Ultra Long-Distance Cycling

In July 2001, I cycled around the southwestern quarter of Finland. The total distance covered was about 1100 km. The longest leg was from Pori to Kannus via Kokkola. My bicycle was a regular single-speed bicycle. Those bikes are supremely comfortable and very well suited to covering very long distances because of the upright riding position and comfortable saddles. My journey had taken me to Kotka, Vantaa and Turku among other places. The idea was to ride a whole day, check into a hotel, shower and head for a pub for a drink or a few. I rode alone so socializing in the evening was a welcome respite from the loneliness of the ride. It was also great opportunity to try the local craft beers.

I was trying to break a personal distance record in long-distance cycling. I had tried to ride from Tampere to Kannus directly (the distance is slightly shorter) but I had to give up and take the train about 100 km before the destination (in Kauhava). My average speed was too fast at that time and I had burned all the carbohydrates stored in my body after having covered a little more than two thirds of the way. After the decision to quit, the last 30 km from Lappajärvi to Kauhava were uncomfortable to say the least. I had to stop every ten minutes or so. About three weeks later, in mid-July, I decided to try to cover 350 km in one go, only a different route.

I woke up late in a hotel room in Pori and had brunch. I ate quite a lot. Sometime past noon I set out for Kannus where my maternal grandparents lived. The terrain was flat and I was careful not to go too fast. My average riding speed was at most 20 km/h. After 45 minutes I stopped at Merikarvia and had an ice cream. My next stop was about 100 km north of Pori in Kristiinakaupunki. I made a detour from the highway and rode to town. I had a diet coke and left. My next stop was about 20 km before Vaasa. I had an ice cream at a service station. After an hour I arrived at Vaasa. I had a hamburger meal and rested for an hour and a half.

It was about midnight. I was somewhat bored already. Not very tided but bored. My strategy of keeping my speed slow had paid off. After resting for a bit in Oravainen after riding about two hours after Vaasa, I decided to just soldier on. Because it was only three weeks after summer solstice, it was merely dusky, not dark. You could see the traffic and be seen perfectly well. At about seven in the morning, I arrived at Kokkola. I went to the market square and had a coffee and an ice cream again. It was a warm and beautiful morning. Kannus was a mere 40 km away and I decided to see how fast I could get there. It took me one hour and twenty-five minutes. When I arrived at my grandparents' house late in the morning, I felt tired by very satisfied. The entire trip took a little over 21 hours of which 19 hours I rode. I took a shower after which I was served a plate full of grandma's rice pudding with fruit soup. After several more helpings, I went to bed and slept 20 hours straight.

The next afternoon I set out for Ylivieska where I took the train to Iisalmi with my goal being to ride to Kuopio from there. But that's another story. That visit turned out to be the last time I saw my grandmother alive. She passed away the following January at the age of 88.