Rallarvegen Cycling (Haugastøl to Flåm)

Rallarvegen, or the Navvies' Road, is a gravel cycling route across the Hardangervidda plateau in Vestland, Norway, that follows the line of the Bergen Railway and descends towards the fjord at Flåm. The road was built to supply the workers who constructed the railway, and it is now one of the best-known cycle routes in Norway. Cyclists typically start from Finse station, high on the plateau, and ride downhill about 80 km to Flåm, passing Myrdal, the Flåmsdalen valley and a long run of switchbacks near the end. Some riders start further east at Haugastøl for a longer route. The trip takes one to two days, and most of the route is downhill, so it suits people with basic fitness and cycling experience, although the gravel surface, wind and cold on the plateau mean it is not trivial. Many families ride shorter sections with older children. Bikes can be hired in places such as Finse, Haugastøl and Flåm, at roughly NOK 400-700 per day, and riders can usually return bikes at the other end. Cyclists bring a helmet, gloves, a windproof jacket, warm layers and a spare tube, plus food and water for the stretches without services. There is no operator for self-guided riding; trains on the Bergen Railway can carry riders and bikes back to the start or onward. Safety depends on the rider, with weather on the plateau changing quickly and mobile coverage patchy in places. The route is generally open from July to September, when snow has cleared, and early or late in the season the road may still be covered. Fog, rain and strong wind are the conditions to avoid.