Bike riding around Iceland

Hi all!

I want to bike ride (bicycle) around Iceland next year. Has anyone done this?
Did you camp along the side of the road?
What's the must see spots along the way?
And can you do it just on a shitty bike?

Thanks guys!

Well, I must say I haven’t done this myself… but I have seen people doing it! And it didn’t look easy… in some places the road is pretty steep so I hope you are in good shape! I would for sure bring a proper bike for doing this.
In some areas there are only volcanic stones and it’s impossible to pitch a tent. But in most places there are camping grounds where you can do so.

Good luck…
Anne Marie

I'll just be picking up a cheap bike once I get there, don't want to spend a lot on a bike, I got nothing but time when I do it, so it's alright if it's steep lol.
I don't think I'll use a tent just my sleeping bag and a little roll up mattress, I shouldn't have anything to worry about at night if I camp along the side of the road right?

Thanks
Liam

Only thing to worry about should be the weather!!! When we were there it was July and at night the temperature was about 0 C and some days it was quite windy. One day it even snowed. I would for sure bring a tent!!!

If you are interesting in hiking as well you should check out the trek Landmannalaugar - Thorsmork. It's very beautiful but only accesable in the summer due to snow and ice on the trek. You can sllep in your own tent or pay to sleep in a shared hut along the way.
We took the bus to Landmannalaugar and left some of our gear in the bus. Four days later we could pick up our things in Thorsmork and take a new bus back to the ring road.

Be aware that there is very little shoulder on the side of the roads and the roads are elevated maybe a foot or so above the rocky landscape.

This post has been removed by its author.

Go read my notes on cycling in Iceland. I've been there cycling 4 times.
http://www.masterlyinactivity.com/ivan/iceland.html
http://www.masterlyinactivity.com/ivan/iceland-zones.html

Crap bike isn't clever. There are hardly any bike shops and repairers, so breaking down often isn't useful. Also if you want to go to interesting places, you will experience rough roads, which will soon break crap bikes.

It rains a lot in Iceland. If you want to sleep under the sky without a tent, you'll get soaked through. It is very windy in Iceland. So when you are wet, the wind will chill you to the bone. My notes above tell you all you need to know about the practicalities of camping in Iceland. It is surprisingly difficult. I did once meet a cyclist in Iceland with just a bivvy bag. Well if you like hiding from the weather in a bivvy bag, you aren't alone, but you are unusual.

This might help you to be prepared :)
PS. Remember - you can ride bus from time to time in case of wind-rain-boring places

I'm wondering if it would be possible to bike the ring road in March? I would be using my mountain bike and winter camping gear. You did an excellent job of describing opening conditions in the mountain passes, but it sounds like the Ring Road is plowed more often.

Thanks for the information!

You can, of course, if you really want to, and equip yourself properly to deal with the weather. March is of course deep winter in Iceland. But coastal areas do not retain permanent snow-cover in winter in Iceland, so you may be cycling through snow-free land for parts of your trip, but from time to time a cold snap might cover everything in snow right down to the beach. From time to time you may be held up by snow on the road until the road is cleared, especially in the NE, but as you note the main roads connecting inhabited regions are, as far as possible, kept clear for all-year traffic. The road may nonetheless remain icy and it may be a good idea to use studded tyres.

In terms of preparing for the weather,re member that from time to time you will experience rain, not just snow. Remember Iceland is very windy and when it is both cold and windy that is potentially dangerous unless you are well clothed for the conditions.

Whilst there are simple camp-sites in many villages with toilet blocks, it is likely that the water will be turned off to avoid frost damage and doors locked to prevent wind damage. So your camping will likely be wild camping, and you will have to seek water where you can.

Bring a tent. On a bike you have room to pack that. Not only does it make your nights dry, it makes for far easier food preparation, which you can't do properly inside a bivvy bag. If you insist on just rolling out your mat and sleeping bag, at least invest in a waterproof outer cover. But no, bring a tent. There is precious little wood to erect tarp tents or bivvy bag tents in Iceland- which makes wildcamping without a tent far more troublesome than in the other nordic countries.