Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Iceland
Iceland Iceland is a great place to travel, but seems to get missed a lot!
Photo by Stephan Hahnel, Kradwanderer, in Northern Argentina

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Stephan Hahnel,
www.krad-wanderer.de,
in Northern Argentina



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 19 Jan 2012
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: East Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 48
Iceland 2012....Should I pedal the ringroad??

This'll be my eighth trip to Iceland......Last years 2011 flight was cancelled due to the 'unexpected' Grimsvotn volcanic eruption and I didn't have the time to loose waiting for another flight so we took the GS to the Schwarzwald instead!

So should I pedal the 'Ring Road'?

Last time in 2010 I cycled well over eight hundred miles in around ten days riding in SW Iceland mostly dodging the ashclouds around Eyjafjallajokull aswell as visiting Vestmannaeyjar and the Golden Circle up to Hvalfjordur which was great.

I'd intended cycling the southern ringroad all the way round to Eskifjordur to see friends and then take the bus back but the ashstorms were too severe and dangerous from Hvolsvollur to Vik. So I changed my plans and turned round at Skogarfoss after spending a very lonely night at the ashcovered and abandoned campsite at Seljallandsfoss. With hindsight I should have maybe caught the bus from Sellfoss to Vik and continued from there.

I've motorcycled and driven around the Ringroad a few times and in both directions in both summer and winter so know my way around a bit but this time I think it would be a great sense of achievement to actually ride completely around the ringroad icluding a few side trips to see friends on the way. I'd probably ride anticlockwise and allow fourteen days for the trip in total so it's doable if i'm fit enough and i'd need to ride around at least eighty miles most days to cover the distance.

The worst things to consider when cycling in Iceland are the head and crosswinds which can be truly devastating aswell as the solitude on some sections.....Traffic isn't so much of a problem there as for the most part there isn't really any and apart from the odd flying stone and dustclouds on the gravel sections it's pretty safe.

The bike i'd be using again is my trusty Thorn Sherpa EXP which is basically a very heavy duty mountain bike with wide 2.1 inch kevlar armoured tyres and heavy duty wheels(36x48 spoke) aswell as heavy duty front and rear Thorn racks to carry the camping gear etc.

My only concern about this trip is the boredom on the long empty stretches of road.....These long sections can be very demanding both physically and mentally especially if the weathers crap. I'd intend pedalling this trip in late may which is my usual time to visit Iceland although had I been there last year the weather was exceptionally bad with a late spring especially in the north.

One thing for sure when cycling in Iceland you need to be well prepared and have the greatest respect for the weather and all I can say about my previous experiences there with or without a volcanic eruption is...

Iceland is truly character building....!

FP.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 19 Jan 2012
Vaufi's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Munich, the beer capital
Posts: 1,058
Sounds very ambitious. 10 days to circumnavigate Iceland seems pretty tough. In 28 days I cycled from Kevlavik via Landmanalaugar to Hofn and further on the ring road to Varmahlíð. Here I turned south to Gullfoss and back to Kevlavik. Lost 10 kg in the trip

As you mentioned: the head winds can be exhausting. So, Good Luck!
__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 21 Jan 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 235
cycling the ringroad or the interior?

Hi,

The Ring Road is 830 miles long and can easily be cycled in a couple of weeks. Thousands of people have done so, and it is still very popular.
Now that all of it has been paved, the traffic has increased and cars drive faster. And since it's a two-lane road with stretches without shoulders that you can use as a cyclist, it is not always comfortable and safe riding!
I would use as many interior, unpaved roads, if I were you.

I cycled the Kjolur and Sprengisandur routes in the interior. It is breathtakingly beautiful!!

Happy cycling!
__________________
Travels with Thimba
eBOOK!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 21 Jan 2012
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: East Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 48
The problem is that I can only get time away from work in late may or late october and then a maximum of only fourteen days.......!

The interior routes in Iceland have never been open when i've been there.....Even both the roads to Dettifoss have been closed when I was there a couple of times but luckily I made it on my BMW R1150GSA in 2005. Sections of the ringroad in the north were bad with snow one time and the road to Seydisfjordur was difficult a couple of times when we arrived on the Norrona! It was a similar situation in the Westfjords and we had very wintery weather when we were there in 2006.

The good news is that I can get flights to Keflavik from Glasgow for around £190 return and the exchange rate is quite good at around 191 ISK to £1 at the moment.

I think the worst stretch of road i've pedalled in Iceland was between the Tunnel to Akranes and Reykjavik.....It was busy and the traffic was very fast and very close......No hard shoulder just that dreadful washboard rumble strip to keep dosy car drivers awake.

FP.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 22 Jan 2012
Vaufi's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Munich, the beer capital
Posts: 1,058
@ Farmer,

yep, May ist too early for the interior and October probably too late. Even beginning of August the road from Landmanalaugar to Hofn was closed to traffic due to snow. No probs for a cyclist though


@ Thimba,

what a nice blog! I love the pics of Morocco. And yes, the interior of Iceland is absolutely stunning, but so is the ring road past the Vatnajokull.
__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 22 Jan 2012
1gear1brake's Avatar
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Portland, UK
Posts: 7
My friend and I are going to cycle the ring road this August. We fly out on July 27th and back on August 27th. Not really looking forward to the headwinds but it will certainly be an adventure.

If you are planning to fly with your bike, do you know about camping alex? They are near to the main airport and if you stay there on your first and last nights, they will store your bike transportation box for free. They can also pick you up from the airport when you arrive.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 23 Jan 2012
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: East Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 48
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1gear1brake View Post
My friend and I are going to cycle the ring road this August. We fly out on July 27th and back on August 27th. Not really looking forward to the headwinds but it will certainly be an adventure.

If you are planning to fly with your bike, do you know about camping alex? They are near to the main airport and if you stay there on your first and last nights, they will store your bike transportation box for free. They can also pick you up from the airport when you arrive.
Yep, used them the last time I cycled in Iceland........Worked a treat!

FP.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

  • California: April 18-21
  • Virginia: April 25-28
  • Germany Summer: May 9-12
  • Québec: May 17-19
  • Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
  • CanWest: July 11-14
  • Switzerland: August 15-18
  • Ecuador: August 23-25
  • Romania: August 30-Sept 1
  • Austria: September 12-15
  • France: September 20-22
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3

2025:

  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025!
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • France: September 19-21 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 22:46.