Olten-Bärenwil (v.1)

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Olten, Solothurn, CH

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Route Overview

Patricio Rosas

Pure and absolute road-cycling

16 mi.

1,544 ft.

A short, easy route for those busy days when we cannot cycle for hours and hours.

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Route Details

# In a few words
* **Extension**			: 26 km (ca.)
* **Elevation gain**	: 471 m (ca.)
* **Climbs**			: 1 peak
* **Hors catégorie**	: 2 (but mostly because of the length)
* **Wheels type**		: road cycling
* **Legs required**		: easy peasy (but you can always push it)
* **Start**				: Olten train station
* **Finish**			: Olten train station

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# Overview
This is a short and easy route to have fun for an hour or so. It starts and ends at the train station in Olten. You will find only one climb of 7km with an altitude of 800 m (ca.) and a friendly gradient. I ride this route all year long with natural exceptions related to snow and freezing conditions. The road is 100% paved and in good condition.

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# Route
In the beginning, the route goes all the way straight from the train station until @point[Hägendorf](d,5417.41). At this point, you have to take the first exit at the roundabout and you will be officially cycling up the only climb of this route.

The @slice[first section of the climb](d,5463.53,7122.2) goes more or less through the town, so you could find some traffic. Here you will find an average gradient of 7% with a maximum of 10%. After this first round, you will go under the highway in an almost flat section to an open area where you will see, or hear, a @point[shooting range](d,7825.04). If by any chance you cross it at the very moment that people are shooting, just keep calm, it really feels like if they were shooting at you but nothing like that in reality.

The @slice[second section of the climb](d,7588.17,8862.62) keeps an average gradient of 9% with a maximum of 12%. In this part, houses are gone and the road narrows quite a bit. I really like this section because you have the mountain right next to you on one side and a small river on the other.

The @slice[third section of this climb](d,8862.62,11222.7) is almost a straight line that goes all the way up to Bärenwil; perfect to do some intervals as you will find a steady gradient of 4,5% with one or two peaks of 8%.

In Bärenwil you will find the @point[Restaurant Chilchli](d,11202.05) where you could take a small break and just out of the restaurant you will find a fount to refill your water bottles, as long as it is not winter, when fountains are switched off due to the cold.

At this point, the climb is almost done. You will have @slice[one more section](d,11222.7,12549.47) to climb but to be honest it really feels like if you are already going down.

The @slice[downhill](d,12572.08,16670.78) is a bit more than 4km, and it could get a bit steep in some sections so be aware of your speed and those curves. In any case, the road of the downhill is decently wide so you will have enough space to handle yourself.

At the end of the downhill, just before the roundabout, you will have another fount to take water from. After this, the road goes straight back to the train station.

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# Picture time
1. I really like the second section of this route to take pictures. The wall of the mountain next to you makes it special.
2. If you go a bit further beyond the @point[Restaurant Chilchli](d,11206.06) you will have a beautiful view of the valley.
3. Ten meters after the @point[restaurant](d,11202.86), before you turn, you will find a small street that goes up the hill. Take a moment to take some nice pictures from a better perspective.

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# Caution zones
1. It is quite a friendly road but keep an eye on the traffic going up the hill. It can be a bit narrow sometimes but nothing to be afraid of.
2. In @slice[this section](d,17752.55,19504.76), the cycling path goes next to the road and the speed limit for cars is 80km so keep calm and attention to your cycling and everything will go well. If you feel a bit nervous with cars you can change to the other side at this @point[roundabout](d,17513.75) and you will have a separate path for you.

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# Cycling path
At some moments you will have your own and separated path next to the cars and at some moments you will have to share the road. The road is 100% paved.
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# Cycling cap tips
1. At @point[this point](d,8858.65), you could take a small detour. Just go up the hill and you will find a nice [restaurant](http://bit.ly/2DYnUZi) and a beautiful landscape. The road ends at the restaurant so you will have to come back using the same road. And there is only one way so you will not get lost.
2. If you want to raise a bit the bar, you can do this route the other way around. The climb is shorter but steeper with some nice segments to challenge yourself. Check the route of Olten-Bärenwil (v.2) on this [link](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27389947).

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# Enjoy the ride.-

Olten-Bärenwil (v.1)

Route Overview

Route Details

Other routes by Patricio Rosas

Passwang & Belchenpass round trip

Gran Fondo San Gottardo

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