All bikes are allowed, hardtails and short travel mountain bikes are good, but you will be fastest on a pure-bred gravel bike. The Lauf Seigla was made for Icelandic gravel and is of course our favorite for the course. There are a few steep hills that might need some walking. No matter which drivetrain your bike is equipped with, you will definitely use the easiest gear.

The weather in Iceland can be unpredictable, especially in the highlands where sun can become snow in matter of minutes. We recommend that you bring a broad variety of clothes and pick your battle gear the day before the race - our local weather forecasts can be found here.
The closest weather station is called Hella, the small green dot on the map.
Average high temperature for July is 57°F / 14°C with easterly wind prevailing and light precipitation. We'll have around 18hrs of sunlight but it will hardly get dark as the sun barely dips below the horizon.

It's hard to say, it's Iceland, and the weather is unpredictable. There could be strong winds, horizontal rain or sunny skies (i.e. bongó). There are water-crossings so your feet will get wet. The best remedy is wool sock - and perhaps extra wool socks. On a great day shorts and short sleeves are terrific but bringing a jacket is always wise as things can turn south in a matter of minutes.
The average high temperature in July is around 14°C / 57°F.

There are several water crossings where you should proceed with caution. The stream isn't strong but depth and width can vary. Depth of half a 700c wheel and width of 5-10 m / 16-32 ft isn't unusual. As with all crossings the riverbed can vary - you might encounter pea size gravel to baby-head size rocks. If you're insecure crossing on the bike, we recommend walking over.
As mentioned above in "What should I wear?", wearing wool socks can save the day. Wet feet coming from 5°C / 41°F water into 14°C / 57°F may take some time to warm up again in regular cycling socks.

Yes. Besides The Abyss, the courses will be will marked, however it's important also to load the route onto your cycling computer as we'll be riding where the roads do not have names. Outside The Rift main course, The Abyss will not be marked so it will be extremely important to have a reliable GPS device with good navigation features and long battery life.

We urge you to bring the nutrition you normally use. That said, the aid stations will be stocked with fluids, gels and assorted food. But please make sure you have what you need in order to fix mechanical failures out on the course. Things like extra tubes, plugs, pump, hex keys, etc.

Notice that the first aid stations for The Abyss will be after 230km where the course merges with The Rift again. However, you can give staff members a drop-bag with consumable items, such as nutrition and batteries (no clothes, spare parts, tools etc). The drop-bag will wait for you at the 140km mark.

Cell reception in the highlands is sparse. However, we strongly recommend, insist, that all riders carry their cellphones and keep them on at all times. Should something happen on course it's good to be able to ask a rider to call course staff on the next available spot. Also, we're riding around an active volcano, Hekla. In the unlikely event of the volcano erupting, authorities will issue a warning prior to the volcano going off to all cellphones in the area. Just remember, do not hide in groves or recesses, stay on high points because of toxic gas emitted by the volcano, which is heavier than the air we breath.

It is not required but we do recommend it for the Abyss course as you'll be riding through the night. Even if it's fairly bright, there will be around 2-4 hours between dusk and dawn.

Most people speak English in Iceland, but it is good to know "Skál" (cheers) and "Þetta reddast" (it'll be fine).
We recommend checking out this video to fully blend in - Jæja, já and jú.

Hvolsvöllur is a small town, and one without a bike shop. You'll find convenience stores, gas station and restaurants but be aware of opening hours. The stores are not open before the majority of riders head out on race day. Make sure to get what you need in advance.

Groceries at Hvolsvöllur:
Krónan (Austurvegur 4, 860 Hvolsvöllur) Open 9:00-18:30

Convenience stores at Hvolsvöllur:
N1 (Austurvegur 3, 860 Hvolsvöllur) Open 8:00-22:00
Björkin (Austurvegur 10, 860 Hvolsvöllur) Open 10:00-22:00

Groceries at Hella:
Kjarval (Sudurlandsvegur 1, 850 Hella) Open 9:00-20:00

Convenience store at Hella:
Olís (Þrúdvangur 2, 850 Hella) Open 8:00-23:00