Bike packing story
August 2022 to ride the Ring Road. Bearings set, gears assembled, 1 day to chill in town, got hit by a car on day 2, on a roundabout just outside Reykjavík. Hit-and-run — I made eye contact with the driver right after he knocked me down, then he kept going. Never caught the plate. I caught myself with my right hand to save my face from the pavement.
I was still on the ground running on adrenaline, trying to figure out if I was actually hurt or how badly, when the next driver stopped about six feet short of me in the middle of the road. She was freaking out — speaking I don’t know what, Icelandic maybe but either way I didn't understand.
I ended up calming her down. It wasn't her fault. She almost hit me head-on because I was in the middle of the street. “All good move on lady” I somehow communicated because she definitely did not speak any English. Bike was good, my legs work, I moved.
After refusing a ride from a few others that stopped to offer help but refused because they couldn’t take the bike also, I powered through to the hospital in Selfoss.
The doctor in Selfoss didn’t have great English. Fair. After the Xray, the nurse that had great English translated what I understood as: "looks like a bad sprain, but the radiologist isn't in today. Stay in town two days. If we don't call, you're cleared." Camped out two days. No call. So, 2 ice-cream popsicle sticks and a pharmacy brace let’s go.
While I was stuck waiting in town, I ditched the green raincoat I'd started the trip in, (I am dumb for that one) spent about 400 USD overpriced on an orange raincoat, thought it was a lifelong piece of gear but ended up being a BS purchase the zipper broke and wasn’t really close to up to par to my snowboarding jacket that cost a lot less.
Made it about 350 miles up the Ring Road before my phone rang. Couldn't understand the doctor on the line. An Icelandic woman camped nearby overheard me struggling and offered to translate. I handed her my phone. They talked for several minutes in Icelandic. So many words.
What came back to me was just 1 sentence: "your wrist is fractured; you need a cast." I was already halfway to the next hospital by then. I already called every hotel and rental car company around after that hit and they pretty much laughed at me for trying to make an in season last minute booking.
Kept riding. In the mid country you don’t see anything but sheep and the occasional car going 80 mph past you at random intervals within 2 feet of hitting you since there is no bike lane but legal to be on a bike on the highway. Headphones, great for vibes and terrible for speeding cars.
I went off the road and minor no injury crashed a couple times since I didn’t have the nerve every time a car flew passed me. I panicked after a faster passing vehicle (100+MPH) and went over a ledge and had to squeeze my fractured wrist for both brakes to stop an 8-foot drop into rocks off the side. Nailed it by an inch, safe.
Around mile 650 my left knee started giving out. Right wrist already useless. I got off the bike and walked. Every car that passed stopped to check on me — nobody could fit the bike. So, I said thanks but kept walking. Eventually 4 Spanish women in a camper van pulled over and made room for me and the bike. Angels.
They took me out to do tourist stuff.
Elephant Rock and we found an indoor hostel that had space and a kitchen. I got some local lamb, really it was next door local, a few veggies and cooked up for everyone. Honestly one of the highlights of my trip they were all so sweet and food is love. Ok no more sappy shit.
After a real night’s rest.
2 days upwind with all food stations closed. Totally F'd
I was rolling back toward Reykjavik on the last leg, running on fumes. Came around a bend and this rainbow was just sitting there over the flags.
I wish I caught the double rainbow on cam because it was a double but its s was so quickly gone.
Then I got to the airport, my bike box was gone, didn’t exactly have permission to leave it there anyway. I’d like to say I donated a bike to a traveler, by the airport, instead of I littered a large piece of metal.
To the country of Iceland if nobody took that bike, I am genuinely sorry, I was injured and didn’t know what to do.
(I am leaving out all the side quest, DM me if your care)
by tranquillfemboi