Ultralight bikepacking through Norway

Ultralight bikepacking through Norway

By Matt Tomlinson

Ultralight bikepacking through Norway - embracing minimalism for maximum adventure on two wheels.

We’re heading north from Oslo airport, three hours into a five hour drive, crammed into what feels like a much smaller car than we originally booked. The landscape is pretty impressive, the idyllic Scandinavian houses are indeed a novelty to look at, but at the moment it’s not the mind-blowing backdrop we had been daydreaming about…

Left at the next lights, over the bridge and we’re there. All of a sudden in the midst of the scenery we had pictured as we dreamt up our cycling adventure on the new Sonder Colibri back at Alpkit HQ. Right in the heart of the land of the fjords, the midnight sun and, of course, trolls.

It’s not so much the Alpine gut-busting 14 km climbs that we sought, more like those rolling valley roads that weave between the fjords. Sure we had earmarked a number of climbs to tick off, including the 10km long Trollstigen route, but the main objective of this adventure was to simply load the bags, clip in, and pedal. We wanted to explore those quiet roads that tourist coaches wouldn’t even consider, get away from cruise liners and novelty troll shops, we were after the kind of roads you wouldn’t find on google.

... Five minutes later

Despite the temptation to just keep on riding all day, we eventually stopped by a bucolic and remote church to refuel for the last leg of the day. From the church we could see the road snake up the mountainside and out of the valley via a chalk-laden climb that had played host to the professional peloton during a past edition of the Tour of Norway - an satisfying and challenging end to an otherwise relaxing day of exploring some of the best tarmac that any of us had ever seen.

Bikepacking Bags

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Lunar Fuel Pod Lunar Fuel Pod

Lunar Fuel Pod

Limited edition reflective top tube bag
$44.99 $59.99
  • Email when available

Lunar Fuel Pod Long Lunar Fuel Pod Long

Lunar Fuel Pod Long

Limited edition reflective extra-long top tube bag
$49.99 $64.99
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Lunar Frame Bag Lunar Frame Bag

Lunar Frame Bag

Limited Edition reflective frame bag
$64.99 $84.99
  • SALE

Lunar Koala 13l Lunar Koala 13l

Lunar Koala 13l

Limited Edition reflective saddle pack
$94.99 $129.99
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Lunar Koala 7l Lunar Koala 7l

Lunar Koala 7l

Limited Edition reflective saddle pack
$84.99 $119.99
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Lunar Toploader Lunar Toploader

Lunar Toploader

Limited Edition reflective canister handlebar bag
$59.99 $79.99
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Lunar Gravel Bag Lunar Gravel Bag

Lunar Gravel Bag

Limited Edition reflective roll-top handlebar bag
$69.99 $99.99
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alpkit fuel pod 1.5 top tube bag cockpit bag in panther black Alpkit Fuel Pod top tube bag in Olive Green

Fuel Pod

Top tube bag: UK made, weatherproof, available in 3 sizes
$44.99 $54.99
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alpkit stem cell 1L bike packing bag in olive green Alpkit Stem Cell bag in Olive Green

Stem Cell

Lightweight stem-mounted bikepacking bag in 1 and 1.5L sizes
$54.99 $64.99
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alpkit gravel bag handlebar bag for drop bars in olive green Alpkit Gravel Bag handlebar bag in Panther black

Gravel Bag

Handlebar bag with roll-top closure: UK made, weatherproof, 5L expandable capacity
$69.99 $79.99
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alpkit toploader zipped handlebar bag in panther black alpkit toploader zipped handlebar bag in olive green top

Toploader

Canister handlebar bag: UK made, weatherproof, 4L
$69.99 $84.99
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alpkit kuoka handlebar bag for bike packing in panther black Alpkit Kuoka handlebar bag in Olive green

Kuoka

Dual-ended handlebar bag: UK made, weatherproof, 13L
$59.99 $74.99

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