Hills are no problems for electric bikes

When you go through the Meradalir route towards the eruption at Litli-Hrútur, hikers are the vast majority, but there are also a growing number of cyclists.

“From Suðurstrandarvegur and as far as reaching the edge of the new lava flow, we traveled in about half an hour. The route is clear, although the ground is rough in some places. The slopes come up first and once you have gone over them, these seven kilometers are an easy ride,” says Alda Áskelsdóttir from Hafnarfjörður. Morgunblaðið met her at the eruption site this week, where she and her son Hrafn Steinar Sigurðsson were on a bike ride.

Wind is not a problem

Electric bikes have been gaining popularity fast and Alda used an electric bike to go to the eruption.  “On this bike I bought last year, you get 25 - 25 km speed per hour, and each charge takes you on a 60-80 km journey. Traveling on an electric bike also makes you feel more comfortable; you literally become friends wih every hillside and the way the wind blows is just not important, ” Áskelsdóttir says. She says she has always been a cyclist, although to varying degrees. This has been done for her own enjoyment and health and more as a lifestyle, rather than being organized as a sport.

Excellent biking routes

“Here in Hafnarfjörður there are excellent facilities for cycling, such as a path down by the harbour. There are also good bike route connections between the different parts of town and also into the city center of Reykjavík. This is very beneficial and I expect the future holds more routes for cycists,” she concludes.