Such a unique ride demands a unique bike, I built up OPEN's U.P. frame especially for the event. The frame is a classic of the gravel genre and uses tried-and-tested standards (like a round seatpost that won't slip and space for a double chainring up front to give enough gear for all those climbs). The frame performed flawlessly, with enough clearance for the thick gobs of river mud and a geometry that lends itself to high-speed shenanigans on rocky descents as well as it does to grinding out the long, flat, headwind miles that crop up in the middle of the event.
I assembled the bike with Shimano's Ultegra Di2 groupset that allows for precision electric shifting even when you can't feel your hands after a freezing river crossing. By using a road groupset, I was able to carry two wheelsets and use the OPEN as a perfectly capable road bike in addition to gravel racing on it. The gearing (50/34 on the front, 11/34 on the back) allowed me to ride up near vertical mud, but still travel at 30 miles per hour on tailwind road sections. As if this wasn't versatile enough, I found some jumps in Iceland to ride the day after the race, and it soaked those up as well.
For terrain like Iceland's Southern Highlands, you'll want a big tire that can soak up the washboard dirt roads and rocky descents. I opted for Donnelly's MSO 40 mm mounted to Enve's robust, reliable, and lightweight G23 wheels. This combination got me through some really questionable line choices with air in my tires, and a smile on my face. Many riders were not so lucky. Had I flatted, I was well taken care of with Lezyne's excellent mini pump, cages, and tools.
It's pretty easy to get lost in Iceland's barren and beautiful landscape, and as much as I might have wanted to go wandering and become the subject of my own saga, I had to get back to the finish line to enjoy some local beer. I opted for the Wahoo Element Roam GPS, which seamlessly gave me turn-by-turn directions, lasted all 200 kilometers of the event, and even used its LED display to tell me that I was really trying very hard on the steepest climbs.
I made sure to bring enough food and clothing for the long distances and temperature changes. Rather than loading my pockets, I relied on Ortlieb's waterproof accessory bag. How waterproof is it really? Well, I floated my bike in a river and my sandwiches stayed dry.
SHIMANO Ultegra RD-RX805 Rear Derailleur, $249.99, at Competitive Cyclists
SHIMANO Ultegra FC-R8000 Crankset, $214.95, at Competitive Cyclists
Donnelly's MSO 40mm, $49.50, at REI
Enve G23 700C Wheels, $2,550, at Enve
LEZYNE Road Drive Hand Pump, $49.95 to $101.07, at Amazon
LEZYNE Drive Loaded Flow Storage Cage Black, $59.99, at Amazon
Wahoo Element Roam GPS Bike Computer, $380, at REI
Ortlieb Accessory Pack Handlebar Bag, $80, at REI