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Tours

finland cycling holiday

Finland – ‘Ruthless Border’ Fat Biking 2022

£1,295.00

TOUR REF: F22 / FN221  / FN222
TYPE: Fat Biking
LEVEL: Challenging
DATES:
24 Jan – 30 Jan 2022 (est)
14 Feb – 20 Feb 2022 (est) 
07 Mar – 13 Mar 2022 (est)
DURATION: 6 days
ACCOMMODATION LEVEL: Mixed
 
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    • 135 £

Finland – ‘Ruthless Border’ Event

  • Challenge yourself in ruthless winter conditions!
  • Experience stunning uninhabited wilderness at the EU´s Eastern border
  • The ultimate test for your body and mind!

Fat biking in winter conditions is something every cyclist should experience – the pure snows of Finnish Taiga Forest offers a great setting for this fun way of moving. In this package you will train with fat bikes in the untouched wilderness areas surrounding the fabulous  Martinselkonen complex, and then challenge yourself in endurance competition on the Ruthless Raja (Border). The competition will take place in mid-winter when the weather can be ruthless and the days still short. A snowstorm will not stop the competition, it just offers you a new challenge. The competition will take place in uninhabited wilderness, where only the birds and reindeer will be your company. It’s time to challenge yourself – and don’t be fooled by the smaller distances!

Along the way you’ll see many animal tracks in the snow, experience some wonderful Finnish cooking, try other ‘snow-related’ activities if you wish, enjoy fabulous saunas, and there is a good chance you’ll see the Northern Lights too!

 

Reckless Border Competition Package (Jan departure Only)

Day 1:
Transfer from Kajaani or Kuusamo airport to the Martinselkonen Wilds Centre. Accommodation in twin rooms. Dinner (for those arriving on the 17:15 flight).

Day 2 / Day 3:
The first two days are training days in Martinselkonen Wilds Centre. There are some short tracks around the Centre where
you can practise cycling on snow and make sure that your bike is correctly adjusted. If you use local rental bikes from Martinselkonen, the guide will help you to get the bike correctly adjusted. There are two longer trails (one for each day) around
Martinselkonen, where you can train in guided tours. Everyone can cycle the best speed for them, and a snowmobile will lead the way – with our guide acting as sweep. 

Teerilampi circle trail (17 – 25km): We will head to the Teerilampi circle trail that will take us to Martinselkonen Nature Reserve and cycle the snow-white landscape just next to Russian border. You will enjoy a traditional outdoor lunch at Teerilampi wilderness hut.

Öllöri-lake trail (15 – 20km): This trail goes around the beautiful Öllöri-lake. One part of the trail is on ice. On the way you will see the Finland-Russia border stones. Outdoor lunch is enjoyed by the open fire. When returning to the Centre, a hot sauna will be waiting for you and there is plenty of time to rest. Dinner is served in the evening at the dining area.

Day 4 (20 or 85km): 

Now it’s time to participate to the Ruthless Raja endurance competition! Breakfast at the Centre and transfer to the Hossa National Park where the competition will start at 12.00 (transfer time about 1 hour). There are two options for Fat Bikes in this event. The shorter option is 20km trail that will stay in Hossan National Park. The longer option is 85km (it will feel much, much further)!
This will start from Hossa and at your accommodation in the Martinselkonen Wilds Centre. The trail goes through the middle of uninhabited wilderness. Those who will cycle only the shorter trail are transferred back to Martinselkonen. A Martinselkonen vehicle will give assistance on the longer tour at designated service points. On the longer trail cyclists are monitored via GPS tracking – and they can contact event organizer/Martinselkonen Staff by phone. A hot meal is waiting everyone at the finish line. Every participant gets a souvenir prize and addition several prizes will be raffled among the participants. Those who participate only the shorter track can follow the completion at Martinselkonen Wilds Centre.

Day 5:

A recovery day. Breakfast in the morning. Those who still have some energy left can do some more cycling or snowshoeing around Martinselkonen. Sauna in free use.

Day 6:

It’s time to say goodbye. After breakfast transfer to the airport by private car/coach. (Recommended Flight from Kajaani at 10:10)

NB: Breakfast and dinner are eaten every day at the Centre. Lunch is an outdoor lunch eaten in open huts or outside next to an open fire. Recommended flights are to and from Kajaani. Recommended arrival time (2017) to Kajaani airport: 17:15 and departure from Kajaani: 13:35.

Accommodation

Martinselkonen Wilds Centre is a small family-run company located at East border of Finland in Suomussalmi. This old border guide station has been transformed into comfortable accommodation facilities (twin or single rooms). Each of the rooms have an en-suite bathroom. The main house has a cosy dining area for 32 persons. Both accommodation buildings have drying rooms for clothing. There is a free sauna for clients to use.

Food

Martinselkonen Wilds Centre offers home-style cooking using many local ingredients, including berries and mushrooms, and fish from local lakes. Meat is often game meat from these forests or reindeer from the local Reindeer Farm. All the meals are prepared in Martinselkonen from fresh ingredients.

Bikes and Biking

The fat bike trails in Martinselkonen are maintained tracks, where the snow is dragged as hard as possible. On the longer trails there is a snowmobile in front marking the trail and a guide sweeps. Everyone can cycle at their preferred speed.  

Cycling in snow is harder than a hard surface, so participants need good basic fitness and previous experience of biking.

Martinselkonen bikes are Finnish built SUP bicycles that are especially built for Finnish winter conditions. There are 2 different sizes of bike.

Get In Touch

If you have any questions about any of our trips, please call us on 0800 002 9559 or send us a message below.