My role has shifted to preparing for the expedition itself, the research and the riding.

This Iceland expedition is more like a semi-autonomous research and field-travel project, than a tour. Some riders, including Aaron, Tom, and myself, are approaching the crossing as active research per our respective fields/disciplines.

We - everyone - will be moving at different speeds and prioritize different aspects of the route.

For example, I may be riding a 6.25" tire system (or a different full suspension bike recently built) as design, build, ride research.

The expedition functions through a model of shared route, independent focus, and of course, individual responsibility. So we will share the overall route, (mostly, but I'm confident not everyone is going to want to ride - push and carry - the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails), broad expedition goals, and general start/end intentions with three folks departing August 3 after the highlands and three joining to ride to the solar eclipse launch.

For this reason there's been a lot of focus, in terms of preparation for crossing the Highlands, on each person being responsible for navigation, pacing (2 hours or a day behind), nutrition, mechanical systems, weather decisions, communication, and overall self-sufficiency in the field.

Iceland naturally stretches groups apart. Terrain, weather, fatigue, river crossings, and mechanical issues create large differences in pace and daily outcomes. We may separate naturally enough during the day, we'll then also make individualized decisions, who knows, reroute a section, or self-extract from the route if conditions require it. For instance, when it comes to the trails, Aaron has composed a great route through the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trail area that does not include carrying the bike up to 16 miles.

Mark will be driving a Hilux along the route, not as a conventional support vehicle, but as a logistical and safety net presence. So we're not viewing the vehicle as rolling support. If someone has to bail, for any number of reasons, we will simply get the person back to Reykjavik, if they can not get themselves back, and Mark will rejoin the route.

To date I’ve drawn a great deal of attention to the level of training, preparation, and self-sufficiency this route requires. But now, I pivot! As the semester concludes (tomorrow on paper!), I am beginning to breathe a little differently, not only because there's more time available, but because we have launched, as it were.

People either have put in the hours, learned their systems, or not. That realization is oddly calming. My role has shifted to preparing for the expedition itself, the research and the riding.

Uh..... what chain ring and cog size did I use last time?

Amor fātī