Oslo Cycling — Skotbu & Drøbak Loop

114.8 kilometres and 1,355 metres of climbing from the Opera House and back to the Opera House. That's eleven metres per kilometre, which is ordinary for Follo — there are several loops south of the city with much the same numbers. The difference is which way it goes. East first to Skotbu, then west to Drøbak. You cross Follo end to end, from the grain country in the east to the fjord in the west, and you get both on the same day. Allow three and a half to five hours.

None of the climbs is long. The longest runs almost five kilometres, but at 2.4 per cent you notice it in your speed. The short pitches, on the other hand, are steeper than the profile suggests. Vestbyveien into Drøbak has half a kilometre at 9.6 per cent.

Out of Oslo

Cycle path from the Opera House heading south. At Hvervenbukta, km 10, you're clear of the city. Gamle Mossevei turns rural straight away — good road, little traffic, and Gjersjøen on your left from km 13. There's a kiosk and grill at Hjulet, km 19. You'll come past here again later in the day, going the other way.

Langhus, Løkenveien and Kråkstad

Just before Tusenfryd you turn off onto the cycle path running alongside the county road, and the climb towards Langhus begins. It's 4.9 kilometres long at an average of 2.4 per cent. Long enough to feel, never steep enough to get you out of the saddle. Langhusveien can carry a fair amount of traffic. I rode it early on a Sunday and there was barely a car about. Start early if you're taking this road.

At the school in Langhus you turn onto Bøhlerveien, and a hundred metres later you're in open country. Løkenveien is typical Follo: narrow, no centre line, fields either side. The route skirts Ski, a kilometre and a half from the station, so you never notice you've passed a town. Stasjonskafeen in Kråkstad is at km 36, four hundred metres off the route in the old station building. Open every day, and the detour is worth it.

Asperudveien

After Kråkstad you have a short stretch on Askimveien. It can be busy, so take the cycle path alongside — it's only a few hundred metres before you turn left anyway. Then Asperudveien goes straight up. 2.9 kilometres and 73 metres of climbing, with half a kilometre at 6.8 per cent partway up the climb. You'll have an hour and a half in your legs by the time you get here, so you're warm, but you'll feel it regardless. The high point of the route is at the top, 173 metres.

Skotbuveien and Kroer

Skotbuveien had fresh tarmac when I rode it. Gently downhill through the forest, and the best stretch on the whole route for letting the bike run. After the descent you cross Askimveien onto Audenbølveien — narrow roads with next to no traffic. The Son loop runs through this same landscape and shares some of these roads. Kroer is at km 49.

Garder and Vestby

From Kroer it climbs gently to Garderveien. At Garder, km 58, the old roads from Hobøl, Kroer and Såner meet, and there's been a church here since the Middle Ages — the junction you turn into is older than almost anything else in Follo. The southernmost point of the route comes at km 60, then a 39-metre kick, and you're in Vestby. The church you pass at km 65 dates from 1886, but the medieval church that stood there before was pulled down the year before that, and its stone is in the graveyard wall you ride past. Galbyveien beyond is flat and gently downhill, narrow and twisting, and you hold speed without pushing.

Vestbyveien into Drøbak

This is where the climbing is. Two ramps — the first has half a kilometre at 9.6 per cent, the second 7.4 per cent over roughly the same distance. Both are short, but they're the steepest on the route and they come at seventy kilometres. The fjord opens up between them for the first time. Coming down Jørnsebakken you get a proper look at the sea. Into Drøbak it's a 30 zone with a fair bit of traffic — keep to the limit, the locals appreciate it.

Drøbak and home

Pavels Bakeri is on Storgata. Cinnamon buns, custard buns, focaccia and baguettes, and the coffee is good. Out in the sound lies Oscarsborg. The Blücher was sunk from there on 9 April 1940, and the hours that bought gave the royal family and the government time to get out of Oslo. At 77 kilometres, this is the turning point of the route.

Out of Drøbak the road climbs Lindtruppbakken and past the golf course — 2.7 kilometres and 82 metres, the last sustained climb of the day. Then you follow Osloveien north along Årungen, the national rowing centre, which hosted the Junior World Championships in 1993. Directly across the water is Vassumbakken, one of the steepest hills in Follo. You're spared that one. At the kiosk at Nesset, km 90, the last rise towards Vinterbro begins: 2.6 kilometres and 58 metres. Take the cycle path on the left-hand side and you'll have no cars behind you. Past Tusenfryd and out onto Gamle Mossevei you're back on the roads you rode out on, and the last stretch runs on cycle path with the fjord alongside. A drink at Sørenga to finish isn't a bad idea.