creators and partner brands in western Norway to explore remote roads, deep fjords, and mountains still blanketed in snow. A more intimate edition than usual, marked by some last-minute changes in the participation of ambassadors and brands, ended up becoming one of the most authentic and memorable experiences of the project.

Joining us were Cyclowax, Pirelli, Assos, Sturdy Cycles, CUP Coffee, La Marzocco, Posedla, and Amacx.

Arrival in Voss

The journey began before dawn, with that typical early-flight fatigue and bike bags that seemed to multiply at the airport. We arrived in Bergen around noon and waited for the rest of the participants before heading to Voss. The drive itself set the tone for the trip: low clouds, waterfalls cascading directly onto the road, and fjords that seemed to stretch on forever.

Upon arriving at the house, a pleasant surprise awaited us. Thanks to the help of rRebel, the La Marzocco setup was ready to go. Coffee maker on, batch coffee brewed, and a welcome that set the mood for the entire week.

We spent the afternoon assembling bikes and took the opportunity to fit the waxed chains that Cyclowax had sent for Belén and Sebas’s bikes. One of the highlights of the ride was Tom’s two Sturdy Cycles SC-Rs, both equipped with Posedla saddles. One was his usual bike; The other bike had been custom-built for this adventure, with a personalized geometry and paintwork inspired by the Norwegian flag. Furthermore, almost all of us had already arrived with Pirelli tires, but we didn’t oppose to try the new P ZERO™ Race SL-R the Italian had shipped to Norway.

Since we were all ready at a reasonable hour, we set off for a short shakeout ride in the rain. The first hundred meters were a significant morale blow, as nobody enjoys getting soaked right from the start, but we soon accepted that it was all part of the experience. The Assos waterproof layers became essential from the very beginning.

The route took us to Tvindefossen waterfall, the first major waterfall we saw and the last time a view like that truly struck us as exceptional. In Norway, after a few hours, you stop counting waterfalls.

The evening ended with the opening briefing, dinner, and a strange feeling: it was almost 11 PM and it was still very much daylight. The Norwegian latitude threw more than one person off all week.

Heading for the snow

The first coffee of the morning at the accommodation came courtesy of Bergen Kaffebrenneri, made with beans provided in collaboration with rRebel and brewed by CUP in a La Marzocco GS3.

After breakfast, which clearly revealed who eats oatmeal and who’s loyal to toasts, we handed out the welcome bags containing truly useful products from the participating brands. Nutrition, cosmetics, spare parts, and stickers, lots of stickers.

The planned route was a 127 km out-and-back with 2,800 m of elevation gain to a remote mountain pass near Ulvik. Along the way, we were impressed by the quality of the segregated bike lanes, the light traffic, and the remarkably respectful drivers when we shared the road. Belén, as if she’d just come out of a cyclocross race, was covered in mud within minutes of leaving the house.

After skirting fjords and passing through a few tunnels, we arrived in Ulvik for a quick stop at the supermarket. There, we inquired about the road conditions to Austdølvatnet, the frozen lake we were aiming for. Not even the local shopkeeper knew if it would be open.

Ten kilometers later, the real climb began: a tough, sustained pass with gradients near 9% and ramps exceeding 15%. According to Strava, only a few dozen people had cycled up there before. As we gained altitude, snow, snowmobiles, and the machinery of the dam at the top appeared. The landscape was unlike anything in southern Europe.

Tom, who had started the day with doubts about his 1×13 drivetrain, was the first to reach the summit, further proof of the versatility of well-designed titanium bikes and, obviously, his current shape.

Just when we expected the worst weather of the day, the opposite happened: the rain stopped, the temperature rose slightly, and the sun began to break through. The last few meters were blocked by walls of snow on both sides of the road, so we turned around a few hundred meters from the finish line. Enough. The scenery already looked otherworldly.

On the way back to Ulvik, we stopped for coffee overlooking the fjord. There, we confirmed our hypothesis that everything is expensive in Norway after spending about 40 euros on coffees for the group. We headed back towards Voss on dry asphalt, and some still had enough energy to take a detour along a gravel road that led us to our accommodation.

Recovery came in the form of Amacx cherry juice, and we quickly organized ourselves to do a communal wash, process the media content generated, and meet again around the table for dinner.

Almost ten hours on the bike

The next morning, we all waited for Sebas to arrive and make the first coffee of the day. It had already become part of the ritual, and how quickly one gets used to the good things.

The circular route we planned was 167 km long with 2,500 m of elevation gain. It didn’t have any major mountain passes, but it ended up being a much more demanding day than the numbers suggested. The climb to Nesheimfjellet (6.4 km at 9.6%) was especially tough because of the long, seemingly endless straights. There was snow even at relatively low elevations, and the effort was constant: up, down, pedal, repeat.

We thought we’d just drive past the supermarket at kilometer 60. Our legs and heads decided otherwise.

After riding past the Eidsfjorden strait on a narrow road, we arrived in Dale for a quick stop. Some looked for something hot at a restaurant; others opted for the efficiency of supermarket snacks.

The best part of the day was yet to come. At the Storfossen dam, the rRebel team, along with S.Endeve Sport, had set up a real mobile coffee station: a La Marzocco Mini mounted on a cargo bike. Hot drinks, espresso tonics, and local pastries were more than enough reason to stop for another half hour in front of the Norwegian mountains.

Once we resumed our ride, the threat of rain split the group, but we all ended up racking up almost ten hours on the bike.

Again, the first thing we did was make sure to hang our shoes out to dry, wash the rest of our clothes, and begin the recovery process, in which Posedla’s Magic Butt Balm played a key role.

That evening we also had time for a video call, coffee in hand, with Víctor from CUP, who connected from the US and talked about his project and the brand’s growth.

The most scenic day

With fatigue setting in, we filled our pockets with Amacx products and set off on an alternative route towards the Sognefjord. There are so many interesting roads around Voss that even when forced to replan the routes, these end up being memorable.

The first part of the route retraced some sections of the initial day’s journey to Tvindefossen, but we soon took a turn into much more remote areas. At kilometer 24, we made a quick stop and rode on, passing campervans, a clear sign that something visually stunning was about to unfold in front of us.

We tried to avoid a tunnel, taking a detour that turned out to be an abandoned road in very poor condition. The result: mud, a flat tire, and some regret. Further on, after passing the Myrkdalen ski resort, a huge valley appeared with almost vertical walls and a long straight stretch that looked like something out of a Nordic film. A second flat tire on the same wheel complicated the day. We discovered a small cut in the tire and repaired it using the wrapper from an Amacx gel as an improvised patch. As they say, big problems call for big solutions.

The reward came soon after. Following on several hairpin bends alongside a large waterfall, we reached a snow-covered plateau dotted with electric-blue lakes and red cabins. One of those landscapes that seems designed to make you stop and take photos.

The plan was to continue to the viewpoint overlooking the Sognefjord, the deepest in Norway. It was windy, and the five-kilometer descent to the viewpoint, knowing we’d then have to climb back up that same road, made us hesitate. Even so, we pressed on, and it was completely worth it.

The views of the fjord were hard to describe without resorting to clichés. The return trip, however, was a punishment: headwind, rain again, and very sore legs. Tom and Sebas then decided to pick up the pace and practically took us back at full speed. The Pirelli P ZERO™ Race SL-R tires were largely to blame.

We arrived back at the house early, tired but convinced it had been the best day of the trip. The last night included a detailed presentation of the Sturdy Cycles project, packing our bags, and a curious realization: the chains treated with Cyclowax were still surprisingly clean after everything we’d been through.

We finished with a pizza party and conversations that went on much longer than expected.

Farewell

At eight in the morning, the transfer picked us up for Bergen Airport. Most flights left at noon, and, as always happens when you travel with bicycles, we needed to arrive with plenty of time to unpack everything at our leisure. We said goodbye to the participants and to Norway with that strange mix of exhaustion and satisfaction that only shared adventures can bring. A country we arrived in without any clear cycling expectations ended up revealing itself as one of the most spectacular landscapes we’ve explored with Among the Giants.

Sebas perfectly summed up the spirit of the week before splitting at the airport: “It has been a real pleasure to share all this rain with you all.”