United We Are Gravel Expedition Finland: A women’s gravel camp in the heart of the Nordic wilderness

From July 18–23, 2025, 11 incredible women from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US swapped traffic jams and group chats for pine forests, lake swims, and 22 hours of daylight in the Finnish wilderness. Our United We Are Gravel Expedition Finland consisted of four days spent riding around the gorgeous Lakeland region of Finland – think endless lakes, crisp air, and roads that somehow felt both challenging and ridiculously peaceful at the same time.

Here’s the thing about this United We Are event: It wasn’t just about ticking off kilometres of truly Instagrammable gravel (though we definitely did that with 90–100K per day). It was about the atmosphere. The care. The laughs. The fresh strawberries. The fact that every pedal stroke felt like part of something way bigger than just a training block or a trip to somewhere new. 

The terrain was an ever-changing mix of compact champagne gravel, forest singletrack, grass trails, and the kind of punchy climbs that sneak up on you after your second cinnamon bun. Thankfully, we had two expert local guides, Lotta and Riina, leading the way, and two speed groups (fast and feisty or scenic and chatty) so everyone could find their flow.

Our route? Picture the perfect Finnish balance of wild and wholesome. One minute you’re deep in mossy, enchanted woods, scanning the horizon for moose or deer, and the next you are cruising past idyllic red barns and fields full of grain. We stopped for wild strawberries (nature’s gummy bears), pointed out chanterelles like seasoned foragers, and took “comfort breaks” that often turned into slapstick mosquito defense drills. And always, we were riding alongside water—lakes, ponds, or streams—giving the entire camp an energizing, dreamlike feel.

Post-ride, we traded pedals for poses with outdoor stretching, mobility, and yoga, followed by delicious dinners that celebrated Finland’s clean, veggie-forward cuisine. Whether you were gluten-free, vegan, or just hungry, there was something to love. And on the last day, we hit peak joy: a mid-ride feed stop turned spontaneous lake dip. Shoes off, bathing suits on, and that rare feeling of being exactly where you’re meant to be.

At No Gods No Masters, we don’t just design high-performance apparel; we build a community of women who lift each other up while traversing all types of terrain. Finland worked as a backdrop for new friendships, pushing limits, and the kind of memories that last a lifetime, while reminding us what happens when you blend empowerment, nature, and just the right amount of type-2 fun: magic.
We love to create spaces where women can be bold, supported, and utterly free to chase their cycling (and/or any) dreams.

Until next time, kiitos paljon, Suomi.

 

Field notes from Finland:

After four days and nearly 400K of chattery gravel roads, one thing is crystal clear: NGNM’s QuickStop Performance Bibs had our backs (and butts). No chafing, no pain, just smooth and reliable support all the way to the final kilometer. Because when you're out there hunting moose and dodging mosquitoes, the only thing you want to feel is pure joy – not your saddle.

Our events wouldn’t be possible without the support of our loyal partners. 

Wild strawberries are delicious, but Enervit is what kept us sustained and our spirits high.

Hammerhead’s Karoo bike computers did what they do best – guiding us from start to finish each day with an intuitive brilliance that makes the tech feel invisible.

Recovery is a ritual, and our CEO, Milly, has become an absolute pro at leading stretching and mobility sessions thanks to the Dynamic Cyclist app.

Aikon’s custom wheels softened the terrain in a way that only good design can.

And finally, Komoot – for sneak peaking the routes ahead, easily share them, and turning the unknown into something exciting (calming those pre-ride nerves, right?).

Thank you to Claudia Gerosa, NGNM ambassador and gravel guide, for documenting this amazing Nordic adventure 📷!