Video: Introducing Indoor Cyclists to Mountain Biking in 'From Stockholm to Sweet Single-Track Trails'

May 26, 2020

by SCOTT Sports

From the indoor trainer or cycling studio to singletrack trails out your backdoor. The theme couldn't be more topical. We caught up with some Swedish riders who are helping people take their fitness to the trail. And there are few places where that is as possible as in Stockholm.

Style, Fika and Vikings may come to mind when you think of the Stockholm but mountain biking, perhaps less likely so. Think again. The trails resting on the doorstep of the city weaving through the woods to lakes and wetlands leave little to be desired. Even so, many city dwellers find it challenging to make the leap from the spin studio to the trail. We caught up with the founder of She Rides, Jessica Clarén and local riders and adventure racers Marika Wagner, Elna Dahlstrand, and Hanna Näslund who are helping people find their way to the trail.

For the love of it. Mountain biking has a simple beauty about it. One that goes beyond intense training blocks or consuming trails as fast as possible. If you let it, mountain biking can bring you in contact with people unique in age and background. It can take you to places you may otherwise never see, forcing you to stop and pause. Best of all, it will leave a smile on your face long after you have returned to your everyday life. You can't explain it, but you can share it.

I started teaching indoor cycling in 1999, and I found my way out in 2014. What I see cool now is that people find the same adventure that I have been through, going from indoor to outdoor.
Jessica Claren
SCOTT Ambassador & Coach
SheRides

Maybe mountain biking can look scary at times. You see photos on Instagram, where people ride very tricky paths and it's steep uphill or downhill but you are the one who decides how hard mountain biking can be.
Elna Dahlstrand
SCOTT Rider, Racer and Mom
Cykellycka

I don't think you need to be tough to start mountain biking, you just need to be willing to try.
Marika Wagner
SCOTT Rider, Firefighter & Adventure Racer

Images: Gaudenz Danuser
Video: Marc Welschinger | Welschinger Flimerei
Riders: Jessica Claren, Elna Dahlstrand, Hanna Näslund, & Marika Wagner
Thank you: Studio L'Echelon Indoor Cycling Studio | SheRides

For the full story or more episodes of "She's Out There", click here!

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SCOTT-Sports
Member since May 29, 2013
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11 Comments

11 0

JasonALap (May 26, 2020 at 4:07)

What a great program! This is embodies everything good that mountain biking has to offer. As a mountain biker who started using indoor cycling as a training tool, I understand how effective it can be. So many of us have busy lives, so fitting in a quick 30 minute or hour long lung bursting session is easy, but we all need to stop and smell the roses once in a while. Mountain biking is a way to have fun while reconnecting with the outdoors. Personally, I prefer to not stop, but smell the fir and pine trees while I ride.

Endosch2 (May 26, 2020 at 7:54)

Wait a minute, is this video suggesting that footie of mouth breathing enduro-bros hucking big air doesn't inspire everyone to get out and ride? Is that what you are saying???

jammf (May 27, 2020 at 3:26)

Or eucalypts, wattles, grevilleas and callistemons!

I get that people are time poor and risk averse during the crisis, but the mind boggles that with the perfect autumn weather (12-20C daily temps) we have in Oz, and with the wealth of trails (in my area) people still choose to ride in a dank garage and have virtual meetups (we're allowed to ride in groups of up to 10 people now, practising social distancing).

Ian713 (May 26, 2020 at 7:04)

Nice initiative that had to be muted.
It's odd in some ways though; I keep hearing this "it was hard for me to do this or that cause I'm a woman..." Why that would be true is a mystery to me.
This video shows people, their affluence shows, being to be led by the hand, and it's weird. It's not good or bad, it's just really different. But if it helps people enjoy life then...

MarkJAmos (May 26, 2020 at 7:58)

This is a great initiative. Anything to get more women riding can only be a good thing. The riding in Sweden is very techincal. When I first moved to Sweden after riding UK trails for about 15 years I felt like a beginner again as southern Sweden is very flat and the trails have lots of rocks and roots making it super technical at slow speeds. You go from riding a fire road to super tech, there isn't much inbetween so a real shock to the system. I have had work collegaues who would have loved to give biking a go but it is difficult to know where to take them. The skills of established riders is really good though as they have put the hours in on the tech stuff for years. BUT things are changing here and there are purpose built trails popping up everywhere so there are trails to help with progression. Add to that the bike parks at small ski hills and we are getting a lot more trail riding oriented. The main challenge coming will be the inevitable conflict between different users of the woodlands. This is already happening in Stockholm as more people head out on the trails.

rrolly (May 26, 2020 at 7:25)

I love seeing people connected to the outdoors through mountain biking. I really enjoyed this video. I'm not sure why so many people were wearing cycling jerseys indoors though - more aerodynamic???

withdignityifnotalacrity (May 26, 2020 at 13:35)

I rented a mountain bike while on vacation in Stockholm and went on a group ride with some locals. Considering the fact that the trails are like a 20 minute pedal outside of the city, they were pretty damn good! Not a ton of elevation, so kind of XCish, but also super rocky, ledgy and techy (I rode in Hellasgården). And you can take a dip in the lake after a ride. There's even a small downhill park on the edge of town! Maybe not a proper MTB destination, but pretty great if you're a local. Great video!

eugenux (May 26, 2020 at 7:17)

Well..at least Stockholm has some pretty nice xc trails around it(from what we can tell from the video)

howsyourdad (May 26, 2020 at 10:59)

It’s all just pissups parties and riding here in Sverige I tell you. Nice vid!

BartDM (May 26, 2020 at 7:19)

very cool. see you on the trails.

dxdc93 (May 26, 2020 at 21:59)

So cool and good style all the way round. Thanks!