Finally, we made it!

Finally, we made it!

The beginning of September is traditionally a time for our biking trip through Swedish forests. The ever-present peace, well-prepared infrastructure, and diverse landscapes make us always look forward to this trip. Last year slightly thwarted our ranks, but now we’ve managed to complete everything as planned.

Our starting point was Karlskrona, from where there is a vast number of possible routes! What are the main checkpoints, when we determine the routes of our bicycle trips? They tend to be quite similar every year. In addition to exciting landscapes, we are looking for gravel roads not frequently used by cars. We usually plan camps near lakes, thanks to which we do not have to carry excess water with us. An additional bonus is the possibility to cool off after an intense day! This year, we have planned one of the overnights stays at the seaside. The Swedish coast is completely different from the one we are used to at the Polish side of the Baltic Sea. Much more grassy and rocky, the scenery is much harsher, without such extensive beaches as on our Hel Peninsula, for example.

SUMMER CONDITIONS!

 

Day temp. 18°C / Night temp. 15°C

Rainfall: 0%

Sun: 100%

How was it?
See for yourself and read what equipment did we take with us!

Grzegorz Ozimiński, Marketing Specialist

 

Grzegorz Ozimiński Marketing Specialist

 

What are your thoughts on the trip?
I’ve truly had a great time! The weather was perfect for cycling and even better for camping. Adding a bit of luxury in the form of a ferry cruise, and all of this in the best company of colleagues from work. Without a doubt, this is my favorite Cumulus® trip - although the last kayaks were great too! :)
What equipment did you pack?
I’ve taken quite a cautious approach. The weather turned out to be much better than announced, and not even a drop of rain fell on our heads. I chose quite an interesting option of shelter, which is an advanced system cooperating with a Tarp. It is one of the Cumulus® projects in the top-secret category and I can definitely say that it proved to perform really great. I will only reveal that the whole setup weighed only 700 grams! I slept under the Quilt 350, and more specifically next to it - the temperature of 15 degrees at night turned out to be too high for me! Finally, I slept in my thermal underwear in our Heat Liner. As another test product, I also took a synthetic vest, which performed great during evening get-togethers by the fire in combination with long thermoactive underwear.
What surprised you?
A herd of cows that visited our camp in the morning ;) But seriously, I still feel very safe on Swedish roads! At the sight of a bicycle, cars move to the side of the road, almost sliding into a ditch, and the maneuver of overtaking a bicycle should be a role model for the Sevres near Paris.

Anna Wylężek Communication Officer

 

Anna Wylężek Communication Officer

 

What are your thoughts on the trip?
Swedish landscapes are really wonderful, I am always surprised by the calming and relaxing atmosphere that prevails there. What is more, there are exceptionally well-prepared bicycle routes. During previous trips, our team discovered a brilliant camping site, right on the side of the lake, surrounded by forest. This time we also got there and I can only confirm, that resting in such surroundings can really recharge the batteries!
What equipment did you pack?
The forecast showed the possibilities of rain, so just in case I packed a waterproof jacket and pants, but they stayed in my biking panniers throughout the trip. However, I thoroughly tested our Ventego jacket (in the new Meteorite Black color!). It did a great job in protecting me from strong winds on the coast. During the breaks, I‘ve tested definitely the most multifunctional product that we will soon introduce: the Quilt, which at the same time can be easily turned into a type of poncho. Such a comfortable and efficient way to quickly warm up at a stop. At night, I slept in a modified Lite Line 200 sleeping bag, filled with 850 FP hydrophobic down. The temperatures were surprisingly high for this time of the year, so the sleeping bag turned out to be even a bit too warm.
What surprised you?
I am invariably amazed by the Swedish landscapes, but what surprised me the most was the coast, which is completely different from the one we are used to in Poland. Additionally, the weather turned out to be perfect for biking. I was the only person from the group who doesn't ride a bike on a daily basis, so I will definitely work a little bit on my condition before my next trip :)

Rafał Buczek Product Manager

 

Rafał Buczek Product Manager

 

What are your thoughts on the trip?
I took part in both previous bicycle trips to Sweden and I have very good memories of each of them. This year's edition is no exception at all. The all-encompassing peace in the vicinity of Karlskrona (whether in the cities or especially in the forests) is amazing. It is the main driving force behind my "north" returns. We traveled in a very good team, which made both camping and bicycle rides very enjoyable.
What equipment did you pack?
First of all, I packed too much! I was expecting slightly worse weather conditions, which surprised us very positively. My accommodation system consisted of elements that I fully trust: the MSR Freelite 2 tent, as I was traveling with my wife, and the Therm-a-Rest XLite mattress. What was really new for me, was the sleeping bag that I’ve tested! I used the prototype of our new model, which is supposed to be the quintessence of minimalism: no back, no bottom, no hood, no zipper. This is definitely my dream design. I'm delighted!
What surprised you?
It has been a long, long time since I had my backpack on while riding a bike for more than 10 km. Unfortunately this time, I was forced to do so. I am very surprised how big of an impact this way of transporting luggage has on the whole biking experience. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.