Bike suitability for a particular interior road in Iceland

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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stephenjubb
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Joined: 20 Jan 2008, 12:23pm
Location: East Yorkshire

Re: Bike suitability for a particular interior road in Icela

Post by stephenjubb »

22camels wrote:Yeah I need to learn how to replace broken spokes.

Do you think upgrading just the back wheel will be alright then, there wouldn't be some sort of imbalance between the wider heavier stronger rim on the back, and the narrow, lighter, weaker rim on the front?

That's the thing, I wouldn't lose most of my holiday as I'm sure I would still have a good time even without my bike, it's about expectations. But I guess the primary purpose I set myself for this trip is to learn more about longer distance bike touring in a more challenging environment as the max I've done up to now is one week in quite easy places and I have plans for a much longer trip. So in that sense yes I think should take the bike side of it seriously :).


If funds are limited, then the priority would be the back wheel, you would have to keep the load limited up front ( just enough to make handling of the bike better) and avoid potholes, your front wheel might not survive those.

Maybe you could do the rough stuff in the last week? That way any problems are not too much of a big deal, you will still have had lots of cycling, doing this you might be able to use your existing back wheel.
Bonefishblues
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Joined: 7 Jul 2014, 9:45pm
Location: Near Bicester Oxon

Re: Bike suitability for a particular interior road in Icela

Post by Bonefishblues »

22camels wrote:Yeah ok I will probably go with the new wheel set, but I'm still a bit skeptical as I'm on a bit of a budget and to invest another 250 into a bike I won't be keeping for that much longer seems a bit rash. 40mm tyres on new wheels, or 35mm tyres on current stock wheels, that I've had no trouble with, never a broken spoke. Actually I have done, on 28mm tyres, a bit of forestry roads here and even beaches where the sand was dense enough and it was fine. There is a lot of variation in off-road surfaces, even within Iceland, so, lacking experience, it's difficult for me to say now how it will be on the specific road I'm thinking of taking. Also whilst yes sure it's true that strong wheels are essential, and Iceland demands an extra high level of preparedness, I suspect it's tempting to over prepare / over insure - yes if you want the trip to be perfect, or if it's a long trip, yes, but for a short trip of three weeks, if there is a 50% chance I'll be fine with my current setup, if a bit slow on the gravel, and the other 50% of the time, my wheels break in the first week, I have to catch a ride to the next town, and spend the rest of the trip larking around on foot, do I mind that much? Not sure..

I don't adventure tour, but I do do a very specialist sport in a very remote place and where if stuff breaks I just cannot do what I travelled halfway round the World to do.

My motto is to buy the right kit (not necessarily the most expensive), take spares, make sure I'm entirely self-sufficient such that I can mend myself or my kit if either breaks. It's been close once or twice, but I've only ever lost one half-day in c30 trips and that was due to my own crass stupidity and the proximity of a whisky bottle :oops: I think others have given you great advice along similar lines which will help your trip to go as you'd wish.
22camels
Posts: 302
Joined: 21 Sep 2013, 8:15pm

Re: Bike suitability for a particular interior road in Icela

Post by 22camels »

Load distribution, yeah that's the other caveat I haven't mentioned. This will be my first time touring with front panniers, as I will need the extra capacity. I've not tested my bike with front panniers yet. Got the rack, just haven't fitted it yet. And if it makes it unstable, which I gather is possible, I might have to re-evaluate. Tubus racks btw, so solid enough there.

To be honest, for this trip, I have to be ready that things will fail. If it's not the bike, it will be the tent or something else, it's quite likely. I would mind on a longer trip and more far away locations, but with a short trip which didn't cost much and a place like Iceland, I don't think I would be too disappointed if I have to be a regular tourist for a couple of weeks.

But yeah, I'll probably go and get that stronger wheel set from Spa..
beicmelyn
Posts: 9
Joined: 17 Feb 2014, 10:27am

Re: Bike suitability for a particular interior road in Icela

Post by beicmelyn »

I have a couple of cycling contacts in Iceland, one being a mtb club there, if you like.
22camels
Posts: 302
Joined: 21 Sep 2013, 8:15pm

Re: Bike suitability for a particular interior road in Icela

Post by 22camels »

That could be useful, thanks. It's not the Icelandic mountain bike club is it? I might try contacting them, think they have a forum or something.
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