I'm Not Alone Anymore-Bikepacking the Length of Sweden-Episode 5

[@duzer]

Aren’t those Shelters awesome? Also, follow Mikel here on KZbin: youtube.com/@BikeTouringMike

[@BikeTouringMike]

Haha! Me, a local legend! Well, it was a true honor showing you around my neck of the woods.

[@LuisBecerra79]

Thanks Mikel !!! 👍🏼

[@RapidVisionLoss]

Thanks for showing Ryan around and helping him produce this great content. PS - the correct answer was the Detroit Red Wings. Think of all of the amazing Swedes who have played for us!

[@rabh6746]

I loved your input Mike, what a wonderful country you live in👍despite all the insects😂

[@hemaccabe4292]

You’re so cool!

[@duzer]

@@RapidVisionLoss Oh man I remember those vicious Avalanche Redwing games

[@mhe8545]

Mike brought the sun with him. Bike Touring Mike is another of my favorite bike tourers.

[@simant5361]

Ryan here in the UK the slang for Mosquitos is Mozzies. Which i think would rhyme well with no Flatties No Crashies No Whamies.......No Mozzies :)

[@duzer]

I need to add this fun word to my vocabulary

[@MaShcode]

Horse flies bite and mosquitoes suck but Mike’s a legend! 🏒

[@tnan123]

Mike is a great riding companion. Thanks for the drone shots. Beautiful.

[@duzer]

More Mike to come in future episodes!

[@JoolsBird]

I love how the reindeers make everybody going slower. What a special power of mother earth.

[@duzer]

They are indeed magical

[@MJKOLODZIK]

Great start: Hazelnut & PB on a tortilla. 🌻

[@duzer]

Breakfast of champions!

[@resurgem]

Olé, another super video Ryan. No whammies, no flatties, no crashies, no Mozzies!

[@duzer]

No Mozzies indeed!

[@amylipkin2116]

Beans, Mira would be SO proud of your herding skills!!

[@duzer]

hahaha, Mira would have herded every single one of those Reindeer ;)

[@PumpkinVillage]

Your video composition is so balanced and professionally done. This series is just another example of the excellent videos you produce. Thanks for all the language pointers. Another entertaining series. Take care, Al

[@duzer]

Aww, thanks Al. I try my best to make them look good for ya

[@petemainacc]

So cool to see two chaps just having a good time. You cracked me up with the "it is boring" about the breakfast ahhaha.

[@katjasendmayr1342]

Awesome video, awesome tour! The right to public access is the BEST Scandinavian invention and is by nature what should be normal and legal all over the world! We are all sharing the same planet, aren't we?

[@duzer]

I agree with you 100%

[@seattlegrrlie]

Looks like an almost perfect day, if you weren't a delicious snack for the local bug life

[@duzer]

You got that right!

[@timosborne5282]

If the knee pain is at the back of the knee, I’ve found it’s usually because your cleat is too far forward. I’ve had that before and moved the cleat backwards mid ride - pain went away instantly.

[@cholikickrocks8976]

Love the ending part...made me laugh 😂

[@dfateekh]

I like Mikel's pronunciation of English words))) with the Sve rhythm 🤩 Tack Mikael! Thanks Ryan ❤

[@The.ambience.outdoors]

Awesome video. Makes my Swedish soul a bit proud, and it seemed like you couldn’t find a better guide and representative of Sweden than Mike. Looking forward to following the rest of the journey

[@duzer]

Mike is so great!

[@patrykblog]

I follow Mike channel for like 2 years now, and never could've imagine that I will see you both in one video. so cool :D

[@duzer]

I can't go to Sweden and not see Mike!!

[@LordRamen12]

Another great video I am Bruins fan so we also had numerous Swedish players Ullmark Lindholm Stralman currently.

[@duzer]

The Swedes are everywhere!!

[@hemaccabe4292]

Ryan, you should so think about leading a guided tour. It would be another source of income. Your sponsors should love it. It would let you convey your wisdom and vision to a new group of newbie riders each time. It would give you a break from your regular grind so when you went back to it, you would enjoy and appreciate it more. Think about it?

[@duzer]

I might someday!! I do love meeting people

[@TheMixCurator]

I visited Lycksele back in 1989 with my Grandparents when I was a kid (They're Swedish). We drove from a town called Molnlycke (just outside Göteborg). Took us 2 days to get there and after Sundsvall, it was dirt roads all the way.

[@erik....]

They probably chose dirt roads then, because bigger roads have been leading there for a long time.

[@duzer]

Oh wow, that's cool! I bet that was a beautiful journey

[@TheMixCurator]

@@duzer Sweden has a special place in my heart like yourself Ryan. I spent every winter/summer there as a kid till adult. Most of my childhood memories are in Sweden (I didn't have any family in the UK). Going ice fishing, cross country skiing, ice skating on the lakes to fishing in the summer and cycling for hours on end. You might have inspired me to try the Swedish part of the European trail in the future 👍

[@elephantjournal]

Lovvve the old home videos of your high school year in Sweden we get in each ep!

[@duzer]

This adventure brought back all the feels

[@LoriG75]

You can see through your videos how clean and pure the air and water is in northern Sweden! Just lovely 😊 Safe travels 👋

[@Staunte]

In most places the water really is great, but at the shelter at around 15:00 the water isn’t particularly clear. I spend a night there last year when I rode the northern section of the EDT.

[@nominivans4me125]

We have deer flies where I live in Canada which are similar and we use a big piece of 2-sided tape on the backs of our helmets (and sometimes gloves) to capture those pesky savages! They are the jet fighters of the insect world and masters of the draft! 😁

[@duzer]

haha, jet fighters indeed!

[@neilpenny5475]

I follow Mike and he seems like a nice bloke. I really liked that you took the time to chat with him, and shared that with us. I found you via Mikes site.

[@szwabin]

Great episode, as usual! 👍🙂

[@duzer]

Oh wow!! Thank you for your generosity!

[@Glue_Stick98]

You make me want to bike the whole world! And thank you for introducing me to Bike Touring Mike. I really enjoy his demeanor and gear opinions

[@duzer]

He's a cool dude!

[@robnevitt7593]

Thank you for bringing the Avalanche and Peter Forsberg into the tour! In addition to my passions for biking and skiing, I am a big Avs fan and Foppa is my favorite hockey player ever.

[@duzer]

I loved when we played for the Avs!

[@RichardBrasch]

The drone shots WERE worth it! Especially loved the vertical ones when you guys were peddling through the tall forest.

[@duzer]

Glad you like them! I love my drone

[@stitchergary]

I can't believe your swedish vocabulary is so extensive for only spending 1 year in Sweden...Thanks for the video

[@marie-andreelabrecque9234]

👐 me and my family where waiting to see the next episode. I just want to take the time to say thank you for creating all your beautiful video and sharing your passion. Your positivity is very contagious 😊

[@duzer]

Awww, thank you so much!! I'm working on the next episode right now. Thanks so much for watching them

[@edinelsonramirez5656]

Love & follow you both ... so great you are adventuring together & sharing it with us!

[@duzer]

Yay!! Thanks for following us

[@BCBoatsAndCanoes]

Great video again, thanks Ryan. Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱

[@duzer]

Thank you!!

[@willowwatts]

What a treat to watch..two of my favourite cycling KZbinrs in the same video.🥰🥰

[@duzer]

Yay!! Thanks for tuning in

[@madisondeans5566]

What can I say,Ryan bringing the JOY,as alway's 🤗thanx my man!!

[@duzer]

I try my best!

[@pertzian.sounds]

I have been watching both of you for many years, and it's very weird (in a good way) to see you together.

[@duzer]

That’s awesome! I loved hanging out with Mike!

[@dougfromsoanierana]

I think the fastest I’ve ever ridden my touring bike was when my friend and I were being chased by horse flies on the Katy Trail in Missouri. It was 2-3 miles of NO FUN.

[@duzer]

haha, yep, you gotta move fast to avoid those things

[@kellyfromiowa1849]

What a great video. I love the interviewing of Mike. He seems like a very interesting person. Love your attitude, I get a lift just watching you!

[@duzer]

He is indeed very interesting!

[@danabergman3411]

Wonderful landscape shots 👍🌴🇺🇸✌💪. Nice conversations with Mike, he is a grand soul.

[@Torsan1977]

Tack Ryan och Mike!

[@duzer]

Tack så mycket, du ar bäst!!

[@whiskeypete47]

I like to ride my stationary whilst watching, too Smokey out here in North Idaho to be out riding right now

[@davidroberts7996]

You both are great doers & influences! What a gift!!! Thank you both.

[@duzer]

Aww, thanks!

[@cdmiller51]

I'm also a big fan of Bike Touring Mikel. It's fun to see him in a different context and learn a little bit more about him as a person. I enjoyed how Mikel's face lit up when you started talking about hockey. It reminded e of an experience at Mexican Cafe we used to frequent. The owner and cook spoke limited English (Carlos, the cook, spoke hardly any). It was during the World Cup and they had a TV on watching a match. We asked what their favorite team was (Mexico of course, duh), and their faces lit up the same way, and we were buds until we moved. What a great memory. Also, Mikel's tent. Is that the Naturehike Cloud Up 2 that he did a review video on? He's still using it. Thanks! 🙂

[@duzer]

It's been fun to get to know him better!

[@forestgump8403]

learning Swedish here .....😎 thanks bud

[@duzer]

There will be a test at the end of this series :)

[@jergleason15]

Man. Great adventure! Super impressed with the tomato in the veggie burger 🤤

[@duzer]

Sweden is deluxe ;)

[@Luigi13]

Rayan Van Duzer videos are very inspiring and uplifting. The most I enjoy from your videos is the simplicity and the gratitude you have to life and the beauty, do continue as you do and I am sure it brings a lot of joy to many watching them. Cheers from Oregon.

[@duzer]

Thank you so much!!

[@lindamurphy3481]

Another really nice video, Ryan. I enjoy your content. I'm sorry to hear about that knee pain though - ouch. Have you heard of MagLOCK pedals? It's a platform pedal with magnets inside and you mount a metal plate on a cycling shoe in place of the cleat. This might be a good option for those long rides. I really like mine.

[@duzer]

I need to look into those!

[@Tob-h7f]

Nice to see my birthtown of Lycksele in your video. Just a minor correction in the north of Sweden träsk means lake, but yes in the right context it allso could mean a swamp but not this time. Looking forward for your next video from your tour in Sweden.

[@duzer]

Gotcha, thanks for the correction!

[@DylTyrril]

It's amazing what a bit of sunshine and a new cycling buddy can do to lift the spirits. Looks like a grand time traversing the beautiful Swedish countryside! 😀

[@duzer]

You got that right!

[@Rlaplante73]

Hi Ryan, a great video. I was introduced to you while watching Bike Touring Mike. I'll be following your channel going forward. Blessings!

[@duzer]

Thank you and welcome to my channel!!

[@MulksBikes]

Mike is awesome! Watched his stuff for years

[@duzer]

He’s such a good guy and makes great videos

[@CommunRyder]

That burrito, for a second I thought it was caribou poop! 😬

[@megandavid5274]

Beautiful, the drone shots definitely worth it, thanks! Found you on Mike's channel, nice you both have a riding partner through this amazing part of Sweden.

[@fredrikpersson9008]

Ja, ännu ett avsnitt lagom att se på söndagskvällen, en perfekt avslutning av veckan😊👍

[@duzer]

vad bra!!

[@chrislonsberry1974]

Great video and so cool to see two guys who I follow on KZbin riding together. I’m sure you had great conversations together.

[@duzer]

We sure did!

[@harrygrimley4352]

This was great. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@duzer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nick45135]

Another great video Ryan!

[@LuisBecerra79]

🇸🇪 really is beautiful. And with the trees and rivers It does give Colorado vibes, the only thing missing is seeing here the big mountains.

[@duzer]

The bigger mountains are near Norway...I'm heading to the coast :)

[@LuisBecerra79]

@@duzer if I’m not mistaken, you are already in Colorado, so I don’t think you’ll be heading to the coast any time soon. 🤔😆😆😆😆 just kidding Animo Ryan !!! Gracias por tomarte el tiempo para contestar comentarios 👍🏼

[@pb8484]

Fun riding along. Interesting comments on the bears in Sweden was wondering about them when you were camping out the first few nights in the itchy woods

[@rabh6746]

Another fantastic video Ryan, very educational also👍It looks like you and Mike really hit it off, I'm sure his input will prove invaluable👍I've had 3 good rides in the past week, 66 miles last Monday and 53 today but the highlight was riding round the beautiful Isle of Arran on the west coast of Scotland on Thursday in beautiful weather, 62 miles of cycling heaven👌

[@duzer]

Oh nice, that sounds like an awesome week...I really need to make it over there

[@yanlap2183]

2 youtubers that I really like. I like hockey and I live in Quebec City, former Nordiques hockey team moved to Colorado. Very sad that he won the Stanley Cup the following year.

[@duzer]

Hey, thanks!!

[@LessJunkMoreHealth]

Really good series. Thanks for sharing!

[@RedHeadAgent]

It's great to see @biketouringmike! I'm glad that you met one another. The drone shots were magnificent. Your battle with the bugs was real. Those horseflies were racing after you both! EEEKK! great episode.

[@duzer]

I'm so glad that we met eachother!

[@montrealgoprorides]

Amazing photography as usual, you are so inspiring, thank you so much!

[@duzer]

Aww, thanks!

[@felipericketts]

It was nice to listen in on your conversations with Mikel. Sounds like August could have been a good time to bike tour in mosquito land. Next time! 🙂

[@duzer]

Next time indeed!

[@lancecrawley9542]

You two are amazing humans! Thank you for the fabulous Cycling content. Ryan, I know you are free next weekend. HHH in Wichita Falls, Texas! Come on down. 100 miles in 100 degree heat! 8500 to 10k riders in mass start! You’d love it! Mike too hot for you! Maybe next year. 😂😂😂

[@duzer]

ooooh, I wish I could do it this year, someday!!

[@philkarn0]

Scenery really hotting up in this one Ryan, some fantastic shots and looked like a great day. Mike is super cool too 👍🏼

[@duzer]

He is indeed cool!

[@Echoes-]

Super nice episode! 👍

[@kimrice394]

I have the same helmet and saddle bag as Mike. 👍

[@PilbinCycler]

These Sweden videos are just awesome and stunning. I just love the culture, and life pace. Another episode in a great series Ryan, thank you.

[@duzer]

Glad you like them, my friend. Lots more to come

[@nocturne7371]

Hello from Lycksele! I hope you had a great time at Ansia Camping.

[@duzer]

We loved that place!!!

[@nocturne7371]

@@duzer Fun fact: "Ansi"a is northern dialect for "andra sidan", because the camp ground and water park is on the other side of the river from the city center.

[@rlofgren6787]

New to your channel and really enjoy the videos in Sweden. My grandparents on both sides were from Sweden and one day soon, I'll visit.

[@duzer]

Välkommen to my channel!! Hope you get to visit Sweden someday

[@michaelmiller6878]

Beautiful country! Why are there only dashed stripes on the sides but nothing in the middle of the road?

[@edmundirwin]

Great video Bryan

[@briantruck2284]

Clip peddles are too powerful

[@tommyamaya4254]

Right on Ryan you did it keep it up ❤ your videos

[@drulifson]

Was hoping to see you at Ragbrai. I haven’t had good luck with SPDs. But loveTime ATACs. Cheers

[@TheBoulderlocal]

#teamduzer 4 the win

[@tubesockets120v]

The only reason I'd want to live closer to the city is so i can ride my bike more on errands and maybe even to work and not be so car dependent.

[@duzer]

Me too

[@rabaco51]

Thanks!

[@rabaco51]

Thank you for your videos, Ryan. I love the positivity you put out into the world! You've inspired me to yodel whenever I bike through a tunnel :)

[@duzer]

@@rabaco51 I bet that sounds so cool!! Thank you for your generosity!!, YOU ARE AWESOME!

[@cherylmacklin3578]

hi🌷 I was told to push the cleat back as far as it can go!? Try that 🚴🏼‍♂️ 💕watching your adventures. Ride ON … 🥳 Cheryl

[@____b0mb0]

Another AMAZING video Ryan ❤🎉

[@duzer]

Thank you!! 😁

[@martins3993]

It's interesting to see Sweden from a foreigners' perspective. I take these shelters and the right of public access for granted, i can't imagine living in a country where you can't just walk out into nature as you want to.

[@duzer]

Your system in Sweden is really special...hope other countries catch on

[@martins3993]

@@duzer There's actually a debate going on right now to abolish the allemansrätt. People are taking advantage of the benefits but ignoring their obligations and some of the ecosystems around the most popular trails are suffering hard.

[@marcellopacifici]

Hi Ryan, I'm really enjoy watching your Swedish adventures. Great filmmaking and storytelling. Right after midsummer I took a train from my home in Helsinki to Rovaniemi and from there I cycled all the way to Alta in Norway, 50% on tarmac 50% on gravel in the wilderness. I totally feel you regarding mosquitos and horseflies, they do kill a bit the enjoyment of the trip, it was hard to stop even for a pee or taking a photo. At least it was a good motivation to move on and fast, since horseflies speed limit is around 20 km/h! We have Jokamiehenoikeus/Allemansrätten also here in Finland and lot of nice shelters too 😊

[@duzer]

Oh cool, I guess I need to visit Finland next!!

[@marcellopacifici]

@@duzernot in July 😅🦟

[@greg_loper]

You clearly need to ride the Mesabi Trail in northern Minnesota. Lupens, mines, and Swedes.

[@duzer]

Ooooh, I want to!

[@robertsanders8866]

Good one! Cheers

[@duzer]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ZenEndurance]

Red paint had something in it that's very weather-resistant compared to other paints back in the day. See it on barns all across USA too. Just paint it and forget it, very low maintenance. I'm sure modern paints are just as good, but the tradition stuck.

[@marcinkwiatkowski9926]

Paint was tinted with rust.

[@joshriles84]

Heck i have knee pain everytime i ride i thought everyone did

[@duzer]

I've been lucky, until know...

[@justinjames4446]

Wow Sweden mosquitoes and horse flies.... Sounds like northern Minnesota 😮 along the north shore of lake superior.. locally dubbed as the Scandinavian Riviera😅

[@RusVolvo]

Мужчины, вы большие молодцы. Приятно мне на вас смотреть. Будьте здоровы, Храни вас Бог. Обнимаю!

[@duzer]

Thank you!!

[@toastopia1]

Fantastic, what kind of tires are you running?

[@CTB2580]

When is RAGBRAI videos coming? Love & respect from Iowa :)

[@duzer]

Not sure...maybe a few weeks away

[@KimberlyThomason]

@Duzer @21:35 mark in the video where you guys are talking about riding everywhere and not driving, I am wondering how it affects you working if you ride everywhere constantly? Does it affect your productivity at all or do you just adjust to it? Are you too tired to even get much work at work done? I watch a couple of channels on YT and many of these riders bike to work/commute everywhere by bike. Right now as a single, disabled mom our van is needing a new transmission (very expensive) and we are riding everywhere and I walk when needed. It doesn't look like I can afford to fix it and may end up having to get another and we are barely making ends meet living in low income housing on my SSI. I have had severe arthritis my whole life. I always just stayed active as a child/teen and even now because that is the only thing that helps is the movement. Well now my left need is being affected with severe swelling and I had to have it numbed a few weeks ago so they could put medicine behind the kneecap. It didn't even hurt to be honest although I was a wee bit scared. The next day all the swelling was almost gone. And the pain was going away. Knee pain is the worst. My knee also slips and grinds at times so I have to be more careful. I also use a slide on knee sock type brace for compression. I take OTC meds for pain and inflammation and feverish areas. I have 3 bikes myself 2 are for packing groceries etc and the 1 is a commuter bike and its my favorite because it is like 23 years old and a Specialized. I want one like Ryans with the big wheels and for traveling and camping and hauling. I can't afford one though. But maybe one day I will luck up at the bike shop and find one used cheaper like my Specialized. Love you Ryan and love that you bike everywhere and share such wonderful videos and content with those of us watching. Amazing footage and very breathtaking. Excellent work Ryan. God Bless you because you help many of us who can't get out and travel like this and get to experience this. Stay safe on all your journeys. Love that you meet some great people and ride with them and become friends. Nice to get to see your new friend Mike too. Be blessed my biking friends.

[@michaelenglund]

Nice to see your adventure as a sweed 😊 I was wondering about your bike. How does the gearing work? What type of bike is it?

[@duzer]

It's a bike that I designed, the Priority 600x www.prioritybicycles.com/products/600x

[@timcolton4680]

It's a good thing those reindeer are peaceful, unlike moose.

[@TorstenLif]

Moose are normally very shy and will run off, typically before you even know they were there. But with two major exceptions. 1) In spring, Mama Moose is very protective of her babies. Don't go anywhere near them! Back away slowly and carefully. She can kick in the skull of a bear that gets too close. 2) In late fall they have their mating season and the males suddenly become very territorial. They've been known to attack humans but it's possibly because they get annoyed that the clumsy, noisy hooman has scared off the females. Don't annoy Mickey Moose. Show some respect, let him and Minnie have their fun in peace.

[@timcolton4680]

Good info, pretty much the same with black bears (grew up with blacks). Mama's very cautious but the baby's are very curious at the same time however all that time I have no bear stories of interest because we simply cohabitated without instant. All that said however, I'd hate to be the wrong end of a cranky raindeer attack. @@TorstenLif

[@TorstenLif]

@@timcolton4680 Moose are quite a bit larger than reindeer (Caribou in America) and behave differently. Reindeer are more herd animals and run around, safety in numbers. Moose are mostly solitary, except for mating season of course, and the mother stays with her calves for almost their entire first year, only pushing them away when she's about to give birth to the next batch. Interestingly, among moose only the male has antlers, the female doesn't. One might think that this is some weird mistake on nature's behalf, but in truth she doesn't need them. When she rears up on her hind legs and stomps down with her front hooves, she's a more vicious killing machine than the male with his antlers. The antlers are mostly for show fights over mating rights and they fall off during winter. Being the fastest runners around and with the tallest legs (by far!) the moose usually rely on running away. EXCEPT when the mother needs to protect her newborns. Then she will kick to kill. There was a recent video on the net, showing a bear running in total panic past some people and then jumping into the water and swimming away. After the bear came a furious moose that had clearly fought him off and was set to give him some more punishment, but fighting in water appears to have been too much trouble. Me, if I'd been the guy holding the camera, I would have thrown myself flat on the ground and tried to protect my head with my arme. Mama Moose was so furious that she might easily have decided to kick in some human heads instead of bears.

[@timcolton4680]

Yes sir, totally agree.@@TorstenLif

[@Xeno_of_Luyten]

I am guessing the insect head net is useless or too obstructive while riding? Haven't seen you used it once at all.

[@duzer]

Yeah, can't see out of it while riding

[@decleafs4]

Thanks, Ryan! Another great video. We call those shelters 'lean-tos' here in NY (Adirondack Mts.) I have stayed in quite a few... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondack_lean-to

[@ramirez036]

How to deal with horse flies, a feather in the hat. That what I've heard, if it works remains to be tested.

[@jamikorns8988]

Hello, love ur vid. I just happened to see that you has gone through PRK. I'm considering whether I should have PRK or not. So I want to ask whether your daily life is affected by the surgery after all this time.

[@duzer]

I’m not so sure that I would do it again, my eyes are already getting bad again :(