Arctic Circle riding gear
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Pedda
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Re: Arctic Circle riding gear
I remember you refusing rain gear wherever you go. Maybe you should reconsider…
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Jonty
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Re: Arctic Circle riding gear
My jacket is waterproof and I do have some leggings, but in summer I tend to wear mesh jacket and not the leggings, but for arctic circle will be essential and now I have good panniers for the Katana, so more storage.
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Also planning same trip but to do in February when it's snowy, so need to get a different bike for that trip and plan where I stop for winter tyres, that's a whole different shebang!
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Uncle Bob
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Re: Arctic Circle riding gear
Back in 2003 my brother and I rode up above the arctic circle in Norway, I was on a SV650S. Luckily for us there was a Newcastle - Bergen ferry then which we took, cutting out lots of road miles getting there. We did go in June as the plan was to camp above the arctic circle on the longest day for the midnight sun (it was cloudy in the end!). We went as far up as just north of the Svartisen Glacier (Halsa).
Anyway, being over 20 years ago and not having the money to buy anything particularly special, I just had what I rode in, in the UK - a Spada textile jacket, leather trousers, leather boots (not that water resistant let alone waterproof!) and leather summer gloves. I took some thermals for under the leather trousers that came from an Army and Navy store and just my normal fleecy and t-shirt under the jacket. I can't remember feeling like we needed more. Looking at the photos I have, there are a lot where I'm wearing an all-in-one (supposedly water proof) over suit!
I only took the one pair of gloves which was nearly an issue as on the ride up to Newcastle to hammered it down and they really soaked up the water. When I took them off the lining came out with my hand and it took me ages to feed it back in to the fingers again. A spare pair of gloves is handy (so to speak)!
Coming back to a question you had posted about tents on the FB group, in Norway all the campsites had wooden huts from basic with just bunks and small cooker to ones with a bathroom. We had 7 nights in Norway and in the end camped only 2 of those and used the wooden huts the rest of the time, as with 2 sharing they were pretty cheap (though this was over 20 years ago). You still needed your own sleeping bag. That is something to consider.
Also you are planning on going to Nordkapp. I'd have a real think about that. OK it's a talking point to say you've been to the northern point of Europe, but from what I gather once a certain point north of the Arctic circle the scenery isn't as great as say the western fjords or Lofoten islands. If it was one or the other then I'd go with the fjords. If you are planning coming back that way then OK. The Troll Road (Trollstigen) is nearly a must and I always remember the first sight of Geiranger fjord and not getting the scale of it until I saw a little tiny ship then realising that it was actually a large cruise ship. We had a big chunk up the E6 from Oppdal and were going to come back the same way, but luckily we talked to a Norwegian biker who persuaded us to come back down the coast side (RV17) and the ferries which was so much nicer, but takes longer.
This is the same with riding through Finland and eastern side of Sweden, drop a street view in Google maps on one of the roads and it's nearly always a road with pine trees each side, so lots of miles of the same...
I guess think of it was riding the A9 in Scotland all the way to John O'Groats and back and missing out all of western Scotland and what a shame that would be, but horses for courses I guess.
Oh, and don't get caught speeding in Norway!
Anyway, being over 20 years ago and not having the money to buy anything particularly special, I just had what I rode in, in the UK - a Spada textile jacket, leather trousers, leather boots (not that water resistant let alone waterproof!) and leather summer gloves. I took some thermals for under the leather trousers that came from an Army and Navy store and just my normal fleecy and t-shirt under the jacket. I can't remember feeling like we needed more. Looking at the photos I have, there are a lot where I'm wearing an all-in-one (supposedly water proof) over suit!
I only took the one pair of gloves which was nearly an issue as on the ride up to Newcastle to hammered it down and they really soaked up the water. When I took them off the lining came out with my hand and it took me ages to feed it back in to the fingers again. A spare pair of gloves is handy (so to speak)!
Coming back to a question you had posted about tents on the FB group, in Norway all the campsites had wooden huts from basic with just bunks and small cooker to ones with a bathroom. We had 7 nights in Norway and in the end camped only 2 of those and used the wooden huts the rest of the time, as with 2 sharing they were pretty cheap (though this was over 20 years ago). You still needed your own sleeping bag. That is something to consider.
Also you are planning on going to Nordkapp. I'd have a real think about that. OK it's a talking point to say you've been to the northern point of Europe, but from what I gather once a certain point north of the Arctic circle the scenery isn't as great as say the western fjords or Lofoten islands. If it was one or the other then I'd go with the fjords. If you are planning coming back that way then OK. The Troll Road (Trollstigen) is nearly a must and I always remember the first sight of Geiranger fjord and not getting the scale of it until I saw a little tiny ship then realising that it was actually a large cruise ship. We had a big chunk up the E6 from Oppdal and were going to come back the same way, but luckily we talked to a Norwegian biker who persuaded us to come back down the coast side (RV17) and the ferries which was so much nicer, but takes longer.
This is the same with riding through Finland and eastern side of Sweden, drop a street view in Google maps on one of the roads and it's nearly always a road with pine trees each side, so lots of miles of the same...
I guess think of it was riding the A9 in Scotland all the way to John O'Groats and back and missing out all of western Scotland and what a shame that would be, but horses for courses I guess.
Oh, and don't get caught speeding in Norway!
