See Finland, by bike!
I have no idea why anyone would possibly think about leaving Finland during the months of July and August, the weather is just too perfect here. If the weather could be like this all year round, I would forget this blog, join the Social Democrats, and never criticize the welfare state again - I promise.
Any tourist that visited Finland this summer was treated with some amazing weather and no doubt left thinking very highly of this country. But I wonder how many of them toured Finland by bicycle? Probably not many. There’s so many fine things about Finland that you’ll never see unless you take a bike. Walking doesn’t get you far enough, and you’ll miss soooo much if you’re just in a car or bus.
Finland’s residential building and landscape architecture is very different from the states. Finland has what I call “circled wagon” style, where the housing layout is more circular rather than straight like in the states. All the neat things to see are in the community yards and behind the houses which you’d never see by car - In the states, you can see just about everything from a car. So that’s where you need a bike. I love to ride through these neighborhoods, discover new neighborhoods you’d normally never drive through, get lost and try to find out where I am.
The bike trail/road system of Finland is just as comprehensive as the automobile road system, bike trails are in the U.S. are basically non-existant, Americans don’t know what they’re missing. Even though cars can’t travel directly to each neighborhood, there’s always a bike path that connects two neighborhoods - it’s amazing, I virtually never run into a dead end while on my bike, the trails just keep going and going.
One trail I highly recommend is the one that runs from Tapiola to Kivenlahti, in Espoo. I believe the length is about 16km and most of it is along the shore. The scenery is breathtaking - on one side of you is the sea and archipelago, on the other side you’ll see multi-million euro homes that you and I will never be able to afford - you can either admire them or loathe them, depending on whether you voted for Niinistö or Halonen during the last election. You get a true sense of Finland’s “classless society” when you tour the south of Espoo, especially when the trail leads you away from the water to make way for some gated community (that supposedly don’t exist in Finland) of the uber-rich who have the beach all to themselves.
Finland in the summer is like heaven on Earth to a foriegner. The sun doesn’t set, which gives a magical, fantasy land kind of feeling. The houses, for the most part are visually appealling and match well with the forests and lakes.
The beautiful forests and lakes, combined with the nice architecture and midnight sun; make for an unforgettable experience to a foriegner in Finland in the summertime.
Oh, and the bike trails are awesome. I wish we had them here.
Comment by maksalaatikko — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 6:28 pm
Phil, I’m really impressed that you’ve explored this aspect of life in Europe. Kudos!
I can only add that Finland has some wide areas to cover, so if you want to ride over 100-miles-per-day (161km), each day, then you need the right equipment. It’s all about comfort
http://community.webshots.com/photo/359771362/1366865462069918807xKOAAT
Sorry I don’t have a Finland album yet. But here’s one from eastern Germany. It covers a few hundred miles along the Elbe River (the first two are of Nordkapp though).
http://www.webshots.com/search?new=1&source=homesearch&query=nazcarider
Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 6:30 pm
Looking at other people’s homes is the last thing I’d do when I cycle. Why would I do such a thing? No. I’m enjoying nature, dirt roads, the smell and the countless small things I don’t notice when I drive a car in the countryside. Eat an insect or two too. That’s all part of it…
Comment by majava — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
I’m an architecture enthusiast and I just love to cycle around and look at peoples houses.
Kudos to Phil indeed.
Comment by m — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 7:25 pm
I have actually seen quite a few people on guided bike tours in downtown Helsinki. I think that it is a very good thing that bike-tours are catching on. I’ve been thinking of getting off my ass and into the Turku archipelago for quite some time now on my bicycle.
Comment by Anzi — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 7:47 pm
I am also sort of an architecture enthusiast, but most of the architecture here doesn’t make me so enthusiastic. Lots of the same, overrated stuff from the sixties* and don’t get too close or you’ll notice the cheap construction methods…
|* Not a wise thing to say among Finns, but I’m not in a competition to become most popular guy
Comment by majava — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 8:38 pm
Looking at other people’s homes is the last thing I’d do when I cycle. Why would I do such a thing?
My girlfriend is an architect and has gotten me into architecture.
Comment by Phil — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 9:28 pm
Why not just cycle and enjoy the scenery….so some have big houses, some don’t. Some vote Halonen, some Niinisto. Why let it ruin a good ride?
Comment by CB — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 9:42 pm
Phil
I am going to go out and buy a Hummer, burn lost of gas, make that Global Warming thing really work, give Finland an endless summer.
You all can just thank me later. I will take credit.
Comment by winter — Mon, Aug 21st, 2006 @ 10:35 pm
Finnish houses may seem boring or mundane to Finns, but to outsiders they are very nice. I’ve got two Finnish American friends who are residental architects. They studied in Finland for a year so they could put it on their resume(they also love Finland). They claim that’s what set them out from the pack when they applied to prestigeous firms. One’s employeer was blown away when he found out he was fluent in Finnish.
They say when a Finn comes to them with a budget he’ll say,”I’ve got this much money, I want a deck where I can sit and read in natural light, I’d also like to be able to relax and watch the birds.”
These kinds of requests lead to good design and architecture.
Other cultures(mainly American) go to an architect and say,”I’ve got this much money, how big of a deck can I get?”
End result, large deck, mediocre design.
Comment by maksalaatikko — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 12:39 am
“I am going to go out and buy a Hummer, burn lost of gas, make that Global Warming thing really work, give Finland an endless summer.”
Thanks winter, I sorta knew you’d help us somehow
But while you’re not running over old ladies’ poodles with your Hummer, hop on a bike and ride a bit. You don’t know what you’re missing–scenery, relaxation, good health…
The sea coast along Finland is very scenic. I just sit back and relax as I cruise along the water here in Espoo and look at all the boats. In fact, marinas are my favorite stops.
Longer trips through Finland can be sort of monotonous if you pick the wrong route. And you have to be sort of camping-oriented. I always have a tent and supplies, but I much prefer to sleep in a hotel or pension. In Finland, small-town hotels cost about 80-e per night. Not much cheaper than Helsinki :-\
In some places, there are campgrounds with free cabins though.
Actually, for extended touring with relative comfort, it’s better to take a 24-hr Silja Line cruise to Germany. There, one can ride through countless small towns and villages all day long. Some are very interesting. And comfortable pensions only cost about 25-per-night, food is cheap, etc.
I’ve done some light touring around the outskirts of Talin, in Estonia. That was also very interesting…and scary 12-years-ago. Their urban planning and infrastructure was still a bit primitive; they don’t have bike roads everywhere, like in Finland and western Europe. I haven’t ridden there in a while, but I’ll bet it’s modernizing fast.
Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 2:46 am
Look… anything to make you all happy, maby I can run a bike over, say crunch up the little tyke in my Hummer.
You all can just thank me later. I will take credit.
Comment by winter — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 3:46 am
Ouch, that’s not very nice
Houses… Finnish houses aren’t bad. My uncle’s house is built on a huge slab of granite on a hill. The whole yard looks kind of pre-historic with large boulders and caves. No lawn.
I’m not really a house enthusiast though. Rather, I like boats; especially metal sailboats in the 13 meter range–liveaboard types. And Finland has some really nice custom bluewater cruisers in its harbors.
Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 4:02 am
The Ole Pickwick and Bike Club in The Italian Riviera thanks you, Phil .We Menbers are pondering where to go next summer. (Should we choose Finland, do you suggest to leave ole wives home?) strudel
Comment by giovanni — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 6:45 am
There’s nothing to compare to biking around Finland. I love bicycles myself, and have been riding for quite some time. While bicycling is worthwhile anywhere in the world, it really is a unique pleasure in Finland during the summertime.
Comment by Finnpundit — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 7:07 am
You all can just thank me later. I will take credit.
Classic quote from the padded room.
Comment by N. Siinistö — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 11:23 am
There are quite a few nice houses in Finland except for the 70’s clusterfucks. Sometimes those square shits ruin the whole block with their grey lego design, next to unique and beautiful 1910’s, 1920’s houses. What the hell those architects did think in the 70’s all around the world? The worst example is Merihaka, Helsinki. You cannot just design any uglier buildings even if you really tried.
Comment by tim73 — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 11:32 am
Gated communities? Which part of Espoo is closed to outsiders? Even Westend is accessible by car, bike or foot. And there’s no gates or guards on the way either.
Comment by Fägäri — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 11:37 am
:There are quite a few nice houses in Finland except for the 70’s clusterfucks
I just hate these new, pastel colored Barbie-doll looking things that try to resemble houses from the 50’s and 60’s. Like seriously, if you lived in a pastel green or pastel yellow house - you should just put a sign up on your yard that says, “My wife walks all over me”
Comment by Phil — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 12:17 pm
Gated communities?
Grab a bike and ride that trail I suggested above, you’ll pass a few of them.
Comment by Phil — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 12:17 pm
I just hate these new, pastel colored Barbie-doll looking things that try to resemble houses from the 50’s and 60’s. Like seriously, if you lived in a pastel green or pastel yellow house - you should just put a sign up on your yard that says, “My wife walks all over meâ€Â
Assuming, of course, that the default inhabitant is a heterosexual man. And we all now what happens to us when we assume.
If I would live in one of those pastel-colored houses (which I think are truly awful), before painting it a sensible color I would put up a sign saying “Don’t blame me, blame the System.”
Comment by Anzi — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
“Grab a bike and ride that trail I suggested above, you’ll pass a few of them.”
What I’ve seen were mainly some individual big houses with a gate + walls + security camera around a house. These houses usually have private ship docks… End of Hietaniemintie in Westend is one spot. Individual houses mainly though, so maybe they all just hate their neighbours :-).
Comment by Zark — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 1:00 pm
They probably want to keep-out some of the white trash kids from larger housing complexes. They might get class-envy and spray paint their property. Remember, we had 20% Communists in parliament just 15-years-ago. Sometimes I think that those types of sentiments are inbred.
I don’t blame the homeowners. But fundementally, I’m against restricting beach access.
Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Tue, Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
What kind of bike do you have Phil? I see you on one of those rather sensible surbanite “hybrids” with fitted sensible mudguards, and a chainguard to keep your nicely pressed chinos from getting dirty. The type you can ride comfortably on a cycle path one-handed, whilst gabbing into your Nokia with the other. It probably has a rack on the back for your picnic so that you don’t have to rumple your “Peak Performance” casual time shirt with a backpack.
If you actually have a real bike at either end of the spectrum (like my roadie handbuilt Italian red beauty where even a fat git like me can average 30 kmph over a two hour ride; or my ninja-colour schemed Kona which somehow magically persuades you to the top of steep granite crags and hills and then whispers gently to you - “of course you can ride down that… no! you won’t break any bones…”) please accept my humblest apologies.
Comment by Toby — Wed, Aug 23rd, 2006 @ 10:37 am
What kind of bike do you have Phil?
Nah, it’s a mountain bike. But I can still have my Nokia in one hand.
Comment by Phil — Wed, Aug 23rd, 2006 @ 4:34 pm
Mountain bikes, Road bikes. Uggg! For me, that means sore elbows and shoulders from propping myself up all the time. And that constant wedgie feeling
The European trekking bike is big step up, in my book. If it’s relatively upright, then, at least I don’t have to look down at my front wheel as I ride…and I also don’t have a dirt-stripe on my body when it rains, due to the fenders. And the rack and panniers…where else can you put a few beers?
But for ultimate comfort and distance, a recumbent is the only way to go for me
Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Wed, Aug 23rd, 2006 @ 5:41 pm
“The European trekking bike is big step up, in my book. If it’s relatively upright, then, at least I don’t have to look down at my front wheel as I ride…and I also don’t have a dirt-stripe on my body when it rains, due to the fenders. And the rack and panniers…where else can you put a few beers?”
But you can’t jump off rocks with one of those though can you? So where’s the fun?
P.S. road bikes aren’t meant to be fun - they’re meant to be about pain and suffering and going as fast as you can until your lungs bleed or your legs fall off - all very Nietzchean
Comment by Toby — Wed, Aug 23rd, 2006 @ 7:51 pm
@27
So true
But my rock-jumping days are over–not that I ever really jumped any big rocks.
Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Wed, Aug 23rd, 2006 @ 9:28 pm
I need to know what the homes are like in Finland for a project due on Friday!!!
Comment by Gabriella — Thu, Aug 24th, 2006 @ 4:22 am
#29:
Here is a nice link if you want to know about regular Finnish houses
http://tinyurl.com/eaur2
It’s in Finnish, of course, but you can learn a lot from the floor plans.
Mallisto is Finnish for model catalog.
Comment by Fat Bastard — Thu, Aug 24th, 2006 @ 9:41 am
The trail would be nice if you can find it. I thought it was poorly marked and often confusing as to where to go.
Comment by bill — Thu, Aug 24th, 2006 @ 3:49 pm
I like taking a bus to a new city, because the bus companies don’t charge anything for a bike in the cargo dept. Once there, you can explore the city much faster and further than by foot, and much more in detail than by car! Has worked well for me over the years
Comment by mb — Thu, Aug 24th, 2006 @ 6:48 pm
Echa A Rodar Tu Corto. . .
Your short feature to travel all over the world…
cinevivo
http://www.cinevivo.com.ar
Comment by S. — Fri, Aug 25th, 2006 @ 1:51 am
You get a true sense of Finland’s “classless society†when you tour the south of Espoo, especially when the trail leads you away from the water to make way for some gated community (that supposedly don’t exist in Finland) of the uber-rich who have the beach all to themselves.
Those are just products of your imagination, as everyone knows that taxes prevent anyone from getting rich in Finland.
And,oh, if Espoo right-wingers had their way, all of Espoo’s coast would be one big gated community with AK-47 wielding gorillas preventing the riff-raff from getting anywhere near, just like in the bastions of freedom south of the gulf. So thank the SDP for ever catching a glimpse of the sea in Espoo.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Fri, Aug 25th, 2006 @ 7:14 pm
3bdeaa0d3ac94024f2dd267bf5902973
Comment by John Doe — Thu, Jun 7th, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
A good North America’s lodging company of sugar loaf mountain find here.
when I am search lodging company I find out the company witch sugar loaf mountain lodging company I think it is good see here North America’s finest selection of lodging for many of the top ski destinations. Your holiday is just that - your holiday…
Comment by sunybck — Sat, Dec 29th, 2007 @ 5:39 am