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Fearless Bike Rider in the North |
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By Edward Dutton
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Monday, 03 March 2008 |
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It took nine days for a Spanish adventure bicycle rider Juan Menendez Granados, 25, to reach Oulu after he embarked on his adventure in Helsinki. On his journey to Oulu he spent a few nights in his tent and met with quite a few other biking enthusiasts. His usual daily trek has been about 70 km. The Spanish rider from Pravia in northern Spain intends to continue through to Lapland and reach Nordkapp in Norway in a month’s time.
Granados prefers to use the smaller roads and he keeps his tent at a bearable temperature with the help of a camping cooker. He says that the worst thing so far has been erecting an icy tent and cooking is sub zero temperatures when all his equipment is cold.
Granados hopes to meet with Sami people up north. He views his trek through Finland as a good way to practise for survival in cold temperatures. Granados reveals his plans for the future that might include destinations such as cycling in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania or in the Himalayas.
Granados was met by Pekka Hartikka at the Oulu railway station. Word had travelled from Haapajärvi about Granados’s departure and Hartikka, himself a Kempele Riento cyclist, decided to show ‘Oulu hospitality’ to a fellow rider.
Word will also be sent forward to Rovaniemi, where Granados will again be welcomed to enjoy a warm reception. On his way up he expects to have a few chilly nights in his tent. (Kaleva)
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