raybo

My wife and I will be traveling to the UK in September so she can attend her 40th high school reunion.

On my touring list is to ride in Scandinavia. I was looking forward to it this year, but the family RV trip (see this thread ruined my August timing.

Now, I am wondering if riding in Sweden and Norway in late September and early October is worth the effort to get there. I've checked the average weather and it will be cool/cold and there should be a fair amount of rain. Not all that unusual for autumn weather in many places

I'd appreciate any thoughts about planning such a tour, suggested routes, weather considerations, or any journals that I might read.

canamdad

This would be a good start: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com Lots of journals of actual cycle tours in that area and perhaps even at that time of year.

Machka 

I would also check accommodation availability.

I know when we were cycling up the west coast of France in late September, things were closing up.

travelinhobo

Both countries are quite long. Just exactly how far north are you planning on going? I don't know if it can be compared, but I biked E. Canada in July and August for 6 weeks. By the time I finished in New Foundland (mid Aug.), it was definitely getting colder and I was told that within a month it would be too cold to tour. I've also toured Sweden and some of Norway. I really enjoyed Sweden (biked it twice). Know that the terrain from Stockholm south is relatively flat, but going north from the capital it quickly becomes hilly. And doesn't stop.

elcruxio

If you're really planning on going for this I would suggest you stay relatively south where the weather is still manageable. I've lived in Finnish Lapland for a while and the autumn is by far the most challenging time of year there. It's hard to describe but I would much rather tour lapland with a bike in the middle of winter when it's -20 to -40 celsius than the autumn period. Autumn in the northern scandinavia can be absolutely beautiful but it can at its worst be quite extreme in both cold and wet respects. It's not even rain at that stage, it's like water aerates into a fine mist that's pushed into even the best gore tex clothes via the stiff winds which are also common. then there's the chance of getting overcooled rain which turns to ice when it touches anything so you may need studded tires at relatively early stages of the autumn period. And if it's the bad kind of autumn there is simply zero chance of getting clothes dry in a tent. Drying clothes also gets a lot slower even when indoors because the average humidity is very high.

CAX

Hi,
as said above the weather can sunny and still some warmth in the air to snow and ice (the latter though only in the north at that time). As for routes it depend where you want to go in the countries. They are both extremely long countries. For Sweden Småland and parts of Skåne are really nice and maybe a better option for the time period.Haven't biked in Norway much. But I guess seeing the fjords are mandatory. A tip in Norway is to plan your route so that you travel with ferry on regular basis. Have a cup of coffee after getting off the ferry and let the cars pass. Then you might have several hours until next ferry comes and you have the road for yourself. If you anyway do south of Sweden I'd recommend to do parts of Denmark coastline as well. Very convinient to get to and pretty nice. There are also many Swedish islands worth biking on e.g. Gotland, Öland, Fårö etc.

ironwood

Days get shorter in late September and October, so you won't have as much time to ride, especially if you camp. I don't care for setting up a tant in the dark, or the in the rain and in the dark.; You'll need good lights.

jefnvk

Thought that at first too, but on Oct 1 in the far north, you are still at 11 hours of daylight, although at that point you are losing upwards of 10 min of light a day: https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/norway/hammerfest?month=10&year=2018

jefnvk

Although, if one were to want to go to the far north of Scandanavia, when would be the best time? Would it be similar to Iceland, where roads aren't clearing until mid-June?

GerryinHouston

May 4th, somewhere before Tromsoe, at sea level