Iceland is Ian McCarthey's favorite place to bicycle

Ian McCartney a former geography teacher has cycled hundreds of thousands of miles in his life and thinks Iceland is the best of all places he ever visited.

Read the article in the Southern Reporter: Two Wheels Better.

NY Times says Iceland is one of the best places to visit

Iceland features in 4th place on a list of 41 places to visit in 2011 compiled by the NY Times. Journalist Sally McGrane wrote:

Where a country’s hardships are a visitor’s gain.

Iceland’s economic crash has had an upside, at least for tourists. After the devaluation of the krona that followed the country’s 2008 financial crisis, the breathtakingly beautiful island is a lot more affordable, meaning that a hotel room that was $200 before the crash might cost $130 now.

While traditionally a must-see for nature tourists — who come for thermal springs, glaciers, volcanic landscapes and the Northern Lights — Iceland is stepping up the cultural offerings with Reykjavik’s new Harpa-Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre, a symphony and opera house whose stunning glass facade was designed in collaboration with the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Opening ceremonies begin in May, with performances by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Icelandic Opera and local rock bands. Another draw is the third annual DesignMarch (in March), a festival that showcases Icelandic design, from clothing and textiles to furniture. And the Iceland Airwaves music festival, every October, is perennially cool.

Source, NY Times.

First person to bicycle around the world 1884

Today, 4 January 2010, it is 124 years since Thomas Stevens from England set out on his tour around the world on a bicycle. He used a penny farthing bicycle for the journey. He packed a 38 Smith and Wesson hand gun just in case which would no doubt be useful in some countries today.

The first part of his world journey took him from San Francisco to Boston and became the first person to cross the US. From Boston he travelled to Liverpool, then south Europe to Iran. Then he travelled to the Middle-East and India and Asia.

For more information about his trip, see the Thomas Stevens first to bicycle around the world website.

How to not get hit by cars when on a bicycle

Bicycle safe. com offers some great advise to bicyclists on how to not get hit by cars. Anyone who bicycles should read this advice.

Top 10 places to spend your 2010 Christmas: Iceland in top place

According to CNN the best place to visit for Christmas this year is Reykjavik in Iceland, Nuremberg in Germany in second and Pogost in Belarus third.

The reason why CNN chose Reykjavik is because there are 13 Santa's in Iceland's local folklore . Actually, there isn't a single Santa in the local folklore until Coca Cola came to Iceland during the WWII. The 13 Jólasveinar or Yule lads have belonged to the local folklore for a few centuries and are vastly different in character from the man with the white beard in the red velvet suit.

Another reason why CNN chose Reykjavik is because in Hafnarfjörður, a neighbouring town, offers elf tours. Actually, the town does not offer elf tours as such but Sigurbjörg Karlsdóttir does. She was my student at the Iceland Tourist Guide School.

In spite of these not so serious shortcomings in factual correctness I am delighted that CNN chose Reykjavik to be in first place on the list.

Reykjavik Bike Tours offers guided bicycle tours in Reykjavik throughout the holiday season - and other guided tours by car or van upon request.

Read the article on CNNGO.com.

World Champions in Bike Polo 2010

Discovered today something called bike polo. Never knew it existed before but according to Wikipedia the first game ever was played Ireland in 1891!

Following my research online I belive the current world champions are from Milwaukee in the USA who won the title at the Bike Polo World Chamionships in Berlin in August 2010. About 100 teams showed up for the event.

If you're interested in bike polo I suggest you check out these links:

Facebook - League of Polo
Hard court bike polo - media coverage
You tube videos from the World Championships in Bike Polo in Berlin 2010.

Iceland northern lights

Northern lights are present above Iceland nine days out of ten. Sound too good to be true? Well, technically it is correct but there are several factors to consider.

1. Darkness – it must be dark. In summer it is 24 hour daylight in Iceland.
2. Cloud cover – it must be clear to be able to see the northern lights since they exist far above the clouds.
3. Solar activity – there must be solar activity for particles to be ejected towards the Earth.
4. Solar cycle – the activity of the Sun performs in 11 year cycles. In 2010 a new cycle has just begun.
5. Magnetic field – the right magnetic conditions must prevail around the poles.
6. City lights – can be a problem if the northern lights are faint. Best is to drive away from the city to a dark secluded spot, wait and watch.
7. Moon – can also be a problem, especially when it is full, because it can be quite bright and it may overpower the light from the northern lights.
8. Timing – as mentioned before, the northern lights are elusive. One day they may occur for a minute, or dance in the sky for hours. I’ve been giving northern lights tours for decades and always enjoy the last one just as much as the first one.

I’ve been giving northern lights tours for decades and always enjoy the last one just as much as the first one.