Oslo Cycling — Slitu & Askim Loop

Slitu and Askim is 144 kilometres with 1,938 metres of climbing, and it's the distance that makes it hard rather than the hills. There isn't a single categorised climb on the whole route, and the high point is 193 metres. For me this is the change from the usual Follo loops: the middle section runs through the grain country east of the Glomma, around Askim and Slitu, on small rural roads with barely any traffic.

Out of the city

You start by climbing Svartdalsveien. A nice little climb right at the beginning, with a view back over Oslo, and it gets the legs going straight away. On over Ryen and Abildsø to Skulleruddumpa, and from there it's cycle path all the way to Klemetsrud at km 12. Turn off at the Uno X. Plenty of routes out of town carry on along Enebakkveien, but the road we take is flat and rolling with a couple of short ramps, and far less traffic.

After Siggerud at km 18 the road narrows through the forest, and at Ytre Enebakk at km 33 you come out along Mjær. The terrain is flat and rolling, and you hold good speed without putting much into the pedals. It's the best riding so far and it costs you nothing.

Mjærvannbakken

Mjærvannbakken starts at km 39. 1.3 kilometres at 5.9 per cent, with sections above 12. It's the steepest thing on the route and it comes early. Hold something back — there's over a hundred kilometres left after the top.

Over the crest you have Lyseren on your left, and then comes Ligotveien. Newly surfaced, narrow and quiet, farms on both sides. This is where you notice you've properly left Oslo. At km 50 you drop down to the Glomma and Solbergfoss. The power station has been running since 1924, produces around 208 MW and is owned by E-CO Energi and Statkraft. Worth a short stop.

East towards Askim and Slitu

After the Glomma the terrain gets more broken, with some sharp ramps, but it's rural and quiet. Towards Askim the landscape opens up completely — wide farm roads, long sightlines, almost no cars. You get a long fast descent down to Slitu at km 63. After that you're on Rakkestadveien for a short stretch where there can be a bit more traffic, before turning off again.

And then it kicks up. You have to take back the height you just descended, and after 70 kilometres you feel it. In return you're surrounded by fields and farms and it's completely quiet. From km 71 comes Vammabakken — nearly 5 kilometres, but at 1.6 per cent average it's a long drag rather than a climb.

The gravel on Revaugveien

The gravel starts at km 79, on Revaugveien, and continues onto Skjoldenveien. 3.7 kilometres in total before you're back on asphalt at km 82. I rode it on 28 mm road tyres without any trouble. In June the surface was firm and fast, with some loose gravel over the crest, so take the corners carefully. You don't need a gravel bike for this route.

Spydeberg

The run in towards Spydeberg carries more traffic. If there are a lot of cars I take the cycle path, at least for the first part. You cross the Glomma again, and right after the bridge there's a rise where I take the path regardless — it runs all the way into Spydeberg at km 89. This is a good place to eat. The Esso with Deli de Luca sits right on the route. Stasjonskafeen is better, but it's a 600-metre detour each way and it's closed on Mondays. Check the opening hours before you decide.

Tomterbakken and home

After Knapstad the road climbs 50 metres, and then comes a lovely stretch — flat and gently downhill with long sightlines — into Tomter at km 96. Tomterbakken comes at km 100: 1.5 kilometres at 5 per cent, 73 metres of climbing. It isn't long, but at a hundred kilometres you notice it. It's the climb that decides the Follorittet every May.

Over the top there's a genuinely fun section, flat and gently descending, quiet roads and long sightlines. Out on the flats you pass Follo flyklubb — look up. After Ski comes Eikjolveien, which is a little gem: narrow quiet roads between farms and open fields, flat with a few small ramps.

From Langhus at km 119 you're heading home, and after Siggerud you're back on the roads you came out on. At Klemetsrud you take a different way back than you came, down to Gamle Mossevei. There's cycle path the whole last stretch, with the fjord and the city in view. Refreshments at Sørenga afterwards are recommended.