Roll Models

Friends rode across Iceland exploring

September 5, 2024
By Jacob Ørholm

Read Frederik Let’s documentary combined word and text below:
.
Back in January a couple of OMs (Original Mountain-bikers) planned to bikepack across Iceland. A few test rides and a lot of gear prep later Mads, Jacob and I (Frederik) landed in Iceland to traverse from the most eastern to the most western point. A 1000+ km route with all food and gear for 10 days (EVOC) packed on the bike. It was going to be a journey out in the middle of nowhere and I only doable for us without accidents or failures. …Or we are just some optimistic idiot mountainbikers.

Day 1
Day one: Waking up outside of the domestic airport in Raykjavik on a very cold and rainy morning. Then onto the bikes to reach the most eastern point which was the start of our trip. Probably the toughest we could have imagined. Soaked and cold and only the view was boosting our wet take-off. Route-wise, we started with a long climp on 600 vertical and because of the fog there were sight where it ended. On the way down: again one of the coldest bike passes we’ve evner tried. There was a shipwreck at the bottom and I was looking forward to this: adding some needed energy. The road to the most eastern point was ongoing tough and wet. We finally arrived at the lighthouse in the rain and wind and luckily found a little shed to seek cover and make a warm meal that had been keeping me going. Then … the gas did’nt fit and a cold meal it was. Of course. Still we had some laughs to the situation because damn that is really dumb.

Day 2
Such a long long day waited forward. A long climp start again again rewarded with the most greatest views on the way down on the other side. The clouds lifted luckily and the most magnificent landscape revealed itself.
The day was so long and so hilly. Mainly tarmac did’nt make it too interesting too. Luckily the sun peeked more out and gave a bit of energy. The legs was beginning to burn and we didn’t know if the food would be enough. What we had expected was for sure not enough! The thought of the hut with the hotsprings was really what was kept us going. Legs almost cramped and when we finally jumping in the hotsprings we got all dizzy from the effort … and maybe the lack of water.

Day 3
My lord what a day! Damn tuff! But the landscape made pain disappear. So much different landscape, meadows over all the mountains soft and green. Then over a big dam and in the volcanic landscaped. So empty and yet so full, such rough roads that were definitely not made for gravel bikes. We kind of missed our MTbikes. Then at 4 we found out we we’re already half way and smiles appeared. Again the landscape changed and new views … new emotional sights. Breathtaking and making you feel SMALL.
Still tuff but the sun heating us up a magnificent sunset over the lava rocks made all the difference.

Day 4
We started out with waffles at the Askja hut. We also discovered that we camped just beneath one of Icelands biggest active volcanoes. Why we stared out joyful entering this all-black dusty landscape. A couple of rangers adviced staying onroute and we noted that the area we were headed something we’d seen before. Lots of lava landcape was really nice surfaced and fun sending us till the worst cobble stone road. Imagine a bricklayer drunk laying a road with 10 cm height difference between each stone. It was so uneven that we could barely sit down.
Afterwards we met another group that did the north to south route. Good crew and good fun. We needed water desperately but luckily an emergency hurt had that for us. We ended up wild camping after a good long day.

Day 5
This was probably what felt like the longest day. Windy, cold and landscape was all the same, quite rocky and grey. It felt endless and it was hard to keep motivation going because of the lack of changing landscape. We ended at a hut with hotsprings

Day 6
…Followed b probably the best day! The one we thought would be the hardest. After a quick 50 km before lunch. Plenty of Glaciers river crossings knee height. We had to change into neoprene shoes every time just to keep a bit dry. Stream was scary in some of them and hard to not get caught out. The bike had to be above water avoiding floating away. The crossings yet gave us energy all day and kept it fun. Then; Last one almost got us! Hip deep and standing in the middle of the river, 30 kg bike in hand and everywhere you step is hip deep and strong stream.
After crossing the last one …A rainbow showed over the glacier as to bid us goodbye for this part of the trip. Thank You, for this reward! We ended up sprinting to the hut to make it in time for the kitchen to not close.

Day 7
We discussed the rest of the route over breakfast and it seems optimistic. All almost broken, it seems so long and b it stressful to catch the ferry home. Wet clothes on again 6th day in a row. Not sure, if we make it.
We got going and the first few km flew by. Sometimes you just gotta get started. We altered the route to be 20 km longer but hoped for a more smooth ride. And somehow, with good legs, good vibes and a whole lot of luck from the weather we hit 160 km for the day! We saw beautiful landscapes, rode with horses and saw a wild polarfox; rode with it for a bit, such a crazy experience. Almost wanted to cry when we hit the 160 km, we caught so much that we agreed to enjoy bit – not stress too much to make the ferry. Amazing what a day can do. We ended at a gas station and camped behind up, not glamorous but did the job.

Day 8
We started out slow in the morning fuelling up at the gas station. Then we got going in the most insane headwind which later turned to sidewind and the headwind again. The bikes were laying sideways on the road and it was proper sketchy. The landscapes turned more green and the fjords are beautiful but most of the day I just spent looking down pedalling unfortunately

Last day
Despite a few very long days and plus 100km each day in the craziest conditions and almost unrideable roads sometimes we made it to the end. The sun bid us welcome to the most western point.
.
Thanks for your interest. Pictures and words by https://www.instagram.com/fredleth/