RED ROADS
In search of simple, satisfying greatness, we're four riders crossing the bridge from Denmark to Sweden in a Panda 4x4 and a VW. Bikes in the back. Each rider carrying a name more Nordic than the next: Meet Henrik, Christian-Emil, Jens-Peter and myself Emil; rider, photographer and storyteller.
RIDE STORY, October 2024
Essentials are packed and bikes are double checked. We have no idea about the gravel roads we will encounter and look forward to exploring. I feel the morning chill already, the promise of speed in the crisp Swedish air, the sound of gravel waiting to fly under our tires.
Sometimes greatness isn't great as in grand, but great as in simply satisfying. It's like discovering your neighbours having a pool and you've been sweating in the backyard all summer.
My mind's already shooting photos of that first jump into the pool.
We roll up to this old Swedish farmhouse that feels like it's straight out of a postcard - wooden walls, a cozy porch, the smell of the forest still clinging to us. Inside, it's all low ceilings, creaky floors, and mismatched furniture that somehow feels just right. We dump our gear by the door, clatter into the kitchen, and it doesn't take long for things to feel like home.
We're on our bikes, leaving behind the red Swedish cabin to face the autumn rain, riding to warm up. The roads narrow, the gravel speeds up, and the smiles get wider. We're finding adventure in our backyard - or, more accurately, our neighbour's backyard. All we had to do was hop the fence. The pool is ours!
In Vånga, we find the red gravel, or “Strade Rosa” as they call it. The bedrock here is made of granite with a striking red hue, and the gravel roads, full of bits and pieces of this Vånga Granite, make our photos look surreal, like something's gone wrong in Lightroom.
We're here for those red roads. The local event Strade Rosa pulls in over 200 riders, and most of the riders (including us) aren't here to win medals. We're here for the vibe, the ride and the laughs with fellow gravel riders.
The sun blesses us with warmth as we settle in for a great day of racing on the red Swedish roads. The event is casual and relaxed - just the way we like it.
The daylight slowly dims between pine trees as we peel off our cycling wear, feeling a buzz from the ride and warmth from the experience. We've ridden new roads, laughed like kids, and left our mark - if only temporary - on the Strade Rosa. Greatness isn't always found far off. Sometimes, it's just waiting for you to look a little closer, to take that unfamiliar road, and to share the ride with friends who know and appreciate the thrill of a good backyard adventure - even if it's in someone else's backyard.
