Our archipelagos biggest island Sandön is one of my favorite places to ride. Mostly because of the amazing shore line on the south side. During low tide it has never ending dunes. Sandön (Sandy Island) sure make it´s name proud. It´s located where the river of Luleå meets the bay of Bothnia.
Here is what Lulea.nu says about the island “Sandön, by far the Luleå Archipelago´s biggest island, has an area of no less than 25,7 km2 and a large number of permanent residents. Close to the city of Luleå, the island starts on the outer edge of Tjuvholmssundet and stretches all the way to Klubbviken Havsbad, where the inner archipelago ends. As its name suggests, Sandön consists of sand, gravel and other alluvial deposits from the Lule River. There are several rubble fields of varying sizes on the island. The largest is near Lappmyrberget. This 1400-metre long, 300-metre wide field, known as Stenåkern, “the stone meadow”, is a nature reserve.”
I´ve been riding here quite a few times now and i think i know the island pretty well. But i really don´t. I´ve been lurking around the shores looking for new trails, and i found a few. But the guys at Fatbike adventures grew up here and last Sunday they arranged a guided tour around the whole island. After a few drop outs seven riders set of across the trails of Sandön. Right now the water levels are pretty high in the whole bay of Bothnia so beach riding was a bit restricted. However that made for discovering new trails. There is a gravel road that go straight across the island. This is our main route but pretty soon we leave the gravel for some trails.
Riding a fat bike around Sandön offers many different types of landscape. From fast single track among the pines to amazing shores. In the middle of the island there is a huge rock field. You can still see the trace of the ocean as you pedal across it. The old seabed still in the shape of big waves. There are some moss plains that looks like something out of a fairy tale. When crossing between the pines all of a sudden an open moss area just appears.
Going on new trails (for me) all the way out to the outside of the island was fantastic. I love the feeling of going through the woods and all of a sudden the sea opens up in front of you. In a way i can appreciate riding beaches in the foggy September. It´s something sadly beautiful with beaches and summer resorts that´s closed for the season. It´s in a way abandoned, left to rest until next years guests arrive.
Water levels are quite high but the outside of Sandön is always a good place for some sweet beaches with hundreds of meters of shallow water to play around in.
Now time for lunch. We have been riding about 20 kilometers and our stomachs reminded us that if we´re gonna make the last 13 km food needs to go in. Since the restaurant at Klubbviken is closed for the season we went to Anders summer cabin for some sweet burgers and a cold one.
Re-loaded with burgers, beer and coffee we set off on our way back. I usually just go along the gravel road when going back. But this time Anders of Fatbike Adventures took us along the best trails i´ve ever ridden back home. All new territory for me on this huge island. Along the other canal to main land, Svartösundet there is a ridge. It´s a couple of kilometers long and a lovely trail goes all the way along it and down to the sea where the shore takes us back to were we started. I need to get back here soon again so i don´t forget where to get on.
Thank you Roger and Anders from Fatbike Adventures for showing us some on the best trails Luleå has to offer. Going riding on Sandön is always an adventure and i´m feeling blessed to live in a place where we got places like this. Fatbike Adventures have a fleet of bikes for rent and do guided rides on Sandön. This ride was a little test event of things to come. I smell a Fat Bike Summit taking form. Check them out on FB or on their Web
Bike life in Swedish Lapland 
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