Ninety-five kilometres down the eastern shore of Vättern, a full day of sun and no reason in the world to hurry.
Day one of two along the eastern shore of Vättern, and the climbing day: 940 metres in 95 kilometres. A long free descent into Huskvarna, the slow climb past Jätten Vist into the orchards of Smålands Toscana, lunch at Rudenstams, the cobbles of Gränna, Brahehus on the ridge and finally the beech forest on Omberg, before two beers on the quay in Borghamn. Three quarters of it is asphalt.
Off the train in Jönköping, turn left, and you’re on it. A long free descent from Elmia down into Huskvarna, lake on the left the entire way, then the climb out of Huskvarna: no wall, no hairpin, it just tilts and keeps tilting, up through the orchards of Smålands Toscana to Rudenstams.
Through the golf club and down into Gränna and its cobbles, past Brahehus and over the climb at Uppgränna, then the long straight cycleway north from Ödeshög through potato country. Past the ruins at Alvastra and up over Omberg through the beech forest, to two beers on the quay in Borghamn. Three quarters of the day is asphalt.
This is day one of two. Day two continues from Borghamn to Motala: Vättern in Daylight: Borghamn to Motala.
We rode it in two days and recommend three. The three-day version is a slightly different and longer line, 199 km, with nights in Gränna and Vadstena: Day 1 Jönköping → Gränna, 51.2 km (Komoot) · Day 2 Gränna → Vadstena, 77.2 km (Komoot) · Day 3 Vadstena → Motala, 70.5 km (Komoot).
The full story: The Road Everyone Rides in the Dark.
Off the train, down to Vätterstranden, then the long free descent from Elmia into Huskvarna with the lake on the left the entire way.
The slow climb past Jätten Vist, the sunflower field at Strands Gård and the orchards of Smålands Toscana to Rudenstams, then through the golf club and down into Gränna.
Brahehus on the ridge, the climb at Uppgränna and Café Kleven, then down to the water on small roads with grass up the middle.
The long straight cycleway through potato country, the ruins at Alvastra, and over Omberg through the beech forest to the quay.
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