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A expedition across the Highlands of central Iceland
Europe: Iceland South to North | 13days
Polar training
When: 13th – 31st March 2018
On 13th March 2018, Kate joined Mike Brailey and his son, Tristan for a two week journey through the central highlands of Iceland.
The polar training expedition was to refine clothing systems, diet and test the fourth generation of the Christini all-wheel drive fat bike.
As an explorer/adventurer, Kate has cycled the equivalent of twice around the world at the Equator (85,000km). Kate first began travelling by bicycle in the early ’90s when she rode a total of 15,000km as her way of experiencing Europe. During these journeys, from Ireland and Spain, through the Mediterranean region to Turkey, central Europe and to the Nord Kapp Norway, Kate developed her passion for travelling by bicycle.
Kate loves to explore by bike because of the close connection she makes with the people and land; she loves bringing a line on a map to life, and travelling by bike she finds gives a great sense of place, a realistic perspective of how the world fits together.
Since then, Kate has stepped it up, performing three major expeditions; the 13,400km Trans-Siberian Cycle Expedition from St Petersburg to Vladivostok (with Greg Yeoman), the 25,000km Great Australian Cycle Expedition (7000km off road on remote tracks) and the 22,000km Breaking the Cycle in Africa expedition from Senegal to Somalia.
For several years now, Kate has been working towards her next venture, Breaking the Cycle South Pole, which will be the first bicycle crossing the Antarctic continent via the South Pole. From 2018-2020, she plans to complete a preparatory expedition (polar, sand, altitude) on six continents before she crosses Antarctica starting from mid-November 2020.
The Bike
Christini All-Wheel Drive – 4th generation custom build
Wheels
DT Swiss 350 Big Ride Fat Bike Rear Hub 32h, 12 x 197mm Thru Axle, 6-Bolt Disc, XD Driver
Carver 105mm Carbon rims
Bikeman Hand Built Wheelset
Tyres – VEE Tire Company; Showshoe 2XL 5.05″ (rear), Avalanche, studded 4.8″ (front); A new fork is being machined to enable the bike to accept a 2XL Snowshoe on the front.
Drive train
Race Face Team DH X-Type External Bottom Bracket: BSA 100mm BB Shell x 24mm Spindle
Race Face Aeffect Cinch Fatbike Crank Arm Set: 170mm for 190mm Rear
Wolf Tooth Components Drop-Stop 30T Chainring: 104 BCD, Stainless Steel
SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain
Shimano Deore XT pedals
Avid BB7 MTB Cable Disc Brake Graphite, CPS, Rotor/Bracket
Race Face NEXT 35 Riser Carbon Handlebar, 35 x 760mm 20mm Rise
Ergon GP3-S Grips
Thomson Elite Setback Seatpost
Sella Italia Diva seat
Chain lublicant: Bike Cream (Bike Mechanic)
Revelate Expedition Pogies (Handle bar mitts)
Clothing
Icicle down jacket (Mont Australia)
Outer shell – Hydronaut shell, custom made with Hammerhead jacket, wolf ruff, salopettes (Mont Australia)
Baselayers: merino fusion (Wilderness Wear)
Socks – merino wool (Wilderness Wear)
Mid-layers: Trialling various combinations from Wilderness Wear and Mont.
Polartec-merino (legs) (Sportees, Whitehorse, Canada)
Feet
Wolfgar Boots (45NRTH)
Bergraven gaiters (45NRTH)
Boot liners (Intuition Liners)
Hands
Kelvin Mitts (Ice-trek)
Liner gloves, Shell full-leather mittens (The Heat Company)
Mushers’ gloves – Sportees (Whitehorse, Canada)
Hand and foot warmers – (The Heat Company)
Head
Airwave goggles (Julbo)
Trek sunglasses (Julbo)
Celsius hat (Ice-trek)
Food
Outdoor Food (dehydrated meals)
Battle Oats (protein bars)
27 Mar 2018
23rd - 25th March The night I arrived in Germany I had a terrible fall, slipping forwards down some wet metal steps, crushing and twisting my already damaged right knee. Up until then the knee had been going well and I was feeling particularly fit after the Baja ride. It swelled immediately and I ...
23 Mar 2018
21st and 22nd March After driving another 140km to Egilsstadir, which is not far from the ferry port at Seydisfjordur, where we arrived, and still no snow riding opportunities, I was seriously considering leaving a week early, thinking we would make better use of our time back in Germany. Mike ...
21 Mar 2018
19th and 20th March As arranged, on Monday morning I presented to students at The International School on the outskirts of Reykjavik. Firstly I spoke at the morning assembly to the primary students, then made two longer 45 minute talks to years 4/5 followed by years 7,8,9 and 10. The school has ...
18 Mar 2018
The week before we arrived in Iceland there was snow banked high against houses and fences in Reykjavik, but over the last few days it has been above freezing with some rain in and around the capital city. This has affected our plans. In the east, where we arrived, the land was blanketed with snow ...
13 Mar 2018
This will be the second of the series of preparatory expeditions for my Antarctic crossing, planned for the end of this year. I am drafting this on the three-day car ferry from Denmark to Iceland, which is currently docked in Torshavn, Faroe Islands! With me is Mike Brailey and his son, Tristan, ...
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