Dressed for cycling, with ordinary clothes.

Most important, the clothes people choose to wear when cycling is a personal choice. Hockey helmet and sunglasses, special kind of clothes, mittens, shoes and all the rest, is really of no importance to me. The number of cyclists is important. To me, to all of us.

Personally I prefer to use my ordinary clothes. I park my cycle, go to the library, meet someone at a cafe in the same clothes I wear when cycling. As a knitter I have a knitted hat, double-knitted mittens (that sometimes are not warm enough), a knitted sweater under my jacket, a knitted shawl and knitted socks (that is not warm enough sometimes either).
If clothes are what keeping more people away from cycling I would recommend to become an old woman not giving a shit.

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #sykletiljobben #winter #vintersykling #sykkeltut #sykkelutstyr

I don't cycle because it is cheap. It's not.
Twice a year I need to get my cycle prepared, either for spring and summer, or for winter. Last year those two preparations cost me approx. $650. I changed all the working parts - and still got condensation in my gear line, not being able to use half of my gears for some days.

Using my bike like I do, everyday and for long distances, in snow and ice, cold days and especially on days when the streets are salted - makes it necessary to repair and change parts often. This is a photo of my new chain after 8 weeks of use. Mainly because of salt, some part because I don't wash and oil it enough.
Just saying.

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #sykletiljobben #salt #winter #vintersykling #sykkeltut

It is a statistical fact that many who come to live in Norway as foreigners, leave again. Norwegians are actually one of the most introvert people there are, and we make friends in kindergarten - after that, not so much. Not even to other Norwegians. It is called by the foreigners as a joke, "single night friendship", because if we meet you friendly it is combined with alcohol.

Some years ago a young journalist cycled along Sognefjorden, the longest fjord there is, and she stated that she hated every inch of that bike ride. She had several arguments on why, but one of them was that it was so hard to meet people, and talk, socialize. Even if she was young, even if she was biking, even if she was Norwegian. And curious as a journalist.

All this to say, if you come to live here, be ready for a very solitary life.

I recognize all this, and as a Norwegian, it is part of my nature too.

But then people like S. appear and surprise us all.

I was waiting in line to get into the telephone booth for book hunting. He came out, and we talked for almost an hour. About driving in Norway, cycle locks and thieving, books, camping vans and cars in general, his wife (I know everything about his wife now!), and winter cycling in Stavanger ... among things. Okay, he might be considered a "single night friendship" too (without the alcohol part), but at least we agreed on cheering each other when passing by cycle.

And btw, I have met some really nice people in general, on cycle here in Stavanger, but not asked to photograph them. Usually it is only take a quiet question. Not making friendship, but meeting kind people.
Which is enough for me.
As a Norwegian.

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #winter #vintersykling #sykkeltut #singlenightfriend

Based on this article: https://www.aftenposten.no/trender/i/6qzeOr/hoert-om-one-night-friendships-et-litt-saernorsk-fenomen-tror-forsker

We have 51 more minutes of light after the solstice in Stavanger now. And the spring is showing its first signs, the first primrose is up!
But, I'll keep my studded tires some few weeks more ... #justincase #weliveinnorway

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #vårblomstring #primula #vintersykling #sykkeltut

And the snow has gone again. That is what I love about this new city of mine, the very short winter.

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #stavanger #cykla #fjord #rainbow #winter #vintersykling #dusavika

Watching the national TV, I discovered one of my designs suddenly appear on the presenter, photo number 2. Entering a cafe the other day a to me unknown woman sat with some friends at a table, wearing another one of my designs.

Wearing knitted cardigans and pullovers in wool is very much a thing here in Norway, and as a cyclist that is so much my preferred clothing, layer on layer of thin wool, I have also designed a woolen cycle-sweater ... 🐑

Anyway, seeing my knitting patterns out there in the wild always makes a good day better.

Not sure if you can watch these programs outside of Norway, but if you are interested in traveling in Norway, either by car, cycle, train or bus, this is the link: https://tv.nrk.no/serie/nasjonale-turistvegar

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #sykletiljobben #snow #winter #vintersykling #sykkelgenseren #pinneguridesign #purewool #knitting #strikketut

Thanks to #nrk and #nasjonaleturistvegar for a screenshot from episode 2.

A question to all female (car-)drivers, how come you don't like cyclists?

Maybe this is a local (Norwegian) problem. Maybe it is just a sociological one, women drivers are more stressed. Maybe it has something to do with my personal experience that as a group I find men generally (important distinction!) more generouse than women. Maybe more men are cyclists and understand the problems we cyclists face in everyday cycling. Or maybe I am constructing something that isn't so.

I really dont understand it, and it has been on my mind for years.

In general terms, again important distinction, I experience female drivers less inclined to stop for cyclists crossing roads, they can even be somewhat pushy, trying to scare me, or at least owing the road. Women are better drivers than men so I don't understand why they seem to single out cyclists for their "hate".

Or is this just me?

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #sykletiljobben #snow #winter #vintersykling #sykkeltut #controversialtopics

Third day with cycling and snow. It's like a highway now, only a few forgotten spots with snow left making it a little difficult to cycle.

I do feel weird, if anyone is wondering. I feel like one of those special old ladies. But after a certain age some of us seems to stop caring about appearance that much, and I am just one of them.

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #sykletiljobben #snow #winter #vintersykling

I am a big reader, and my year is split in two parts by Booker International in February and The Booker Prize longlist in July. What I love about the announcement of longlists are all the new authors I get to read. Last year I discovered New York based Katie Kitamura, a new favorite author of mine. I also had great fun reading Eurotrash by Swiss author Christian Kracht.

This year I discovered that six Norwegian writers are eligible to the longlist in February, their books have been translated and published in UK/Irland the last year. Maybe we will see Knausgård there?

Anyway, our main library in Stavanger is "The Silver Hill", smack in the middle of the city, and on the second day of snow here I took a ride on mye day off, to fetch a couple of those books.

The snow is already melting, and next week there will probably be rain - that is how long our winter here on the west coast of Norway is.

#syklingistavanger #cycling #sykkel #sykling #norge #norway #sykkeltur #bike #stavanger #cykla #sølvberget #vågen #bookerprize #snow #winter #vintersykling