UKC

slightly off topic perhaps but I am currently trying to plan a cycle tour of iceland, the plan is to go 2/3rds(ish) of the way round the ring road then cut back through the interior. Anyone got any recommendations of places to visit/stay?

In reply to Ian Straton: Jojo joblin not logged in.
There are three routes that cut north-south through the interior. The F35 Kolja (that may be spelt wrong) is the most bike friendly. Takes about three days from Varmahlid south to Pingvellir on a dirt road. Riding across a plateau ringed by peaks and two icecaps. Camping is the way to go to save costs, wild camping is possible except in a couple of park areas.

In reply to Anonymous: thanks for that, f35 was one of 2 that I was looking at, the other being f26 passing between hofsjokull and vatnajokull, any experience of that road?

In reply to Ian Straton:
I rode the F35, no experience of the one you're looking at. My own experience and the feedback I picked up from other cyclists suggests pretty much anything that is a dirt road is ridable as long as you're prepared to push through sandy sections and ford a few streams/rivers. There are road works going on during summer which consists of regrading for corrigated sections of road. What is a hard bumpy ride can be a flat soft sandy mess the next. Do a web search for the Trento bike pages to find a few good travelogues with photos. I rode with slicks on a mountain bike around the ring road (some unsealed sections in the NE) and put a knobbly on the back for the F35. Lost it a few times in sand.

The Kjolur route (F35) is a decent road, and easily passable by wee 2wd cars like Clios etc. The F35 has the advantage of a daily bus service in each direction. Once on the bus we picked up some French lads that had been held up by sandstorms and headwinds and were running out of food and water.

I've not been on the F26, but I think it is a bit rougher and less-travelled. That all adds to the adventure, though...

My favourite (easily accessible) places are:
Thingvellir - see the continents divide.
Landmannalaugar - Subglacial volcanoes and hotsprings. Hike round here for a few days if you can.
Myvatn - where lavas flowed into lakes and exploded in hundreds of little craters.

They are all quite touristy, but you will see a lot of beautiful stuff camping wild.

Have fun.