Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Worth knowing: the large bus lines carry bikes, so if the weather turns bad or that high-
lands bike trip isn't working out as planned, consider the bus. The number of bikes that
can be carried on a bus can't be guaranteed, but bikes are usually allowed when there is
space. It's free to take a bike on Strætó services; other companies (Sterna, SBA-Norður-
leið) charge around Ikr3500.
A brilliant resource: the English pages of the website of the Icelandic Mountain Bike Club
(
http://fjallahjolaklubburinn.is
)
. It links to the annually updated
Cycling Iceland
map - an
invaluable source of info (during our research we encountered it infrequently in tourist of-
fices, so it may pay to access it online before you travel).
Puncture-repair kits and spares are hard to come by outside Reykjavík, so bring your
own or stock up in the capital. On the road, it's essential to know how to do your own ba-
sic repairs.
If you want to tackle the interior, the Kjölur route has bridges over all major rivers, making
it fairly accessible to cyclists. A less-challenging route is the F249 to Þórsmörk. The
Westfjords also offer some wonderful, challenging cycling terrain.
Keep an eye out for a new series of cycling books by Ómar Smári Kristinsson. The first is
The Biking Book of Iceland - Day Trip Cycle Circuits - Part 1: The Westfjords
. More
books are in the works, but with a lengthy timeframe.
Transporting Bicycles to Iceland
Most airlines will carry your bike in the hold if you pack it correctly in a bike box.
Reykjavík City Hostel offers facilities to assemble and disassemble bikes and will store
bike boxes (it's adjacent to the city campground); at Keflavík airport, Bílahótel
(
www.bilahotel.is
)
offers luggage storage (including bike boxes).
The Smyril Line ferry from Denmark transports bikes for €15 each way.
Hire
Various places rent out mountain bikes, but in general these are intended for local use
only, and often aren't up to long-haul travel.
If you intend to go touring, it's wise to bring your bike from home or purchase one when
you arrive; alternatively, Reykjavík Bike Tours (
www.icelandbike.com
) has touring bikes
for rent.
Boat
Several year-round ferries operate in Iceland. Major routes:
