A GRAVEL STORY WAITING TO BE TOLD
Småland is a landscape of stories. Biking through its vast forests and past the abundance of red cottages, it is not hard to imagine how this area inspired the setting in many of Astrid Lindgren’s works. Lönneberga Gravel is a tribute to this tale-creating region, and we are sure that if Emil had been around, he would have come along on this gravel adventure.
How it works
A GRAVEL STORY
WAITING TO BE TOLD
Småland is a landscape of stories. Biking through its vast forests and past the abundance of red cottages, it is not hard to imagine how this area inspired the setting in many of Astrid Lindgren’s works. Lönneberga Gravel is a tribute to this tale-creating region, and we are sure that if Emil had been around, he would have come along on this gravel adventure.
Following the tracks of Emil
Lönneberga
Lönneberga. Mariannelund. Katthult. Bullerbyn. All routes of this event run through these fictional – yet entirely real – places, connected by scenic gravel roads. To keep your mind and legs fresh during the day, there will be coffee stops with classic Swedish fika and local specialities.
Bike through Bullerbyn
Sevedstorp
A true millennial
Norra Kvill National Park
The two longest routes (150/200 km) will pass by Kvilleken, a 1000 year old oak just south of Norra Kvill National Park. While history has rushed by, this tree has stood firm since the Viking Age. How many people has hurried passed during this time? Soon, Kvilleken can add a group of gravel cyclists to its guest list.
There are three different routes to choose from:
70 km / 950 m climbing
100 km / 1400 m climbing
165 km / 2200 m climbing
All routes follow undulating gravel roads, farming roads through the forests, a few singletracks and some short sections of tarmac to catch your breath. The roads are chosen with care to provide beautiful sights and experiences along the route, with as little car traffic as possible.
New this year is that we will have timed segments on the course through our new solution in collaboration with Strava.
To get your total time on the segments, you need to link your Strava account with our system. You can do this easily in 30 seconds when the PM is sent out a few days before the start. Please note that Lönneberga Gravel is not an official race but a recreational event focused on adventure and experience. Of course, you have the opportunity to challenge yourself and others when traffic conditions allow, at your own risk and responsibility
All participants will get a GPX-file with the route for navigation five days before the event. We will also have two guided groups at the 100 km and 165 km routes, if you don’t want to navigate yourself. The guides will hold an average speed of around 22 km/h.
Start and finish is at Fredensborgs Herrgård, a manor built in 1875, 10 km south of Vimmerby, Småland. Along the routes, there will be 3-4 coffee stops, and once finished we will celebrate with hot food and cold drinks at Fredensborg. Here you could also take a refreshing bath and enjoy the sauna at lake Gissen. The after bike will finish with a prize giving ceremony, where all participants has the chance to win nice prizes from our partners.
Prior to the event, all participants will receive a link where you can download GPX-files to navigate along the routes, by phone or bike computer. We also have 10 GPS bike computers from our partner Wahoo Fitness available to borrow on a first come, first served basis – just write a note when registering if you want one.
Throughout the day, our service car will be on standby along the route, available to call if anyone gets mechanical (or bodily) problems. We will also ride ourselves to make sure everyone enjoys the day.