Below the photo album is the stats of my recent solo bike journey around magnificent Iceland…
Most beautiful cycling: Southern West Fjords (Route 60), East Fjords (Routes 92/96 SE of Egilsstaðir), south-east Iceland between Djúpivogur and Höfn (Route 1).
Longest distance without shower: 650 km
Numbers of hot showers on Iceland: 5 (Flókalundur, Blöndous, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Grindavik)
Number of times I was outrun by a band of horses: 1 (near Gullfoss. 67 horses strong)
Average bed time: 10 PM-ish
Average wake-up time: 6 AM-ish
Most daylight hours pr. day: Officially 22. Practically 24 (Akureyri, northern Iceland)
Number of ATM cash withdrawals: Zero (Visa is my friend)
Number of days in Iceland until I saw local cash: 10
Territorial/angry farmers met while wild camping: 1 (south of Reykjahlíð, Mývatn region)
Snickers eaten: 9
Number of kilos lost on Iceland: 3
Crashes on bike: Zero
Max. speed: 71 km/h (gravel road downhill on Route 60, West Fjords)
Average speed touring on Iceland: 15-17 km/h (yes, it’s windy up there!)
Weirdest geo-thermal abracadabra hotspot: Hverir, east of Mývatn
Pairs of footwear used: 1 (Salming Trail Running Shoe)
Favorite map app: Maps.me (for iPhone)
Total distance cycled: 1.901
Distance on gravel roads: Around 70 km (= 4% of total distance)
Hours in the saddle: 102
Drops of wine (red/white/rosé) consumed: Zero
Liters of beer (light, 2.2% ALC) consumed: 3.5 L
Avg. distance pr. day: 106 km
Price of return flight Copenhagen-Keflavik (WOW Air, incl. bike and luggage): 322 €
Favourite camp food: Dolmio pasta sauce with canned corn, bread, and Viking Light Beer
Total distance bike touring the world: 92.000 km
Number of countries visited by two-wheeled transport: 77
Number of countries visited: 115
Advice most often told by locals: “If you don’t like the weather, just wait for 5/10/30 minutes”. Bullocks!
Weight, Koga Signature bike: 17 kg
Weight, luggage: 18 kg
Lowest temp.: 1 degree C (Akureyri)
Highest temp.: 12 degrees C (Keflavik, on departure day)
Nights in tent: 17 (out of 19)
Nights on official camping grounds: 12 (of which 4 were free)
Nights wild camping: 5
Nights in hostels: 2 (Akureyri)
Longest cycling day: 167 km (from Akureyri to Egilsstaðir, Northern Iceland)
Best wild camping spot: Next to church in Staðarflöt, northern Iceland.
Most crazy tailwind: From Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Vík, southern Iceland. 40 km/h was easily averaged.
Most crazy headwind: From Reykjavik to Borgarnes. From Staður to Blönduos. Along the fjord Berufjörður towards Djúpivogur. Oh, the list goes on…
Vertical meters climbed: 15.100
Flat tyres: Zero (thanks, Schwalbe Marathon Plus!)
Mechanical break-downs: Zero
Age of my beloved tent: 11 years (Exped Vela I Extrem)
Sunshine days (total): 1.2 days (= a few hours here and there. That was it)
Number of snow storms: 1 (on 350 m pass between Blönduos and Varmahlíð)
Cycling days: 18 (out of 19)
Non-cycling days: 1 (day 8, Akureyri)
Number of (full) cycling days without gloves: Zero
Fans met in Iceland: 1 (Rodrigo Louzeiro from Portugal)
Money spent on food: 268 € (14 €/day)
Money spent on accommodation: 175 € (9 €/day)
Money spent on accommodation and food: 443 € (23 €/day). Iceland on the cheap!
Photos taken: 1.556
Camera used: iPhone 6S
Numbers of meals in restaurants: 1 (Thai food in Akureyri)
Favorite Icelandic supermarket chain: Bonus
Biggest concern: Keeping toes and fingers from freezing (off 🙂 )
Highest altitude: 600 m.a.s. (between Akureyri and Egilsstaðir)
Period touring: May 31st – June 19th, 2017.
Iceland as a cycling destination, overall rating: 9 (of 10)