Ruska

NEW INFORMATION ADDED BELOW...

Next week's sub-24 ride will be on Saturday 6th October.

Yes, Saturday.

That will allow us to start a little earlier and go a little further. This time last year we rode to Porkkala, saw some deer, great Ruska, and the Milky Way. However, not everything went to plan...

The ride from Bemböle is approximately 40 km which comes out at around three hours. From Kirkkonummi train station it is a 22 km ride, that's a couple of hours very of easy riding. Taking your bike on the train is simple and free, so don't be shy. The carriage for bikes has a picture of a bike on it.

We could meet at Bemböle at 3:30 pm, Kirkkonummi at 5 pm? Last year we managed to arrive in the dark - a contributing factor to our overall misery. So, I recommend those times to leave some room for error. Please comment with suggestions or changes.

I really hope for a few more riding buddies this month!...

p.s. Thanks to Olivier for organising what will prove to be a very memorable November edition. Thanks also to the guys at Pyörähuolto for helping me with my stolen wheel - I really cannot recommend this place highly enough for good service and good English! Finally, if something important happens on our Facebook page, please copy it into the comments section of the blog - some of us don't use FB (or is it just me?)...

HERE IS A MAP OF PORKKALA SHOWING FACILITIES (NOTE:THERE IS A WELL FOR WATER). SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS EXTRA ROOM IN THEIR TENT SO LONG AS YOU DON'T SNORE. OR SMELL. WE HAVE ALSO HAD SOME GOOD EXPERIENCES WITH SLEEPING IN THE COOKING SHELTERS.

I'LL ALSO ADD HERE THAT REGULAR RIDERS USUALLY HAVE ALL THE COOKING AND FIRE-MAKING EQUIPMENT NECESSARY AS WELL AS TOOLS TO FIX BROKEN BIKES. BRING SOME FOOD AND DRINK THOUGH. EVENING TEA AND MORNING COFFEE IS ON ME...

British veterans

The prominence of British cycling continued this month on our trip to Nuuksio in changeable weather. Instead of the long climbs and descents of Nuuksiontie, we chose the cyclists' dream of a road - Heinästie. I can't recommend this road highly enough, although the national park designated cycling route from Siikajärvi to Mustalampi that followed was distinctly unrideable in places.

The weather improved significantly after our arrival at Mustalampi, and finally we were given some peace and quiet in Nuuksio - we had the camping area and grill shelter to ourselves and all-in-all the surroundings were perfect. Red sky at night, cyclists' delight!


A couple of observations from me: on the way home we turned off of Turuntie after Bemböle and followed Kuninkaantie, went through Auroranpuisto (see the manor house below) and then towards Pitkäjärvi. From there we went our own ways home, but riding away from the traffic of Turuntie made a nice change and is an option for future rides for those coming from the Leppävaara direction.










Also, I felt guilty when I realised that the poor turn-out might have had something to do with my lack of advertising! As I've written before, there will always be sub-24... even if this blog is updated too close to the ride to be polite.



My lack of Twittering, Facebooking and Foruming this month may have kept someone away and for that I'm sorry. Please fill in the poll on the right about how you want to hear about the rides and I'll see if my internet allergy can be overcome.

Finally, I hope for some really bad luck to befall whoever it was that stole the back wheel off my touring bike last night. Not only is it inconvenient and expensive for me, the worst part is that my faith in the safety of Finland has been affected.

And to all the cyclists out there, lock wheels to frame and frame to something immovable...

September edition

Late notice again, but nevertheless... The first Friday of the month is sub-24 Friday.

Hopefully you never wonder whether there will be a ride. Even if I'm this late with the blog. There will always be sub-24!

Again I invite suggestions for destinations, but I was thinking we meet at Bemböle Shell at 17:30 and aim towards Nuuksio. Excitement levels can then dictate how far we ride. Kattilajärvi is a shorter option. I'm also interested to ride to Haukkalampi/Mustalampi along Heinästie, which is prettier and probably less hilly than Nuuksiontie. Also, Haukkalampi/Mustalampi via Pirttimäki and Solvalla is a more cross-country option. All these routes can be found from Google.

That's too many suggestions, right? Comments, please?!

And the triathlon? I don't fancy it much. Do you?...