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Has anyone cycled off road in Iceland? We're staying in Reykjavik for a week and will have a vehicle to transport the bikes to any good spots that are recommended. Any circular routes of around 30 miles would be great.
Memory Map doesn't seem to have any decent maps of the place and I can't find any OS equivalent maps either, anyone got any ideas where to get one? I was thinking about asking in the LBS about routes when I get over there but I don't know if they'd prefer we took the guided tours rather than tell us where the best bits are...
Ta
We stayed an hour or so from Reykjavik, and I wasn't involved in finding routes, so I don't know that much. I also don't know anything of the length that you want (did it in a big group so everything was slow). The person who found the routes just did a lot of internet digging I think
This was OK: https://www.strava.com/activities/152605284
Seem to remember the descent being pretty fun. Had a hot stream: https://www.strava.com/activities/152605349
This was ace. Quite a bit of walking with a bike on my back (also we went the wrong way off the peak. Had to ride/slide down a ice covered slope)
https://www.strava.com/activities/152605409
The lower descent here was pretty good, lots of flow. It could be really crowded with walkers though due to the popular waterfall at the bottom. No need to do the top bit (i.e. the non loop). The views weren't as good as some of the other rides imho.
https://www.strava.com/activities/153354969
I really don't think we scratched the surface though. So much good stuff out there.
Thanks fella. I haven't used strava before, I'll download it. Can I import your routes do you know?
Not too many ridden in Iceland then..? 😉 I guess sunnier places beckon. 🙂
We went with icebike adventures, as I think it's prudent to have a guide for lots of reasons.
Finding your way around is very tricky.
Make sure you wear a base layer, the frozen food section gets a bit chilly
We considered guided rides quite a bit before deciding against it. After all, what could go wrong...? 😉 Thanks for the advice though. And you john... ;-p 😉
@stevek
no idea if you can download them. I can download them as GPX files and upload them somewhere if you want?
Thanks, that would be great if you could. Could you mail them to me please? Click on my name for address.
Ta
Seem to remember the descent being pretty fun. Had a hot stream: https://www.strava.com/activities/152605349
I hiked this one last week. Seemed pretty popular with bikers.
And you do get to relax in hot stream halfway 🙂
@stevek
will do. might be as late as monday though. need to get to a reasonable internet connection.
I've been out there riding a couple of times, a lot of the local guys seem to record their routes on Wikiloc. It's a good website and you can download the gpx files.
Sadly a car won't get you to most of the good riding, you need a meaty 4x4 for that. Also the roads into the interior will probably still be shut in places.
I bumped into the Icebike tour guys quite a few times. They seemed like top guys and really looked after their customers. If you can afford it I'd recommend a guide. The Icelandic version of OS maps are awful and the going is tough.
Travelling to Manchester Monday dinner and flying out v early Tuesday morning. My mate's just downloaded wikiloc but isn't sure how to work it. He's a Luddite like me...
http://www.lmi.is/en/stafraen-gogn/is-50v-nytt/
I love the place. Loads to do. All public transport has been happy to help me out with the bike to date. The easiest interior crossing is the Kjolur (F35)easily accessed from Geysir, on the 'Golden Circle' from Reykjavik but a bit far/ long for a short visit. And TBH, a long fireroad slog albeit with some of the most astounding landscapes many of us are ever likely to experience.
If you are really up for it you could possibly make the Laugurvegur route from Landmannalaugur to Porsmork in the time you have available but it would be a push to do so. Public transport is at both ends. There are a couple of rides in Iceland I really want to do and this is one of them.
Thanks for the info fellas.