Oslofjorden Rundt

A full lap of the Oslofjord: 199 km of riding plus a 9.3 km ferry across from Horten to Moss. The GPX file reads 208 because the crossing is in the track. Total climbing is 2,455 m, and most of it comes before the ferry — 1,775 on the west side, 679 after Moss.

The first thirty kilometres aren't the best part of the day. You roll out of the centre along Frognerstranda, past the marina, then west on a mix of cycle path and main road. The surface is fine, but this stretch carries traffic. Go early on a Sunday and most of it isn't there. The climb towards Lier comes in two steps with a dip between them, and the top is at km 33.6 at Liertoppen — 233 m, the high point of the west side. The view opens out over Drammen and the farmland around it, then it's just under five kilometres down into town.

Drammen comes at km 44. Austadbakken starts right after: 2.3 km at 5 per cent, 117 m, category 4. The roads narrow from here, grain fields take over, and the traffic thins out. Stay on the west side of the E18. It's the better road.

Sande is at km 65. Stasjonsgaarden Kafe&bar is right on the route and does baguettes and hot food. Eat here, because Hanekleiva starts immediately after. It's the longest climb of the day: 3.7 km at 4.7 per cent, 178 m, category 3. The gradient is steady the whole way, so find a rhythm and hold it.

Odderudveien follows the descent off Hanekleiva. The tarmac is rougher, but it's good riding and you'll barely see a car. Then Hvittingfossveien, which carries more traffic — the cycle path alongside is wide and well surfaced, so stay on it. You turn off at Grennslinna, and that's the best riding of the day. Narrow roads, rolling terrain, almost no traffic. And some properly steep ramps.

The hardest kilometre is Vivestadåsen, from km 97.3: 95 m of climbing in a little over a kilometre, 8.7 per cent average. No category and no Strava segment, but it comes after 97 km and it shows. The steepest ramps are later, around km 116, touching 18 per cent on the short pitches. Your computer will read higher. The last stretch into Horten runs on cycle path, so you're clear of the traffic coming in.

The ferry terminal at Horten is at km 131. Bastø Fosen runs year-round, every half hour during the day, and cyclists go free. The crossing takes about 35 minutes. There's plenty of room on board and a proper cafeteria, so this is the second food stop of the day.

Getting out of Moss is messy for a few minutes. Everyone comes off the ferry at once and the traffic takes a while to clear. Then it opens up, and the roads north to Son are good again. You come into Son the back way, which is the better approach — dense timber houses and a short cobbled section through the centre. Hagestua is at km 155 if you need to top up.

Two climbs come shortly after Son. Neither is steep, but both are long and gradual, and the first averages 5.2 per cent over a kilometre. That's nothing early in a ride. With 155 km in the legs it's different. Once you're over them it eases into long flat sections and gentle descent.

The route passes east of Drøbak, so the town is on your left, and dropping down for a look isn't much of a detour. Then Klommesteinveien, a favourite among local riders. Rolling terrain, good tarmac, grain fields either side. You hold speed here without working for it. Vinterbro, Tusenfryd, Gjersjøen and Hvervenbukta follow, and the cycle path along the old Mosseveien takes you the last stretch in with the water beside you.

If you already know Oslofjorden Rundt, you've probably ridden Oslofjorden Rundt Mini. It shares roughly half its roads with this one but goes the other way round, so the climbs here are descents there. It's a different ride, not a shorter version of this one.