2017-

Time to look back and see the ups and downs of this year. What to learn from the sad and what to remember as good.

The big things seems to start with Racemile Showdown in the end of January, this year not so cold but really icy as seen on the picture above. My Sequoia came to it’s perfect use with 42mm studded tires:)

A weekend with friends and a big Thank You to Hagen for arranging 😀

Then came a spring with a not so fast Sequoia which didn’t seem to give me any extra leg muscles. Instead it became a dropping time on Le Peloton with a too low handlebar and I felt slow…

It may have seen like many people on the picture here but my thoughts has been Le Peloton is loosing people to other things. Like Morningspins:

Without finding the speed on my roadbike I found it on my superlight Epic ht mtb and cut my PR at Långa Billingeracet with around 20min 🙂

The fastest bike I’ve ever had and super agile. Unfortunately it didn’t have an rear damper and I seem to have been older making my back hurt after like 40-50km Marathon racing. Felt fast uphill, it felt really good downhill singletracks but on on flat singletrack with roots and rocks it felt like I was standing still.

So I ate ice-cream instead:

And I tried to ride with fast people, SUMO style:

Manage to do a Randonneur with these great people in awesome pace 🙂

And according to Strava the one I was riding most with in 2017 is Emil who’s super fast:

A thing I didn’t think was I was going to do Vätternrundan once again. Riding around a boring lake on boring roads with stressed people. But Stefan convinced me to apply and what a team. Known and unknown people having fun going fast for almost 300km 😀

I never thought I would do it at 7h27min, and remembering it as fun. Riding with Henrik, getting to know Glenn, seeing how simple everything seems for Calle and Fredrik. Everything together with Jukka and Karl keeping things together. And the biggest effort by Erik for making it all possible and making us have a calm knowing everything is in control and skipping the stress so many people got for Vätternrundan. Skoda Cycling Team is not just a team effort, it’s like being a pro with everyone trusting you 🙂

The summer passed and the next big event came.

Race Across Skåne. Another friend like Hagen arranging a top notch event. Waking up in Malmö that day not feeling on top was a bit sad as I really longed for being in top shape that day. Got dropped sitting totally wrong in the crosswind pretty early, feeling like on a spring Le Peloton but at a 190km race instead of 40km training. Ending up with meeting my good friend Emil who saved the day. Cruised on this wheel feeling shit the rest of the route:

We had a crash in a group and it started raining. Everything felt just bad so at the last stop I got an ice-cream…

It’s always fun with an ice-cream, always 😀

The day after I felt worse, driving to my mum instead of doing an recovery spin with the rest. Got fever but manage to get good until our adventure trip. Me, Emil and Emile went to Norberg with gravelbikes and target to explore some new roads in the middle of nowhere. I felt slow after my illness but I love new roads and places. I found a straight fast road on a sunny day outside Norberg, or the road maybe found me…

The end of the summer after a stupid crash. But the start of knowing I got so many kind friends always there to help out. So thankful for everyone making my recovery easier. I missed Rapha 12 Hills and many many kilometers of sunny cycling but it could have been worse.

I got back on a bike outside 😀 Have been feeling slow all autumn but I’m riding and no matter of speed cycling is a beautiful sport. And with help from Specialized Nordic and Specialized Concept Store Stockholm I’m more motivated than ever. Got the dreambike which I’m hoping to ride everywhere, all the time and with a smile (when the salt is gone from the roads)

Travelled to Girona for some sun and met some cool people:

So 15437km later the year ends and I’m still not tired of cycling. The best way to explore our beautiful world and meet nice different people from all over the world.

For 2018 I want to go to new places, new countries. Want to enjoy every moment no matter if I ride in sunny Italy or just commuting to work a rainy grey day. Want to be a good friend. Want to watch some proper roadracing and maybe even meet Annemiek van Vleuten. Want to be an ambassador of our beautiful stylish sport without judging people. Because style is important 😀 

So welcome 2018 and good luck having more fun! Let’s enjoy every moment 🙂

The RAAS video

Almost a month since the Race Across Skåne but still time to remember the great moments of the wet and intense ride where this years peak went over and my form just went down from that…

I’m in it, with socks and riding 😉

You’re joining next year? More crosswinds, more gravel, more fika, more friendships and a relaxed atmosphere where I hope everyone feels welcome 🙂

Race Across Skåne 2017

One of my 3 big goals this year was 2 days ago. Have never ridden as much as this year, haven’t been sick and my unsold bike was in top shape.

After friends already planned their trips and stays in Malmö I borrowed a car by a good friend and booked a hotel in Malmö. Drove down Friday evening after work as a start of my vacation.

Woke up in time Saturday morning with a bad feeling in my throat and body. Not sick but maybe a start of something. Would never spend so much energy and money and do a DNS so ate the bad breakfast and rolled in to Musette. Got a couple of bottles and met some nice friends I haven’t met since last year.

Master out from Malmö with Patch and Emil in front. Easy pace and a couple of punctures on the 25km master. Then the attacks went from the gun. I attacked too to get in the first group and tried to wheelsuck. Unfortunately I was on the wrong side in the wind and while a group of people flew by in a wing on my left side I couldn’t keep up. Ended chasing for a while but didn’t have the legs. Felt like I rode fast on the first gravel section but got caught by some people including Emil and we rode together. It doesn’t matter which form I am in but I can always rely on this wheel:

Ended up with being 5 riders riding together until the first stop. Me and Emil thought of changing group as we didn’t know the other 3. Was a bit late but got the smart thought of chasing the group of maybe 9 riders. 9 fast riders as we with full speed and forgetting things like 190km and threshold we didn’t get close enough… We gave up but I think they rode a bit wrong and they caught us a little bit later 😉

2nd group and manageable speed felt alright in the wet. Until a driver decided to turn left just in front of our group. 1st guy got hit by the car and we stopped. Just brused but so stupid by the driver who didn’t think clear at all. Happy it didn’t go worse then it did. After some time and phone calls there we rolled into Vitemölla and the lunch break:

Was a bit cold so shared some heat:

Then we cheated a bit and didn’t stay for an freezing hour but left when the first group left. I tried to ride smart with the first group for a bit, ended up taking a couple of turns but on a flat section they dropped me riding fast. Absolutely didn’t have the legs or mindset. Took a gravelroad the others skipped and ended up in the middle of 1st and 2nd group.

Stopped waiting and got riding with the 2nd group again. Felt alright and the rain didn’t bother me, wasn’t cold. After Klas took a long hard turn and I went to the front the group got split in pieces… Became 6 riders riding together after and when Ola and Klas decided to go down ravinen we became 4. Emil, Peter, me and a unknown guy skipped that tricky section and aimed to get back without mishaps and punctures. I was tired so didn’t do much work in front, just tried to hang on.

Last stop in Blentarp and I was wet, tired and if I would have found a train I would have skipped the last part. Was said of not being better so skipped the serious part and ate an ice cream. Happy Moment 🙂

Then we rode some gravel and I got happy again, didn’t feel slowest and the long uphill may have been slow but felt like I was moving. Found some energy and was able to be in front a bit at the end. Finished it of with winning the ”sprint” in our little group too. Doing all I could to be positive.

Then the rain stopped, we rolled in to Malmö and Västra Hamnen and the rest became an epic story and a day to remember.

Map and stats: Strava

I did it! Emil was saving me from not turning around in Önneköp without even knowing it. I said it before but you always need a friend to rely on, no matter.

Then I drove home and became sick for real…

Le Peloton #168

This morning I held a speech for 40 cyclists. It wasn’t long, well prepared or loud but it was. Then we rode fast, a bit too fast for me for a part in the middle. Like this video:

I took a shortcut, a KOM and a friendly cold breakfast at Le Mond.

Map and stats: Strava

like a pro, and La Course

I always cheer on Zdenek Stybar and Annemiek van Vleuten on road races. Stybar mostly rides for Martin this Tour de France but van Vleuten had a team riding for her today. And after attacking with 4,1km to go it ended like this:

Love riders who dare to attack and try. And being seriously fast racing in speedsuit :p

Highlights from the race here with a Swede in 10th place, awesome performance by Hanna Nilson 😀

As I had a day off today I was out riding so couldn’t watch the race but read about the end while having a fika in Rimbo. Twitter is nice to follow races on 😀

Me and Emil road a loop north of Stockholm to Rimbo and then south to Vaxholm and home. Many small beautiful roads up north:

Felt like a pro out riding far on a weekday 😉 After we came to Vaxholm and just rolled onto the ferry just in time. We thought about if we should go fast or not over Rindö. Got off first and rode steady with an average speed of 36,5km/h. Just in time for the next ferry so was awesome 🙂

Celebrated with a short stop on the other side:

Back home both was a bit tired with heavy legs. Not as much talking as before 😉 I took a gel in Gustavsberg and then it was just to hold Emil’s wheel until we got to Björknäs. Doesn’t feel like I’ve been doing many of these long rides this year so was happy getting home after 190,7km (without ferries) and an average of 31km/h 😀

Map and stats incl ferries so longer time, distance and lower speed: Strava

 

Le Peloton #167

Another early morning. Yesterday to Älgö felt hard but I hang on. I think my body doesn’t like to rest too much. Today after a hard ride yesterday it was up to speed. Took it easy on the warm up and didn’t take any turn until after Nacka Forum. Became a hard one as Filip had attacked. Easy on Järnvägspizza and tried to hang on to Östervik. The climb that ruined my rides with stiff legs so many times before this year.

Today they worked, could advance and go up in front after the climb. The Lightweight Lizard was back.

In stationsbacken back from Fisksätra a few riders rode away and got a gap. I went up and did my best to chase back. Back at Storängen and after the hole group got stuck behind a slow bus to Sickla it was time to give gas again. Felt good but when I came to the top on Hellasbacken there was a new gap to 4-5 riders. A long one. I felt good and got the stupid thought of attack up to them, ended halfway with my legs standing straight out. Caught by the group again and we chased together until we got all back in Älta.

A new gap in Storkällan and I was up trying to chase again.

Got last in the sprint and it felt like the hardest training so far this year. I may not have been the fastest but I felt the ability to dig deep and ride hard. A feeling I’ve been missing for a while. The feeling when you finish and don’t know how to sit upright on your bike and when you think if you even will manage to eat some breakfast 😉

I was able to eat an waffle at Le Mond 🙂

Map and stats: Strava

My bike performed perfectly today too even that it never gets enough love:

If I was satisfied with the morning ride I did another fun ride after work. Emil asked if I wanted to do a short mtbride. I was up if I could ride e-bike and it was okey. Maybe wrong style with clothes and helmet but the Turbo Levo FSR 6Fattie is a really fun toy:

People can thing whatever they want about e-bikes but the Turbo Levo makes the heaviest legs feel fine and it floats over every root and rock. 😀

Le Peloton #166

Do my arms look small?

Tired body, tired mind this morning. Started with the fast guys but before Duvnäs I changed my mind, wasn’t up to riding fast so took left up the climb. Took it easy until the 2nd group came. Felt nice to feel fast instead of just trying to hang on. Attacked in the end with Peter who took the sprint 😉

Ended at Le Mond in the sun as usual. Now time for an easy day tomorrow, last time was Monday last week 😉

Map and stats from this morning: Strava

Le Peloton du nord

Sumo Cycling did Le Peloton du nord today which meant an early morning, too early. The alarm went off 4.25 and when I met the others at SCS at 5.15 I felt a sleep still 😉

Emil, Anders, Michael and I rode through a dead Stockholm, met up with Christian and headed north to Enebyberg. 26,5km from my door.

Marcus joined to so 6 Sumo’s including the new Christian who hasn’t got a jersey yet. Other fast riders from different teams met up and 6.10 we rolled out for a ride I didn’t knew so much about. Asked how long it was and heard around 35km.

Felt really hard in the beginning with a fast commute there and tired body, went fast. The kilometers went and when we came to Skålhamravägen I recognized me and thought it wasn’t so far left. Changed to attack mode and rode a bit more active. On that small twisting road with the speed we had my Tarmac came to its right. The bike got me to smile and ride even faster, didn’t think about how fast the others were 😉 The last climb became a bit too long for everyone I think and it felt good when we hit the finishline.

At Le Peloton you usually ride slow with heavy legs after the finish, here it felt fast and far to the café. My legs died once more and I ended in my own tempo down to Gateau:

My view after the ride:

Map and stats: Strava

Then back to Stockholm and the known places again. The others rode fast, I got dropped… But me, Emil and Anders rode the last part together and ended the all in a great way. With the years first (for me) bath:

Happy ending so to speak and the water felt warm 🙂 Then I tried to survive at work, but that’s another story 😉

Le Peloton #165

Today I was motivated and wanted to hang on until the end, no dropping. Doped with my favorite Specialized S-Works Evade GC Skinsuit, Evade helmet and S-Works Sub6 shoes 😉

Alone of my look, not so matched like Penton Cycling:

But I survived up Östervik to Fisksätra and kept my leg in schack. Easy spinning and it was good to go for real. Could push 100% for the rest and got so happy I even got to cover some gaps and took quiet a few turns. 😀 I think I even was happier finishing with the group today than managed to hang on around Vättern with Skoda. This has been much so hard and thought a lot of my leg and why it doesn’t work perfect if I don’t warm up proper.

My 3rd best time on Le Peloton today too 😀

Map and stats: Strava

Happy breakfast at Le Mond afterwards in the sun and me and Johan found out we matching socks 😀 Gelatosocks:

If you want to see how we rode, here is a video by Jesper:

Morningspins and Ice cream

Started this Thursday with being dropped by these guys. On the first lap. 2nd and 3rd lap went better I turned fail to success 😀

Like this: Strava. And ended the morning with a nice breakfast in the sun at Valhallabageriet 🙂

After a great day at work and a yes from my boss I was out on a bike again. Changed from my Tarmac to the new Diverge, now with Roval CLX32 wheels and 42mm Specialized Sawtooth tires on:

Cafécycling out to Älgö in easy tempo was on the schedule. Went pretty fast to be easy but was fun and the bike felt good except this in a size too big is a bit too high and not as light as I want. Funny to ride with 42mm tires with 3bar when riding with friends on roadbikes with 25mm tires 😉

We all got ice cream in Saltsjöbaden (that’s the purpose of this ride)

Map and stats: Strava